What gator said mostly, if your a reader try Darkhouse Spearfishing by Jay Leitch. If your a watcher you can learn a lot from a few youtube videos. Taught myself and figured it out quick no biggy. Flip style shelters defintly work, taller and darker are better but you dont need every hole covered. Usully like a little light so i can see what i'm doing in the house. Biggest problems are you must have fairly clear water. Doesnt need to be gin clear but better be able to see bottom in five feet. I usually fish shallow, less then ten feet but mostly fish small lakes by Devils. Big plus is going early in the year, usually the fishing is better and cutting holes in a foot of ice is way easier than three feet. With thick ice it can be a real pain getting the ice chunks out of the hole without a set of ice tongs. I use a hole about two by three feet. you can go bigger but would hate to fall in if you tripped in the house.
Warning, if you see more than a fish an hour its not too bad but it gets very boring staring down an emty hole for very long. I usally set tip ups and spear at the same time. Some days the spearing is better and somedays they will only hit tip ups and some times its both. Whats really fun is just jig down the hole, you get the fun of watching them hit and can still throw them back. I've got to say though there's something fun and primival about hurling a spear at something. If there's plenty of action it is a blast.
Things you need: Ice auger, to start holes
Ice saw, to cut between holes
Spear with rope
Decoy, ten dollar plastics one will work
Dipper, bigger is better for clearing big holes
Dark house, flip or hub style will work, better if its a darker version like Eskimo, not those light blue Clams
Egg shells, throw em on the bottom of slightly murky water, they make a big difference
A good spear will probably be a hundred dollars and the same for ice saw. You could probably get everything you for two fifty if you already have house and auger. I was lucky and old fellow borrowed me the stuff so i could try it before i bought my own, it was well worth it.
Good luck and PM me if you have any questions.