New fish House with Kids

[anyfishaldo]

Looking at houses so I can take my kids (8 and 4) along for the ride. The wife even said get what you want the first time so we don't need an upgrade like usual. I was looking at the Eskimo 3 person but also like the Clam 4 person Denali but am nervous about a kid or 2 behind my back. Any ideas from those with experience. I need to get out more and this is the ticket as both are very interested not to mention my bro has a 4 year old and my sis has a 4 year old as well so we can make points and get on the water a lot more than we have this far.

[MuskieJunkie]

I would go with a full size single flip over, like the Otter Lodge (I think that's the name) or the Clam Voyager. You can put 3 adults side by side by side in a Voyager and it would save you messing with a double sided flip over which is more of a 4 man.

With the otter you can get a bench seat which might suit you better, the Voyager you'd have to buy a 3rd seat, although Clam re did their seats this year so I'm not sure if they offer a 3rd seat.

[drakerebel]

if you like the voyager, you could look for an older model with the 3 full size seats...way nice and way comfy (imo). plenty of room to fit 3 adults as well.

i don't know why they eliminated the 3rd offered seat, studies show there isn't a need from buyers? having 3 seats are even nice when you're solo, turn the outsides inwards and put u'r legs up and relax

[Esox_Magnum]

Going on the 4th season with my Eskimo Qwick Flip III and see no need to switch anytime soon. Plenty of room for 3 adults, and unlike most other brands even if your over 6' you can still stand up and streach without hitting your head on a brace. Downside they pull hard in the snow but adding Hyfax will help.

[Brad B]

I would either go with a clam voyager or the new frabill guardian model. they are both lite enough to be pulled by hand and have alot of room. my other choice would be the frabill predator but it is on the heavy side to be pulled by hand. if being mobile is not a issue for you then you could look at a cabin style house like the Canvas Craft Northlander in a 6' X 8' or 8' X 8' but if you can afford the extra money get the nor pac skin instead of the canvas. it would be easier to heat then the canvas.

[eyemaster]

I would go with a suitcase if I were you. Young kids seem to drop things (gloves etc). The flip overs seem to have wet floors after heating them for a while. The suitcases also seem to be a little warmer in my opinion.

[fisherdog19]

The new Clam Summit is a 6X8 pop up type shelter, it will have more than enough room for you and two kids. I've got one and it has plenty of room. It really depends on if you want a flip over, pop up, or suitcase type shelter. If it's going to be just you and your kids, you may have trouble getting a big 3 man flip over in and out of your truck since it will be well over 100 pounds. The pop up is the lightest and easiest to move around, and very simple to set up. Will you be driving out to your spots, or using a sled/wheeler to get to your spot.

[anyfishaldo]

Thanks guys, I will be walking out with the kids until we get good ice, who knows from year to year. I was looking this weekend at the insulated Clam Basecamp and it seems like the ticket. I heard the wind can be a bit of a bear but if we are in 20-30 mph i will be going in my one man clam by myself. I just want them to have a good time in reasonable conditions.

[NCLaker]

Young kids ... unless you know they can handle extended time on the ice, I would get something easy to put up and take down in case they get board real quick.

Personally would recommend 2-3 man flipover. You can keep most of your gear neatly packed in the sled. With a large shack like an Otter Mag Lodge/Clam Voayer - you can have the 4 year old sit inside the sled in the middle so he/she is safe from falling in hole, heaters, or kicking stuff in holes. You and the 8 yr old can sit in seats on either side. Put some comfy padding on the floor, and bring something that they can play with in the tub if they get board - portable dvd player could buy you some extra time on the ice. I would thnk this would work pretty slick.

As for bringing the the Bro & Sis's 4 yr olds is a pretty scary thought having three 4 yr olds, 8 yr old, and a couple adults in any portable (no matter the size). IMO Way too many hazards with holes, heaters, hooks, expensive rods in a small area on slippery surfaces with that many small kids. If your going to bring the hole crew out, I would consider only go out on warmer days with optimal conditions - fish outside on the open ice, and use the shack as a warming/play house for the kids with no holes or hazards to get in to trouble. Shack also will double as a wind block.

If you consider the double wide flipovers, really need to consider what it will take to haul that thing - they are beasts from what I understand, and you would never want to haul something that massive if you are alone, and is overkill for 2. The large 2-3 man flipovers aren't too bad actually getting them in/out of your vehicle - just lift one end onto the back of your vehicle,then go to back end to lift and push it in.

[fishwater]

Otter Outdoors lists a new Large Ice Resort for 3-4 people on their HSOforum, hard to upgrade from a tank like that and everybody would be on the same side of the tub...

[Brad B]

the only difference between the magnum and large otter is that the large otter is 7' X 8' setup and a magnum is 6' X 8' setup. 1 foot difference would not make that much difference with that many people.

[paceman]

I personally would get a suitcase style house. With kids having a floor is a must. I took my 4 year old once last year with a buddy and his flip-over. My son was restless and wanted to go in and out constantly. So he was constantly going past the holes, heater, rodds, vexlars... It is amazing that nothing got broke or knocked down the hole. The next time we took a 6x8 clam. Night and day difference.....