ice house or no ice house

[robert aldrich]

i been thinking of not geting a ice house because i love being out in the open air and it is more fun than siting in a ice house. you get to see sun rise and sun set.

what do you do? do you sit in a ice house or not?

[silverbulletguy]

Flip over portable-that way you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

[broman]

I have three houses and I'm usually always outside.

[that_guy]

I too am a flip-over kinda guy...I will often spend the sunny part of the day in the open air, then when the night bite is coming, I'll flip the shelter and get cozy for a long night!

[dairyman]

and if you have a portable your not setting here at the computer worrying about your hard side that's locked up in snow drifts and impassable roads now on the lakes

[mixxedbagg]

I've spent many days and nights just sitting on a bucket. For my first probably 5-6 years of ice fishing, I would sit there in below zero weather whacking the ice skim off of my hole every five seconds and call the guys sitting in permanents a bunch of pussies.

I managed to get my hands on a little, beat up one man flip a few years ago. It was free (result of a nasty breakup I was witness to), otherwise I might still be sitting on a bucket every time out. I really like that little flip these days: definitely warmer, hole doesn't freeze, it's still pretty mobile, NOBODY CAN SEE ME CATCHING FISH WHEN I'M ON A GOOD BITE, I have something to stand behind if nature calls and there's mixed company on the ice, my beer doesn't freeze, and with the ability to get out of the wind and generate some heat it is much safer to go exploring off the beaten path alone (and I have a nice lonely little lake that treats me well when I do).

A one man flip can be had really cheaply, and you can sell it pretty easily if you don't like it. Or, give it to another newbie who wishes he or she had one. You really don't have much to lose by trying it out.

[jakemcarroll]

I do a little of both, I usually will start by drilling a bunch of holes and jigging around to see what the bite is like if I'm on a new lake. If I find that there is one or two holes that are consistent producers and it's cold/windy then I'll probably set up the portable. If it's a nice day or I have some tip-ups out with a group of people then I usually stay out of the portable. Also, once the sun sets I'm always in a portable of some kind.

[bobbymalone]

I prefer to sit outside but try doing that this coming weekend with a high of 0... Glad I have a porty.

Having to break the skim ice and unfreeze the guides every 30 seconds gets old quick.

Funny thing about ice fishing, ice is the worst part

[mixxedbagg]

Fishing without mittens is about a hundred times easier too.

[Hardyboy]

Im all for manning up and fishing out in the open especially a hot pannie bite when your hopping all around. But a porty or permanents definitely have their place especially with a family or kids as its nice to be out there and everybody enjoys it because they are not freezing their butt off.

[The_Seasock]

I like to pull my small boat onto the ice and put an umbrella on it, seams like its summer again when I'm fishing.

[IceHawk]

Prefer fishing outside but I have 2 traps and a permanent for days like today!

[slabz]

ya know, i have a eskimo quick flip II, but the only thing i use it for is the built in sled to haul all my stuff out on the lake. once im on the lake i pound holes til i run out of gas and hop around all day! thats ice fishin!

[BLT100]

I think it's nice to have just a portable. If your on a lake where you know where to go, it's nice to set up and be just a little more comfortable.

+1 on hiding the good bite!

[TooTallTom]

Like so many things, it's mostly personal preference. Like many posters have said, being outside with no house can be a wonderful thing. But, a shelter can help extend your (and potential fishing partners') willingness to be out on an otherwise marginal day.

I like having options. Just because you own a portable (and even have it with you) doesn't mean you are required to use it. I don't think you're going to hurt its feelings any...

Tom.

[TruthWalleyes]

I rarely will set up a my portable unless i'm on sustained fishing. I'll keep moving until i'm on a nice bite, then set up...If it is nice out - portable stays in the truck...*There has been nice days where i'll set up to avoid company while the bite is hot*

[Swimmer]

I agree that a portable offers best of both worlds. I flip the Clam Pro open so as to block the wind, so in essence am still out in the open. Of course I can then flip it closed to hide the bite or warm up. The Eskimo Quick Fish III is also "portable". You set it up and then two guys can get inside and move it anywhere on the lake without breaking it down again.

[walleye44]

Flip over portable-that way you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Spot on dude!!

[herefish101]

I love fishing outside, but you can remove mother nature from the equation if you have a portable, you'll double your time on the ice.

[mhanson]

I'll be fishing in my warm house tonight when it's -10. Will you be outside?

[tsande00]

A flip over portable is the best. Just flip it up into the 1/2 position so you have a nice wind block and your're still sitting outside. At night when it gets colder, the sun has set, and your sick of scraping ice out from your holes, just flip it down and turn on the heater. Best of both worlds. Not to mention you have a sled to haul all your stuff out to the middle of the lake.

[paceman]

I don't like fishing outside unless it is above freezing. I hate it when the wind blows and the fishing line is iced up and blowing around and snagging on stuff. I am getting older and softer and just like fishing in comfort of an enclosed heated fish house.

[fishwater]

ice house always. I need a sled to carry my gear and the house is attached to it.

[jBohmer]

I hate freezing line and holes, that being said I will tolerate it to a point if it is a nice day. The cold itself does not really bother me. Flipovers have three functions: coverd, wind block, and all open. Nice to have the sled if you are moving around as well.