hub houses

[Cast A Way]

I have a Eskimo QF 3 and QF 6 - both have been up and down many times with no problems. Just take your time. I use 4 foot bundjy cords on the walls hooked to the ice anchors. Bank the house. We drive the ice anchors with a cordless drill and homemade bit. Wind has never been a problem once set up. We do try to put a corner into the wind.

[ted4887]

Just a thought on the ice anchor issue with these houses. When I had my hub, I purchased the Ice Angel anchors. They work wonders! You can pick them up at FF when they have their ice fishing gear in stock, or just order them online. THey are great, and save you the room of bringing a drill, if that is a concern for you. All you need to do is drill a 6" hole and drop it in, and you're good to go.

[rodmoen]

I actually have an HT Instashak that was bought at the end of last year on sale at GM for 149. It came with a sled and 2 chairs. Chairs are the tri-fold and were so sh!&% they discontinued them but the shak is great. 2 doors 5x5 2 guys comfortable, 2 comfortable chairs fit in the sled with the shak. HT did send me new chairs when I called to complain so if you also had this problem you might want to. The shack itself has good hubs, goes up easier than my bro's brand new eskimo 3 (which is literally falling apart at the seems after 2 months) has 2 doors ( 1 on eskimo) and has a full zipper bag (not a stuff sack style) that has shoulder straps and carries great on your back with rods and tackle inside if your makin a long walk somewhere.

[ditchpickle6996]

I have never had problems setting up my QF3 in the wind. The key is to screw all four corners down and then pop open the two walls into the wind and hook them (I have carabiners tied to each rope and just leave them on all the time.) to the remaining two ice screws already screwed in. I couldn't be more impressed with my eskimo. Two doors would be nice but I'm usually fishing alone so it's not that big of a deal.

[tonkapat]

I have never had problems setting up my QF3 in the wind. The key is to screw all four corners down and then pop open the two walls into the wind and hook them (I have carabiners tied to each rope and just leave them on all the time.) to the remaining two ice screws already screwed in.

Boy sounds like a lot of work to me. Open the bag find the corner opposite the door put a stake into the ice through that corner and set the shack up. Unless it is blowing 40 you don't need more than two stakes. Also by putting a stake in before you set the shack up it makes it so one guy can set it up with ease.

[Swimmer]

I like my QF III mighty fine, but I agree the zipper is [PoorWordUsage]. It is so tight that I have to squeeze the two side together every 5 inches when zipping or the two zipper sides will separate (a SNAFU when the zipper is slightly frozen and bottle bass have been biting). I must have got an early one because I have the zipper storage bag with backpack straps...which works great.

[ditchpickle6996]

[boy sounds like a lot of work to me. Open the bag find the corner opposite the door put a stake into the ice through that corner and set the shack up. Unless it is blowing 40 you don't need more than two stakes. Also by putting a stake in before you set the shack up it makes it so one guy can set it up with ease.

[cold one sd]

Use a strap or 2 to cinch the house up before you put it in the bag and it will slide right in.

I like my new bag. Lots of room for everything and vented on the bottom.

[NCLaker]

I've had the Eskimo Quick Fish III for 3 years now. I do like it for its portability and efficiency (has to have the best space to weight/fold down size). With the sled I use, I'm able to hold everything: storage container (holds tip ups, flasher, radio, ect), rod bags, bug buddy, Lazer Mag Express, QF III -- easily in the back of a Jeep Liberty...

Swimmer,

What are you using for sled?

Thanks

[Ed Carlson]

I added the Frabill Frontier this season. It has seen a lot of use this year on the Red River.

I have a friend whom uses it almost daily and he is totally sold on it. His last hub went to heck, I think it was an Eskimo early model. He has nothing but good to say about the Frontier and it's convenience and durability. Easy to heat, light to tow, the Max Venting works well, fast easy set-up and take down.

The handy Frabill Anchor Wallet provided with the Frabill line of hubs also fits a set of Ice Angels nicely. The Frabill duffel is nice sized and has a good strong zipper with solid straps.

I will give it very high marks as a very good economic 2-man package portable hub unit.

[TubaDr]

Another concern... Keep your kids away from the inside of the side of the shelter closest to the wind. My son and I were out this weekend and he was sitting by his hole when the wind popped the hub in. I realize I should have anchored it but it was not windy when we set up and this was the first gust. Anyway the hub hit him in the side of the head. About 15min. later he started to puke his guts out. I check and sure enough he had one puple blone.... concution was verified at the hospital 25 min. later. I will say I havent take the house down faster and I did leave two tipups behind because I was in a hurry. Easy come easy go. I will be anchoring my house from now on.

[PRO-V]

I had trouble zipping the door shut on my Clam Base Camp Thermal till I figured out to pull in on the pole next to the door a bit.Zips up just fine then.

[kfk]

I have a Cabelas 6X6 and I love it. It's one of my best outdoor purchases ever.

[Stringerless!]

TubaDR, Scary. I would have never thought about that happening. Hope your son is Ok !

[TubaDr]

Yes he is OK. He asked to go back out after we left the hospital. I think he has the fever for fishing about as bad as I do.

[Ed Carlson]

Wow...glad he is OK.

Wind gusts have been known to pop inwerd on the hubs unexpectedly, yet that is a freak type deal and resulting injury.

Uff-Da!

TIP: Check out a set of Ice Angels once. Easy and fast to secure the hub shack down and even just one in use on the windward side will lessen any complications in the wind. Two set on opposite ends is best, they come in a set of 2, and basically eliminates all wind concerns on most size hub shacks. On the big bus sized hub units, 2 sets would be well advised on windy days just to be safe.

Very happy to hear your son is OK. And your were smart to get it checked out right of, concussions are nothing to messed with.

[TubaDr]

Funny you should mention that. I picked up a set last night at FF. My son is iching to go out and give them a try. Probably Friday night after work.

[Ed Carlson]

They work very well. You will find them highly useful and easy to use.

I recommend the use of adjustable straps on them, and not Bungees. Utilize the stored energy of the hub shack itself to maintain a constant static resistance on the Ice Angels. Bungees do work, but I find the quick adjustable nature of the straps easier in use, and more reliable in performance. Your far less prone to snap yourself in the snoot too with a flat strap...seen it done...it stings. OK...I did it...live and learn right.

For purposes of full disclosure, I invented them. I have a long and unique history in there development. It was a situation of innovation by necessity. The good folks at Digger Anchor Co. seen fit to fallow through and add them to there line of on ice products.

[TubaDr]

Thanks for the advice. I had pand on using the straps that came with the shelter. As far as the live and learn part I know I did I just wish it had been me and not my son. The wife was not pleased when she heard what happened.