Dear Otter

[MikeH55343]

Dear Otter,

We have been together through many long years. -60 wind chill on URL and a lot of snowy nights on Tonka. A million tiny sunnies and some sweet ice cats on Horseshoe.

You won me away from that cheap blue hussie that I had picked up when I was young and dumb.

I have many fond memories of your green canvas walls - even the mouse holes patches bring back memories. I was going to buy you a new dress this year. I had heard about the new Thermal models that would make use both oh so warm.

But alas, I do NOT love Blue Camo. We may need to part ways. I am sure this is just a fad but I may not have the patience to wait for it to pass. I do not see me sitting out on the lake in some thing that looks like what a teenager would ware to the mall.

There are many fish in (on) the frozen lake and you will find someone to love your fashionable Blue Camo. I will find my new red, black, or blue fishing partner out there soon.

[gonehunting]

X2

I currently own last years version of the solid ice blue Otter Lodge. All the hype and advertising had me ready to drop another $800-$1000 on the latest and greatest full thermal version of the otter. That is until I heard that they were only offering it in the ice blue camo. I will be keeping my current Otter Lodge and hopefully Otter will realize the camo is not for everyone. Otter Pro Staffers please pass this on to company reps. They will be missing a significant amount of sales because of this.

[holmsvc]

Just buy a canvas craft insulated house on an otter sled.

[Northlander]

Guys thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. I will make sure I pass this along to the crew at Otter Outdoors. The Wild series color was changed this year because of such feed back amongst other things and who knows maybe next year things will change with the Pro series. Otter likes to hear feedback from its consumers and please feel free to go to www.otter.com and use the contact us link there for any questions or concerns in the future.

If your at the St. paul Ice Show stop by the Otter booth and say Hi.

[gonehunting]

Thanks for passing the word on Northlander. I will not be switching brands because of it. Just waiting another year to purchase if color changes. You will not find a better built portable fishhouse in my opinion.

[lakevet]

Just buy a canvas craft insulated house on an otter sled.

I second that idea. Great customer service and repair if needed.

lakevet

[crappiebuster]

Been a Frabill guy for awhile and was thinking of making the switch to the Otter because of all the good reviews. Never been a fan of the blue camo. The black on the wild houses I could live with. Was leaning towards the 2 man cabin but it doesnt appear they offer the black camo on the fully insulated houses? Another thing they need to start doing is giving the weight of the house with 1 seat in and one removed. Or just state the weight of the seat? I usually take one out if its a long drag and no one else is along.

[HookedUp]

I can live with the color but I can not live with the price. I have had my current Otter Lodge for several years and have loved it. It is still in pretty good shape (no tears or holes in the canvas) but I was thinking of upgrading, primarily to get new poles with the glide inserts. Based on the cost it's not going to happen. I understand inflation but this is unbelievable, the cost is over double from when I purchased mine. I am not sure if it is the new fabric/material that is driving much of the cost but I could certainly live with a plain canvas version, after all, I'm ice fishing, I don't need to sit in a t-shirt. Please don't tell me I need the insulated fabric, I've spent many hours in my house from southern Minnesota to Windy, 20 below zero days on Lake Winnipeg with no problem. I'm going to make do with my current house and when I have to replace my Otter I am going to most likely switch to something more affordable. I am guessing there will be several responses saying the Otter houses are worth the investment but I am also sure there are several people that may not respond but will agree the house is no longer affordable.

[panfishpounder00]

x2 with crappiebuster, i am also a frabill guy but have seriously looked at otter for their shelters with some very nice features that frabill does not offer like the rail seating with the staorage option, the very easily removable tent to keep those pesky mice at bay!and the square tubing!! but that blue camo has to go!! the wild series black and gray camo i can deal with but dont offer with the seating system as the pro series has!

[Bobb-o]

Another thing they need to start doing is giving the weight of the house with 1 seat in and one removed. Or just state the weight of the seat? I usually take one out if its a long drag and no one else is along.

The weight of an Otter Swivel Seat can't be more than 5 lbs, can hardly think that will make much of a difference

[panfishpounder00]

i was wondering the same bobb-o... i mean if your alredy hauling like 100 lbs and maybe 130-150 with gear, what does a single swivel seat matter? if you want lightwieght go with a hub or 1 person flipover....

[LakeoftheWoods]

you all sound like a bunch of women lol

[muc33]

Truth be told, I am not an Ice Camo fan either, but really, if I or others were really that concerned with appearance, I likely wound never have gotten married, unless she was blind. So like my wife, I don't put much on the outer appearance, rather it's total workability! Thanks honey!

[Iambjm]

Bring back the Viking purple. Mine is really beat up and has a busted zipper.

[klousy]

forget the color, what about a back door?

[LMITOUT]

I have the Blue Ice Camo and don't mind it, but I'm not a "blue" guy and would REALLY like to see the Black Ice Camo in the pro series and not just the "Wild" packages. PLEASE!!! I would have upgraded to the new insulated version but since it's only offered in the Blue Ice I'm going to hold onto what I have for now.

However, even something as petty as the color won't make me change brands, though. Otter Outdoors has the best house on the market, IMO. I've been using their flip-over for about 10 years now and don't see any reason to change. I've sold my old flip-overs to friends and they're still going strong.

[magicstix]

I personally like the purple also. I tried buying a green one once but couldn't do it. I don't mind the camo but would rather have purple. I'd probably buy a used purple one before new. I'd stick with the otter brand because of durability and past expirence. The new seat rail system looks pretty slick.

[Knoc]

Me and my girlfriend were in scheels on Friday and while she was in the bathroom I was checking out the fish houses they had and was sitting on a seat from the Blue camo otter one they had on display. When my gf came out she asked if that was the "gangster fishouse" and laughed at the blue camo. I personally dont mind it, I pay more attention to the other stuff like computability, room and quality. The more I thought about it though, it is a pretty weird color choice. But whatever though, it could be worse. Could be pink with flowers on it.

[schweady]

I've always wondered what the camo fish house craze is about. Maybe:

- Hey... those guys in the house 20 feet away don't even know that I am fishing here...

- Isn't it cool to make it more likely that we'll be hit by some crazy snowmobiler...

- Shhh... We aw hunting... hunting fow wawweye...

[alumacraft3]

I went to scheels today and looked at an otter. I also dont really care for the color but after sitting in it and looking at the sled, seats and thermal cover I might have to get me one. Its a huge portable and I usually fish alone but I like the fact that I can fit everything I would need in the sled including my cooler and grill if I wanted. It looks like a very nice unit. I was set on a frabill but this kind of changed my mind. Anyone out there want to talk me out of it? Ive only heard good things about both frabill and otter.

[gonehunting]

I would highly recommend going with the otter even though I don't care for the blue camo. Don't get me wrong, the frabill company has come along way in the past couple years and built some very nice portables. However, I still believe the otter sled is the best sled on the market. You also have MN customer service to back you up.

[harvey lee]

I own one of the ice camo's as I really did not care what color it is. For me, the construction of the portable is what really matters in my eyes.

I wanted an insulated model and didn't want to wait for Otter to come out with one so I got one of the insulated models from Canvas Craft. A great portable with an Otter tub and nice seating also. They heat so darn nice and the white inside really helps with the lighting.

[holmsvc]

I can't believe people are complaining that they changed the color from purple.

[crappiebuster]

Sounds like a buncha Viqueen fans to me

[goblueM]

I can't believe people are complaining that they changed the color from purple.

+1, last thing i would worry about is color. i mean... really guys? Really??