Hub Popup questions

[picksbigwagon]

I own a clam summit and last winter on Mille Lacs, my uddy and I both used out old keeper deluxe chairs cause we can carry our rods, etc in them. In "hind" sight, we both wish we had brought quad chairs. The 6x8 shelter has enough room for three guys in quads and maybe four guys in them if you space it right. I was thinking of a xl400t this winter, but will hold off for next year. 2 boys at home both like my LX5, so I need to get a couple more this year instead. No, they won't be getting LX5's....

[mww24]

I use a otter sport medium sled for my clam basecamp and all gear. gotta bunge it down before i put the sled cover on it but it works. Probably going to buy a bigger otter wild sled this winter. I use the fold up camping chairs that go in a bag. Just more comfy than a tripod chair. I hate the clam ice anchor screws. This winter I will be figuring something better out. I have some coat hangers is about it. Other than that the knick knacks are kept to a minimum. Mine is thermal so it gets warm enough that I dont worry about a fan to circulate air. My lis of gear that usually goes with my son and I when we fish is as follows.

2 camping style chairs.

Collapsing shovel

Big buddy heater with 1 pound tanks.

2 rod bags w/ about 4 combos each

flasher

couple small plano tackle boxes

soft sided backpack cooler with lunch and drinks

5 gallon pail for fish

auger

All this stuff does fit in a medium otter sport sled. I put all the gear and house in the sled and then bunge house down. Then the sled cover goes on. Then i bungee auger to the top.

When we fish out of the hub. I keep the flasher out and one rod with a tungsten jig on it. I drill holes and then my son drops the flasher and then sinks the jig and fishes the hole for a minute or two to see if he marks anything. Only when we mark a few fish do we take the time to set up the house. My son is only 9 so he isn't a ton of help setting up the shack yet. So in the wind its trick for me. I do tie off at least one side before popping it up. This prevents it from blowing away ideally. Last year with the lack of snow in the north metro it was a bit tricky on windy days. Banking the skirt definitely helps the house stay still.

All that said I'm looking for a good deal on a small 2 man for when its just me and him. I'm going to keep the hub for when my fiance wants to come and our littlest is old enough to come. The Hub has it's place and works well enough that I'd recommend it to anyone.

[DTro]

Good info thanks

[Lisa Almquist]

This thread has some really great info.

We're thinking of buying one of the bigger Clam hub-style shelters possibly the Clam Command Post. Would one big buddy heater be sufficient?

[picksbigwagon]

I forgot to second the ice angels too, those thing work really slick, especially when you use a figure 9 caribeener

[mww24]

I use a big buddy in my base camp thermal. Which is half of the command post. I usually run it on high to heat the house than keep on low to maintain the heat. Can usually fish in a sweatshirt and my bibs this way. Banking helps because you don't get the draft as bad. I think it would work for all but the coldest days. It also depends on how warm you like to be I suppose. If my house is 50 degrees I can sit in a sweatshirt all day comfortably. My fiance likes the ice house around 80 and she'll still be in a sweatshirt and bibs. So I guess it depends if you run cold or warm as well.

[fishwater]

thinking of buying one of the bigger Clam hub-style shelters possibly the Clam Command Post. Would one big buddy heater be sufficient?

As MWW pointed out, it'll work under most circumstances. I've fished a lot out of an older non-insulated and also the insulated command posts, from my experience it needs to be pretty windy and cold to need anything more with either. A fan really helps out. I do remember two years ago we were out and it was pushing -20 with 40mph winds and we needed more heat. With an additional regular buddy we had to keep it on low once we got it toasty in an insulated one.

[Matt C]

Lisa, I run a big buddy in my Clam Base Camp, it keeps it 'warm'. However I will be buying a bigger heater for this season.

Banking snow, and ice anchors are a must. I only set up 2 exterior anchors, never inside and all is good.

[DTro]

Well I finally got a chance to mess around with the new house a bit today.

Couple more questions...

For the guy line external anchoring, it seems like some sort of quick disconnect, bungee, or ratchet strap would be much more convenient than what is provided with house (a simple cinch line with no clips and knot tying involved). Any suggestions?

Also when packing it back up by myself it seemed like a containment strap around the bunched up house would have helped a lot for putting it back into the bag solo. Maybe a bungee for that too?

[skee0025]

I've had a hub for years. I use Ultimate ice anchors, they chew into the ice well and you can get a look at them during the St. Paul Show, they are there every year and thats where I got mine. I got tired of shoveling snow to bank it, so I purchased Snakors from soderblooms. They are basically a 2 inch diameter sand bag made to place on the skirt. If I remember correctly they come in 6 and 8 ft lengths. They are also great to have when fishing a wind blown lake that has little or no snow cover.

[picksbigwagon]

Well I finally got a chance to mess around with the new house a bit today.

Couple more questions...

For the guy line external anchoring, it seems like some sort of quick disconnect, bungee, or ratchet strap would be much more convenient than what is provided with house (a simple cinch line with no clips and knot tying involved). Any suggestions?

Also when packing it back up by myself it seemed like a containment strap around the bunched up house would have helped a lot for putting it back into the bag solo. Maybe a bungee for that too?

"Figure 9" caribeener clips. I leave the rope tied to the ice angels, leave the clip secured to the strap that you pull out on the hub. a simple wrap and tug and you are done.

[1968]

If the wind gets real bad beware. My command post tried to kill me. We had enough guys to set up and it stayed put, but the ceiling kept popping down. It had finally gotten up to temp and I dropped my hood. Well a gust came along and one of those 1/4 inch eye bolts at the hubs that stick out just a little on the inside brained me real hard, drawing a fair amount of blood too. My leather mittens still have the war paint on them. This happened right next to a rather large spearing hole too. Good thing I have a hard head!

Ended my fishing for the day, it was time to work on twelve pack abs at that point. Love the hub otherwise.

[DTro]

Thanks Picks! I had never seen those before. Where can I find them?

[TruthWalleyes]

[picksbigwagon]

I found mine at REI, but I know the big C does and I think I saw some at Fleet Farm last time I was there. ( I know, just what you need, a trip to fleet farm on the way home)

They make "S" clips too so make sure you get the right ones. the small ones work really really well the smaller one is the one you want

[sjlund]

For the guy line external anchoring, it seems like some sort of quick disconnect, bungee, or ratchet strap would be much more convenient than what is provided with house (a simple cinch line with no clips and knot tying involved). Any suggestions?

[irishwalleye]

6 * 12

Put up first. Use my rod bags to mark where I want to drill holes. Move the house. Drill. Replace house. Install 4 anchors (PITA but they seem to work). Two Clam fan/light combos. Big Buddy heater. Tarp/moving blanket combo-floor at one end for the toddler/wife and enjoy. Was told to "corner" into the wind as much as you can by Clam.

Its the only way my wife will join me out on the ice.

[pikestabber]

For the guy line external anchoring, it seems like some sort of quick disconnect, bungee, or ratchet strap would be much more convenient than what is provided with house (a simple cinch line with no clips and knot tying involved). Any suggestions?

Looks like a lot of nice clips are available, but it really can be much simpler if you wish...my guy lines stay tied to my house at all times, even when I pack up. There are two, and they go on the opposite sides of the house from the door (see pic). I always set up with the corner away from the door facing the wind, angled as shown for aerodynamic purposes (plus there is no need to purposely step outside into the wind). After my corner anchors are in, and with both lines already tied to the house, I walk each guy line to where I want them staked, pull tight, and where it hits is where I put the anchor. Now, with a simple loop tied in the end of each guy line (a loop that is permanently tied), I simply slip it over the hook (which is open just underneath the handle on the Eskimo anchors) and it is tight and at the right distance every time. No need to clip and it's just as fast or faster.

[TruthWalleyes]

Get ready to re anchor when the wind all of a sudden changes too

[shizzy]

Also when packing it back up by myself it seemed like a containment strap around the bunched up house would have helped a lot for putting it back into the bag solo. Maybe a bungee for that too?

my Eskimo came with a wide Velcro strap for this purpose. I think it helps. In fact when I've been packing up in the dark I've just folded the house up, wrapped the strap around it and tossed it in the sled. Sometimes it's easier to mess with getting it back in the bag in the comfort of your garage.

[minnesotathorn]

I've had a hub for years. I use Ultimate ice anchors, they chew into the ice well and you can get a look at them during the St. Paul Show, they are there every year and thats where I got mine. I got tired of shoveling snow to bank it, so I purchased Snakors from soderblooms. They are basically a 2 inch diameter sand bag made to place on the skirt. If I remember correctly they come in 6 and 8 ft lengths. They are also great to have when fishing a wind blown lake that has little or no snow cover.

the snakors sound interesting but i can't locate them. tried soderblooms without any luck also. any more info would be great. thanks

[Pooh]

Clam tube light, lasts 3 to 4 hours in a full charge. I use a heater cooker on 1lb tanks. Sled is pretty full with a 6by6 hub, auger, heater and tanks, rods, flasher, pails and seat. Easily pulls when I'm alone.

My hub guy lines are a 1 inch nylon strap with plastic buckles. Anchor the ice anchor clip the together and pull taught..

[pikestabber]

...

[schweady]

Those nite ize figure 9 carabiners are sweet. I got a load of them for stocking stuffers at bargain outfitters for 1/5 rei's price. Items don't always show up as available there, but they usually have good prices on a lot of outdoor stuff.

[DTro]

Well, slowly but surely my dive into the popup scene is taking shape.

I picked up a team wild medium combo pack with hitch hyfax and cover. I'm really pleased with how everything fits. Now I just need to pick up some chairs and I'm good to go.

I also picked up a couple of these quick pull ratchet tie downs for the anchor lines: