Best Portable for $300 or less?

[Moose-Hunter]

As much as I hate it, I must accept the fact ice will soon cover the lakes. I recently sold my Clam 6800 since it was too big and heavy for one person to horse around. That said... I guess I'm in the market for a portable.

- Must be easy for one person to move in and out of a truck. I don't have a sled or an ATV.

- Must be easy to set up and take down.

- Must be sized to fish two comfortably. Meaning 4 holes INSIDE.

- Suitcase style is preferred by not mandatory.

- If you suggest a hub style, do you cover the ice?

For $300 or less, which portable would your recommend and why?

[dan z]

I'm thinking you need a hub for price wise. Unless you buy a used flip over. Once you use a flip over with a sturdy tub you'll say good by to suitcase style houses.

[Moose-Hunter]

I'm thinking you need a hub for price wise. Unless you buy a used flip over. Once you use a flip over with a sturdy tub you'll say good by to suitcase style houses.

A hub is a possibility. As well as the smaller suitcases (Frabill Refuge, Calm 2000) I used to have a Otter Lodge (?) from way back when. Didn't care for it much. Too confining in that I couldn't even stand up in the. I MUST be able to stand up in what ever I buy on account of a bad back. Sitting too long is bad enough... Not to mention WAY too expensive for what you actually get.

[gonehunting]

Don't be afraid to look on hsolist. You can find some smaller portables like the Clam Yukon/Voyager, Otter Cabin, etc for that price. A lot of them out there this time of year.

[Moose-Hunter]

Don't be afraid to look on hsolist. You can find some smaller portables like the Clam Yukon/Voyager, Otter Cabin, etc for that price. A lot of them out there this time of year.

Thanks for the suggestion but from what I've experienced, let's just say I may as well buy new.

[Pooh]

FF had a shapell widehouse hub on sale, looks to be like eskimos fatfish. Between that and a good sled you'll be in about 300

[Stick in Mud]

It'll be tough to find a stand-up-in flipover less than $300 unless you get one used. It's not impossible to find one, but the bigger ones are def more than what you're looking to spend.

[ice_medic]

I would suggest a hub style fish house. I have fished out of a suitcase style one for over 20 years. I loved them and they worked great. I switched to a hub style one last year and I can say that I have never been happier. They work great and are light weight. I cut the weight in my sled down from 200 pounds with the house, gear, and heater to under 100. Granted the old fish house was one of the old mankato tent heavy canvas and wood base ones. The hub style for me worked great in the wind and didn't push over in the wind. They set up easy and fast and same goes with the take down. I picked up a eskimo 767 last year for $120. It worked wonderful and fishes 2 people comfortable with 4 holes. The only thing as with any portable I have had is with the condesation on the walls with the heater running. Other than that it was warm and i Have nothing but good things to say about them. I hope that helps

[muc33]

Bigfoot 4000T

[hooked79]

fatfish 949 i bought one last yr and i love it

it is a 8x8 on the floor you can fish 4 ppl

and the price is good i think i picked mine up from fleet farm for just under 200$ and if you can find and old clam 8x8 sleeper

cheap or like i did i got one for free casue the canvas was shot

the fat fish will fit perfict inside the floor

i also have a qf3 that i use most of the time but that is only good for 2 aduls and 3 holes i picked mine up used off hsolist for 250.00 what i like about that one is you have a sled and house all in one but if you are gonna bring more than 2 ppl with a hub will work best

[Jim Uran]

I looked at the bigfoot also, a lot of bang for your buck. It will take some getting used to setting it up but a buddy of mine sets his clam hub up by himself. I fish solo so I picked up a scout tc. but im going to pick up a bigfoot for when I take the kids out.

[TyGuy02]

I was really happy with my first real setup with the bigfoot 4000T, 20 mph winds and I did it myself. I think when I setup by myself in the wind, I will drill the holes after I have it set up.

[Moose-Hunter]

Problem solved! Thanks all for the tips and advice!