Otter Pro Cabin

[gill man]

My old trusty Fish Trap Guide is wearing very thin in the rear with about 4 inches of one of the rear runners nearly gone. I'll be in the market for a new flip over for next year and the Otter Pro Cabin is high on my list.

My main question is how much are you able to fit in the tub without being a packaging engineer? I'm often loaded lighter and on the hunt, but if it's a tip up walleye outing the gear list would include up to:

Power auger, heater (Big Buddy or sunflower style with 20 pound tank), minnow bucket, 2 5 gallon buckets and a flasher or two. Maybe a small bag or cooler of snacks.

I can just fit all of this in my Guide now, but mine is the old style where you can push the seat bar back towards the rear of the shack so you have most of the tub open for storage. I don't see any new shacks with this option now. The otter has the cross link seats. The seats can be removed but the bar is mounted solid.

How easy is it to fit a power auger in the tub as well as a few bucket shaped items?

The sled used for the Cabin is about 5" longer than my guide but around 4 inches narrower. nobody locally has had one for me to look at - just the Lodge.

Tucker

[Blackhawkxp]

I have the wild cabin which i think has the same dimensions as the pro just not as heavy. I can fit my eskimo auger, 20 # tank, heater, tackle bag, 5 gallon pail, minnow bucket, shovel, ice scoop, and flasher. This of course has the bench seat vs buckets so i am not sure it you gain or lose room but i would assume you would be able to fit your equipment in the sled although it will be tight. I normally attach my auger to the snowmobile so i can drill without having to unpack everything.

[AndRo]

I have mine on HSOList, only used once... all the accessories. With the newborn I likely won't get to use it for a couple years the way I really want to... I can fit my Auger, a couple 5 gallon pails, big buddy, rod bag, shovel, frabill scoop, and tackle bag in there pretty easy.

[dan z]

Get the bench, I love it in my t600. Way more room in the tub for items you have listed

[CamozKool]

I have the Otter XT900 Pro Cabin, because its fully insulated I don't need a twenty anymore, I get by on two one pound cylinders attached to a coleman northstar lantern which I rarely run on hi, they generally last 8-10 hours between the two, if its below 15-20 degs. and windy I'll hook up a mini-buddy, as backup I keep a five pound cylinder in my truck, I travel with either two vex or two ice trollers, I use either a lazer 8 inch or an ion, and use between three and four five gallon buckets, although two of those buckets are really, say like 2.5 or 3 gals..I also bring along a small shovel, so Im thinkin you could take along all the stuff you have mentioned, if you only use one of the seats like I do.... I also toss in a backpak of goodies to eat too...Im new to this site so don't cruxify me if Ive offended anyone...

[McGurk]

Nothing offensive there, Camoz. I had an otter cabin that could fit my SM auger, big buddy, tall 11 lb LP tank, bucket, shovel, flasher, and other stuff without any problems.

[CamozKool]

Yeah I really like my cabin, take it everywhere I go and if the warden wants to tag along I just toss in the other seat and to be honest I was very impressed with how warm it was with just the lantern...them otters gotta be the cadillac of flips...

[Jim Uran]

Yeah those Otters are nice, but don't forget to buy a gorilla to haul it around for you... heavy buggers... lol

[gill man]

Thanks guys, sounds like the Cabin should fit everything I need.

Andro - thanks for the offer but you're around 3 hours from me and I probably won't spring for all the accessories right off the bat and hape plans to use some Gander dollars. It's going to be all I can do to convice my wife I need to spend this much on a shack even with all the discounts I can get!

Jim, I'm guessing you're a Clam guy? What comparable models of any shack weigh significantly less than the Cabin? Consider a heavy duty sled and full thermal. Most I've found are going to be a few pounds on either side of 100 pounds. For as much as people say Otters weigh, if you really start looking at all versions, they don't weigh much more than any others.

Along with that, I only have to tow by hand until we get ice safe enough for an ATV, then the pickup when it's safe for them. In northern WI, I typically only have a couple weekends of hand towing.

[AndRo]

3 Hours is a decent drive but I'd be willing to take some of the gander bucks to offset the cashola.

[Jim Uran]

Im a mobile guy. Had a team wild 3 last year. It was nice, just not for my type of fishing. Heck I like the solo units, eskimo makes a nice light one too.

[Jim Uran]

And if you are going full thermal and need room for more people, the popups they make these days are sweeeeet!

[gill man]

Jim, ideally I'd have a light 1 man Fishtrap to throw on the back of the wheeler, an Otter Cabin for going on foot with a 2 people, and an Otter Lodge for when me, the wife, and my dog, or 3 fishermen are going out and can use the ATV or truck. The book keeper isn't allowing that, so my best compromise is a solid 2 man. Through my research the Cabin seems to fit my needs the best. I wish it was lighter but I wish they were all lighter.

I see more and more pop up hubs out these days, but I've never seen anybody move one. I imagine it would be a major chore to try following a school of crappies in one. Drag the shack (somehow) or pack it into a bundle and move it to a new hole. The go back and get your bucket/chair, rods, heater, and flasher and move them into the shack. Seems like they would be good for a tip up situation where you set up your shack and leave it, but I can't see how you'd be very mobile with one.

It's nice that they have good equipment for everyone's style of fishing these days. Thanks for the advice everyone. I made the mistake of using a friend's Solo Pro today. Now I want to also upgrade the tank of the Jiffy 30 I've had for 10+ years. What I really need advice on is how to convince the wife that these things are necessary.

Tucker

[Jim Uran]

Run your auget over with your wifes car

I see a pop up being a good tool for sitting on top of a school of crappies after dark. they are about as immobile as they cone, but are handy to have for a crowd! Good luck!!!