Hub houses

[JackPineGuy]

just wondering are these hub houses the wave of the future or something? hardly any manufactures making suitcase style houses any more. im baffled

[sunniewally]

they have their place but hard to beat a flip over. if you have to buy a sled to haul it and a wood floor or some type of flooring then you might just as well buy a flip over, especially if you move a lot.

[Thunderfoot]

I've used hubs, flip-overs, and suitcases, suitcase houses are by far my least favorite. Flip-over houses are best for the mobile angler but I feel provide the least amount of space unless you buy the biggest, baddest one you can find. I just bought a Clam hub last year and absolutely love it. The amount of room inside is amazing, my 6' tall friend can even stand straight up in it! I bought some rubber mats just for under my feet while I'm sitting to keep them warmer, I don't think you need a wood floor, I fished all of last winter with just a 1.5'x3' mat under my feet and never got cold once. They are also amazingly easy to set up and tear down, not as easy as a flip-over obviously but if you have some patience the first few times you set it up it will become easier each time you use it. It's all about what YOU plan on doing with it. I recommend going to a store or ice fishing show and talking with someone to figure out what will be best for you.

[DLD24]

Hubs are nice if you fish with your car as I do... Take up very little room... Like them more than suitcase style

[TruthWalleyes]

I started with a suitcase. Gave it away when I got a hub. Flip overs are too heavy and short. I can put everything in an otter sled and weigh less than a flip over. I have a QF3 and an XL4000T

[123fish]

I've always wondered why you couldn't just use your turkey blind. You can carry those in on your back if you want to.

[Thunderfoot]

You absolutely could use a hunting blind! The only thing is depending on the material the blind is made out of it could get chilly, the hunting blinds I have are pretty flimsy. I was actually thinking about using my fishing hub for hunting this year. The only problem is there aren't any openings for shooting through other than the doors so I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to make it work.

[ClownColor]

I've always wondered why you couldn't just use your turkey blind. You can carry those in on your back if you want to.

My hunting blind says to not use heat or open flame inside.

Hubs are fantastic and cheap.

[20lbSloughShark]

Here's my take on potability by types of fish houses from most mobile, to least mobile:

Flip over

Hub

Suit-Case

Small permanent/dark house

large permanent "ice castles"

The list also seems to be in order of coldest to warmest. If your limited to a car only, you can not beat a hub fish house. They pack down extremely small. Mine came in a case that can be worn as a back pack. I could just wear the house, and everyone just carried some things in buckets.

If you have a truck, you will most likely be best off with a flip over, or suit case. I think suit case style houses are under rated. Once open, they are essentially a sled full of your gear. I would never sleep overnight in a flip over, although they are ok chasing the night crappie bite. If you bring a cot, most suit case styles can have 2 guys sleep in them, just bring some clip on rattle reels. I've spent plenty of nights in an old wooden 5x8 suitcase fish house.

I just wanted to add, in terms of how hard it is to set-up and tear-down, most days a hub is very close to a suit case style. If you add in any sort of wind, the suit case gets a strong lead. Anyone who argues has never had to chase down a flying hub house.

[Brad B]

Thunderfoot,

sent you a PM about something to check out when it comes to hub hunting blinds.

[DLD24]

I just wanted to add, in terms of how hard it is to set-up and tear-down, most days a hub is very close to a suit case style. If you add in any sort of wind, the suit case gets a strong lead. Anyone who argues has never had to chase down a flying hub house.

You just have to know how to set up a hub in the wind, (pretty simple) before you pull the hubs out put an anchor in a corner then proceed to pull the hubs out...If its really windy also screw in an anchor for a rope for the wind side hub, so as soon as you get the hubs pulled out you can tie it off to that anchor right away...

[20lbSloughShark]

I used to do that...then the eye ripped right out on a really windy day. The best I can find is to tie the first side to an anchor, and then as soon as its up, bury the flaps in snow. The other thing is the sides can buckle in with strong wind if they are not anchored. If I had a truck or trailer, and only one house (best would be one of each), I would strongly consider a suitcase style. Its actually very possible if I decide my 4x8 permanent skid house is too heavy, I'll sell it next year and get a suitcase style.

[Valleye]

The Huberts are great. All shelter manufacturers have their line so you don't have a problem finding the one you like. I have my Fishtrap Scout and have my Hubert when I want to set up a base camp with the kids. Wind is an issue so make sure you do exactly what the previous posters stated. After putting it up a couple of times its easy as 1-2-3!

[ice_medic]

I started fishing with a suitcase style fish house and fished with the exact same one since i was 8 years old. It had survived the toughest of conditions and did what it was supposed to do with out a hitch. Now after saying that after fishing with that suitcase style house on a day when i was really questioning if i should be out on the lake or not due to the high winds and having the house fold in on itself and drag me across the lake and tear up every piece of canvas on it beyond repair i laid that house to rest and went with a hub. I must say that i will never go back. I have not been cold with the hub and all that i carry is some carpet samples in the sled to put my feet on and they have never been cold. The hub after getting used to setting it up can fish in very windy days. The hub is also very portable and light weight. My sled went from 200 pounds with the suitcase style to under 90 with the hub and is very easy to drag. Not to mention all the clothes i have saved from tearing from the sharp metal edges. The suitcase was a very old and well built house that is why it weighed so much. But all and all i could not be happier with my hubs that i have now. Although the hubs after quite a bit of wear and tear did give out a little quicker than the suitcase style. Nothing to major just where the poles are at the bottom of the house have punched through a few of the ends there. Nothing a little needle and wire or thead cant fix. That is my $.02 on the subject

[JackPineGuy]

i tell ya what thers a reason why hub houses are priced around 150 bux. lol... as far as mobility i got a couple fishtraps, but im a fan of suitcase houses for just plan old chillin. drill two holes lay back in a lawn chair and watch the world go by. i just got a classic old frabill and a old mankato in great shape. im stoaked. wish i still had my original old mankato tho

[JackPineGuy]

I got a fishtrap with the new thermal insulation and i couldent be happier but ill tell ya what if i could afford have like an 8x8 suitcase with thermal insulation or norpac id be in seventh heaven, id prefer that over a permi any day. im tellin ya my dream house ifi had powerball money would be an insulated 8x8 suitcase with a stained wood floor with 8 holes. prolly cost about a grand i spouse

[JackPineGuy]

i just found it boys on canvas crafts HSOforum, the northlander cabin 8x8 with norpac r2 insulation. 950 bone. might have ta hit up my brother for a G wooo

[pushbutton]

just wondering are these hub houses the wave of the future or something? hardly any manufactures making suitcase style houses any more. im baffled

In a way think your previous post just answered your original. For the average Joe Sixpack, a person can buy into a basic hub.......as well as a basic flasher, auger, rods, reels, tackle, accessories for a little more than that suitcase....as well as not need any additional mode of transportation other than a car; and once on the ice, leg power or said car, while can be limiting, is very doable without having to drop 2 to 3 g's up to 8 to 10 g's on wheeler or sled, just to go from place to place. Not to mention the truck and trailer needed to even get it to the ice. Yeah, hubs will be the wave of the future

[palisade1kid]

I fished several styles of shelters over the years...last winter I checked out the hubs...last week bought the Jason Mitchel 5000 insulated hub. although my last flip over was a dynamo I found the hub to have triple the room and it's 40 lbs lighter. Plus it was 300$ less expensive.I also does not take up so much room. True...if I'm walking the tub will take up the same room in my vehicle. i like the added insulation and light ...I did like the pack up in the flip with everything inside it. Anchors sorta bite but with any product there will be draw backs.

[Corey Bechtold]

They are popular with people that have smaller cars or don't do a lot of moving. I still like the Fish Trap style houses because I can use the sled as a gear hauler even if I'm not using the the shelter. I was really thinking about getting the smaller Clam Hub house for keeping in my Saturn for remote jumps.

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[pushbutton]

Smaller cars, medium ones, and even tucks too. And no they do not move as much, nor do they drop 40 grand to have too....and still have a good time on the ice Here is a pic from a "city lake".

[mrklean]

i bought a hub last year to spear out of and love it, lighter to carry more room and by the end of the season i sold my truck and could fit everything in my car, wish i had a hub in college when i only had a car would have made things easier.

[JakeJ_Mn]

I have a 8 x 20 wheelhouse, eskimo QF2 sled house / esk QF3 hub / esk QF6 hub and a Esk 949I insulated hub. I just purchased an Otter Pro 1200 insulated sled house. By far the 949I is the best and warmest of my hubs. I place interlocking foam mats(from the W store - ones you put under a treadmill) to keep my feet warm. I use the QF 3 to house the restroom when taking the wheelhouse. I use the QF 6 on occasion, but mostly to cover my atv or snowmobile when fishing out of either the sled houses or 949I. I have slept in my 949I very comfortably. Not sure a person can have too many. Most of the time, with kids and grands - I set up a small city of my own.

On a side note of tying down the houses - I use 4' bungy cords with ice anchors - just snug on every outside loop. Banked with snow. Never had one blow down.