Re: People Who Build Custom Ice Fishing Houses

[waschy]

Hi all,

I'm looking for someone who builds custom ice fishing houses. I know there are some wicked ones on Mille Lacs lake in Minnesota that have cable, hardwood floors, big screen tvs, etc. I'm looking to get someone to build something like that. Could you please pass on names and contact info of people who are known to do this stuff? Thanks!

Best,

Thomas

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

What sort of house do you want? Wheel house? Skid House? Size? Other amenities? It all comes down to how much you want to spend.

Sent you a PM as well.

[waschy]

I'm looking to build something like this:

[ozzie]

that appears to be a skid house and not a wheel house but they can make both cool and comfortable. Where ya using it?

[leech~~]

I'm looking to build something like this:

waschy,

Welcome to the forum. Are you still out in Cal'y or are you here now? If not, what are you going to do with a tricked out ice house out there?

[gunner55]

Was wondering the same thing Leech

[Chad Holst]

Washy, Here are the things to consider...

A) Wheels or skids?

Wheel houses are nice if you need to travel the house a long distance or may want to take trips to lakes away from the area you store it in. Thats a big bonus, but comes with 2 down sides. You will oose in the house for the wheel wells and you have to create some sort of "lowering" system to drop the house down to the ice, when you are going from "trailer mode" to "fishing mode". (atleast for a large house like this you would)

The upside of a skid house is that it is hard to get it stuck on a snow covered lake and is cheaper to make and maintain, but you wont be taking it to other lakes, from where you store it.

Also, you typically wont be using a skid house as a 4 season unit. Its for ice fishing and thats about it. A wheel house like you want will double as a camper in the warm months.

2) Size. How big do you need it, and how big do you want it? They may not be tghe same thing. Are you looking to sleep in the house? how many sleeping debs are needed? Bathroom?

basically ask yourself if you want a place to fish out of, while you camp...or do you want a place to camp out of, while you fish. Answering this question will go along way in determining what you really should be looking at for size and features.

3) Whats important to you, look or practicality? Or both? If its looks, it will cost you, if its BOTH it will REALLY cost you.

Besides having holes in the floor and a place to drop a duece or catch some sleep, what other things will you be doing in the house? TV? how will you poer it. Cooking? Oven and stove, or just a stove? Do you want a dinning area or will you be eating on the go?

Basically you need to figure out a priority list of what you NEED and then list the items you want. Then post that reply here. It will help these guys direct you towards a certain builder or a certain brand if you are buying from factory.

[WalleyeVision]

If you are looking for a custom house one option is Custom Cottages. He does wheel houses and skid houses. He built one for me a few years ago, and I love it. The process starts by going to his shop to take a tour and then sitting down with him over a beer and walking through what is important to you and then working together to sketch it out. Great overall process and he's done some really cool build outs. I'm sure he could send you pics. It's been a few years since I bought mine so I'm sure there are other options out there now, but I also looked at Lodge houses and they are really nice, not sure on the custom build out.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Washy, Here are the things to consider...

The upside of a skid house is that it is hard to get it stuck on a snow covered lake and is cheaper to make and maintain, but you wont be taking it to other lakes, from where you store it.

All good points, but I will strongly disagree with them being hard to get stuck. If you have more than 6" of soft snow, you're going to need a plow, or a truck to lift the house as it pulls it. The only exception to this is if you have one of the small, super light aluminum houses with the wide skiis. Been there, done that, once.

There are plenty of other upsides to skid houses, especially if you want to keep them on a big lake like Mille Lacs.

[waschy]

Thanks for this info you guys.

What are the most well-known custom ice fishing builders? I know Ice Castle is leading the way, but I want other options. There have to be smaller companies who specialize in this sort of thing.

Thanks!

[Chad Holst]

Washy, i wouldn consider Ice Castle a custom built Ice house.

When I think of a custom Built house, i think of a company that will start from scratch on what I want, then built it. They may use the same frame building techniques or the same types of outside covering, but everything else is built from the need of the customer.

I wouldnt say a house is custom, just because i get to choose where the bed goes or how the hole lay out is.

Team Lodge in SD (team extreme) build all of their houses to order. You can request whatever you want and they can make it. Call Dave and just talk to the guy and you will know what i'm talking about.

However if you are simply looking for a company to make a shell and then you decide the basic layouts on just the inside, alot of manufacturers will make just the shell and then you can hire or do the interior yourself.

FYI, if you do "custom build" a house, this is the time to order it, most of these companies are slower in the off season and can put more time into special projects like this.

[Ballyhoo]

Big Bite in Greenbush, Mn builds some nice houses. They have both skid and wheel houses that they sell and I have heard they will work with people to build them as they want.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I checked into this a little bit. Apparently it is for an unscripted tv show about custom fish houses, rather than looking to custom build something to use.

[waschy]

Thanks guys. I've talked to Dave at Team Lodge and he's a great guy. Also met with Troy and company at length. Both great businesses.

Anymore like these that come to mind?

Has anyone done business with Ice Forts Custom Fish Houses (http://iceforts.com/) and know who I could talk to there?

I'm Canadian originally so I've done my fair share!

[Chad Holst]

Quote:

I checked into this a little bit. Apparently it is for an unscripted tv show about custom fish houses, rather than looking to custom build something to use.

Ah, i see. Well, i happen to know someone that built a custom house from the ground up, for a great cause, and any publicity they get would be great WINK WINK.

Plus im going to guess that they wont find many wheel chair accesible houses...with 32 LED TV's, bait well, Live well, etc made to let others use...for free. but who knows.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Thanks guys. I've talked to Dave at Team Lodge and he's a great guy. Also met with Troy and company at length. Both great businesses.

Anymore like these that come to mind?

Has anyone done business with Ice Forts Custom Fish Houses (http://iceforts.com/) and know who I could talk to there?

I'm Canadian originally so I've done my fair share!

Check out Ice Assault in Big Lake, MN. It doesn't get any more custom or high end than 4 hydraulic slide outs.

[Chad Holst]

^^^ True.

[waschy]

Thanks guys. Spoke with the owners at Ice Assault, exactly what we're looking for. Keep them coming if other names come up. Thanks!