Otter Outdoors - Hauling Ice Fishing Gear - Recap

[Dave]

Otter Outdoors is a Fishing Minnesota sponsor and helps keep this site free for all of us.

Last year, we took a look at the Otter Outdoors new Monster Box for ATVs. If you missed the thread, you can view it here.

Otter Outdoors Monster Box

With ice fishing approaching, I thought the new readers of Fishing Minnesota would like to see some Otter Outdoors Monster Box ATV accessories that are available; to make your early ice adventures easier. The Otter goodies are mounted on an '05 Polaris Sportsman 700 with fuel injection. Ice fishing's fun, if you travel the right way!

Hauling all my ice fishing gear on the ATV leaves my Otter Lodge free of gear; making it easier to set up the Otter Lodge after arriving to a fishing location. And, mostly importantly, all the gear is not bouncing around in the Otter Sled.

This Otter Ice Shield is the 10-inch model. The 8-inch model is now available. Two bungee straps hold the power auger securely in place. It works well for stopping and checking out fishing spots before you setup your shelter. On short scouting rides, there's no need to strap the auger into the Ice Shield. It's much easier to punch a couple of holes and move to the next spot if needed. Kind of like pulling a pistol out of a holster.

The Monster Box Bucket Holder worked all year long for carrying my Coleman lantern in its case. Since the lantern is a lighweight item, I added a bungee cord for the rougher rides. There's no need to strap in a 5-gallon bucket of minnows, since it's much heavier and will stay in place on its own.

The recessed top of the medium and large Monster Box continues to hold extra bulky gear like chairs and coolers. I added the cargo net for faster access and tiedown of gear.

The large Monster Box easily holds my Marcum VS560 camera and Marcum LX-3, JR's Tackle rod/gear bag, 11-pound LP tank and heater, cooler full of minnows, Big Dipper and Fish Brothers TipUp case and there's room left over.

All of Otter's Monster Box accessories use the AAS mounting system. AAS stands for "Accessory Attachment System" and it consists of simply sliding the accessory down onto the tabs on the sides of the Monster Box; much like a "tongue and groove" fit. And, the accessories have not jumped up and off the box when riding rough terrain. They actually need a little tap up from the bottom to loosen and slide off the Monster Box. The accessories can be removed from the Monster Box in a matter of seconds. I still give a thumbs after a year of testing these new ATV products from Otter Outdoors.

You can get more information on Otter Outdoors products here

Otter Outdoors

[Gus]

Talk about a "fishy" dream!

That is a ice fishing setup!

[metrojoe]

Nice set up Dave. Looks like the ultimate ice fishing rig.

[ChuckN]

I'm jealous. Nice set up!

[Moose-Hunter]

Hi Dave...

I AM IMPRESSED!!!! Very nice set-up!! Looks like Otter has the ATV ice angler covered from top to bottom.

You'll have to bring your rig to Tonka on Saturday.. I just gotta see this in person!!

[Dave]

Thanks, guys! Yup, Otter Outdoors really puts a lot of thought into its design of products, and in this case, its ATV accessories. The only problem I've encountered, I tend to bring more stuff with me now.

[TV BOY]

How is the tail light wired? and how much does the box its self weigh?

[Dave]

The wires for the tailight are in a molded channel underneath the box; so, the wires do not interfere with cargo. The large Monster Box is about 60-pounds, if I remember correctly. It should say on Otter's HSOforum.

[MJCatfish]

Very Cool!! Put some mat trax on that baby and you are set!!

MJ

[slabberknocker]

Dave I have a question for you. That auger shield, is it mounted on the box or attached to the rack? If it is attached to the rack does otter sell an attachment? I did not see anything on their site. I think that shield would work slick attached to the rack.

Thanks

Slab

[Hemlock]

Is there any way the auger shield could be mounted to a snowmobile?

[Dave]

Good questions, guys. The black Ice Shield you see above is a brand new Ice Shield auger holder that is designed to fit on the side of the Monster Box. I think I've got one of the first ones off the press. The Ice Shield slides down onto the molded in "Accessory Attachment System" that's on the sides of the Monster Box. The whole Ice Shield and auger can slide up off the side of the Monster Box and be carried into the garage or cabin.

Now, if you wanted an Ice Shield soley for mounting on an ATV rack or snowmobile you need to use a standard Ice Shield for that. Please call Otter Outdoors and ask if they have any mounting brackets tho. I know they were working on that also but invested more time in rolling out the "Monster Box Ice Shield".

If you use a a conventional Ice Shield, like the ones that have been at the stores for a few years, you can always fabricate some brackets yourself like I did here.

Let me know if that helps you.

[picksbigwagon]

Saw a guy the other day and it looked like he took 10" or maybe 9" Green PVC, cut it to fit the length of his Ice auger, notched four little spots out ont he edge of the tube and slid in his auger, on the back of his ATV. he had it connected at an angle to his back rack, it was a pretty slick set up. I have been thinkg about the same thing for my garage.......of course that would mean I would have to go to fleet farm, hmmmmm do they sell fishing stuff at fleet farm?

[Dave]

I forgot to add, the yellow Ice Shield in the last photo is an 8-inch model.

On picksbigwagon's point, a couple of points on the "make your own", PVC route. I heard PVC is pretty fragile when cold. Also, 10-inch PVC is very expensive. I'd be intrrested to know the facts.

[picksbigwagon]

It looked like the PVC drain tile stuff they use now in sewer lines, I would assume that stuff is pretty resiliant to the cold.....as far as the price goes, if you and two or three other guys bought one 10 foot section I think the price would go down. Or just find a plumber and ask him for a 3 foot scrap, or 4 foot scrap....

[northman]

I like your setup dave. It also looks like that big box could be of good use in the summer time to. - northman

[Dave]

No doubt, northman. I installed the medium Monster Box (viewable in the 1st link) for deer hunting last year and it worked well hauling extra gear. Could just leave this large Monster Box on and haul even more. With the lockable handle, could even leave the portable tree stand inside the box and feel somewhat secure left out in the woods when I go for a hike.

[trapperdirk]

OH,oh,oh . What a sweet rig that has me drooling .I WANT ,I WANT IT but short on cash . LOL

TD

[Dave]

I'm gettin' pumped up to get ready for the season!

[gspman]

Hey Dave,

How big of a propane tank did you have in the monster box? And could you fit a bigger one in it?

gspman

[Dave]

That's an 11-pounder. It's capable of holding 5-gallon buckets. If I remember correctly a 20-pound tank did fit. I will verify my memory and post back here sometime within the week.