Fish Trap Guide or Otter Small Den

[Dan Brelje]

I am having trouble thinking of what to go with. I do fish occasionally with another person so should i go with the Guide for that reason alone. I know the Otters are better quality but all i will be doing is hauling in a truck. Is the Fish Trap to heavy for one person to throw around? Thanks.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I have a Fish Trap Guide and my skinny self tosses it around on a regular basis. It's quite light. If I were to buy another portable it wouldn't be the guide, however. Not that it isn't a good shelter, it is. It's just a little cramped with 2 adults. If you're fishing alone it's great.

[Dan Brelje]

Post deleted by Dan Brelje

[Dan Brelje]

Will it fit into an S-10 and still leave room for and auger?

[andy j]

I have been using a Fish trap guide this winter and I really like it. I had a fishtrap pro before and a love the extra room I have now. I use a lot of stuff, flaser, camara, heater, lantern, etc. so it is nice to have the extra space, especially with the camara. The Guide is probably going to be the lightest 2 man flip style shelter that you will find. It works nice with my truck, I can just tip one side up on the tailgate and then grab the other side and lift it up and slide it in. I would go with the travel cover especially if you have a open bed with your truck. THe Otter's make a nice product, especially if you are going to pull them alot with a ATV or snowmobile, But the Fishtraps are a great product also. Good Luck.

[andy j]

Dan, I have a Ford F-150 shortbox, and there is plenty of room, I would think you would be fine. Boilerguy, makes a good point, but It can be fished in with 2 person, Its just not a nice as some of the bigger ones like the Voyager, Yukon, Otter Lodge, etc. The bigger ones are also heavier, especially since the beefed up the sleds on the Yukon's and the Voyager's. Kind of overkill for fishing alone. If you fish alone most of the time go with the guide or den, If you fish with a buddy most of the time go with one of the larger shelters.

[Dan Brelje]

andy-

the thing is, i won't be using an atv so will the fish trap sled hold up more than great. I bought the otter den but i am second guessing myself because it would be nice to have room for two if i need it. The den was 180 at gander without seats and the guide is 250 with seats. Have time to return since i have not assembled it yet.

[andy j]

I would go with the guide, it is a great quality shelther that will give years of use as long as you don't abuse it. If you want the option of fishing with a buddy from time to time then it is the best choice, I can't remember if the Den is wide enough for 2 people, but I don't think it is. Both are a great deal at that price.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dan, I have a Ford Ranger and my guide fits in it real nice. I put all my stuff in the guide after it's in the truck. One bit of advice, if you buy the guide, take out the seats. A lawn chair fits perfect inside the sled and gives you more room for you and your stuff. With the seats in it, and you are alone, you will have plenty of room. Without the seats, and fishing 2 people, you can drill 4 holes. It's snug so make sure you are good pals with your fishing partner and have him shower before you go.

I pull my Guide behind my snowmobile and 4 wheeler. I've done this for a couple years and the sled has held up just fine.

Like I said before, it's a good shelter, I like it. I just wish it was a tad bit bigger for when I bring another adult along.

[Eric Wettschreck]

One more thing, if you can get a brand spankin new guide for 250, buy it. It's a good deal. I think I paid like 330 or so a couple years ago for mine at Menards.

[bigdog]

I just picked up a Guide this weekend and seems pretty easy to get around. I added the runners on the bottom which made it slide really easy. Had to buy the Yukon runners and cut them off because nobody had the Guides in stock.

Found a travel cover at Fleet for $30, the ones at Gander were $40.

[so haaad]

Dan, you should be able to fit the Guide into your S-10. The Guide fits into my Cherokee, with a gas auger inside the sled. Personally, I like having the extra room when fishing by myself, yet it's not too heavy to pull around.

[mpls_ham]

Dan- I have a Fishtrap guide and an S10. The guide fits nicely between the wheel wells and I lay my auger to the side with the bit on top of the wheel well.

I have a question for any of you guide owners...My old guide had a rear support pole as well as a top support pole. My new guide only came with a rear support telescopic pole. Was it supposed to have a top pole?

[andy j]

no, just the one pole.

[Tripleplay]

Just used my Guide for the first time this weekend. Mine only came with the single pole for the back as well.

I purchased the Guide since I wanted a house that could fish two guys if needed (normally it will be myself and my 12 year old son)----but, it also had to fit in my Avalanche. Originally purchased and assembled a Nordic 2-man that just couldn't fit in the truck without removing part of the truck bed cover--TB's took it back and we tried a Guide before I purchased.

My auger also lays in the truck bed right beside the house and with the seat supports--the auger (without an extension) fits perfect across the brackets and very secure. If I were pulling with a sled or ATV I'd bungee it on more securely, but for hand pulling it was great.

I really liked the Otter dens as well, but needed the room for the second seat.

I'm happy with my purchase but had to trade some of the benefits like a bigger house and taller house (can stand up in the Nordic and larger Otters and Traps) to fit in my truck bed.

[Dan Brelje]

Thank you everybody. I did trade the otter in and picked up the guide. Hope to use it tonight.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dan, don't go Bogartin the info. Let us know how you like it, and more importantly, how the fishin went.

[FZ]

Where can you get a guide for $250? Thanks.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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Where can you get a guide for $250? Thanks.

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Well if Gander Mountain is down to $250 they were at $299 last week Fleetfarm, Dick's/Galyans, and everybody else will match.

The Fishtrap Guide only has one support pole.

And IMO you will want to use the new seats there awesome,

if you go with a lawn chair you will lose your rod holder storage.

[Dan Brelje]

Gander in Forest lake had them in stock. I don't know about any other locations. The fleet on 694 by maplewood had nothing for selection. Frabil one and two man for 300+.

[PierBridge]

Dick's/Galyans in Richfeild MN has a few they are listed at $269 but the will match Ganders price of $249. Make sure you get the 2005 model with the rear door and window they also have the 2004 model for the same price....