Hole Layout in Portable

[Bigfife]

I just purchased a Fish Trap Yukon and I am wondering what the best hole layout is inside the house. I have a Vexilar and will usually jig the whole time and the person I am with will bobber fish. Last weekend I drilled 3 holes. Two for bobbers and 1 for me. Is there anyway to get four holes without getting too much interference on the Vex? I also noticed that it really sux to have the holes drilled right by your feet. Way to hard to jig and set the hook. In a run and gun approach, two holes is probably enough, but I also like to park in a spot and stay awhile too.

[Tripleplay]

I've got a new FT Guide and I've been contemplating how best to setup within the house as well. Last weekend I drilled three holes with the flasher in the middle which would also be the hole I actively fish in. Was able to see the lures go down in both other holes most of the way and all of the way in two of the three holes.

I did put the third hole on the right a bit farther out as I wanted my deadstick in that hole and those were 28" rods. Ended up too close to the front of the house and had to move a bit as the first couple of hook sets were banged into the front wall due to the slope!

If I were to head for URL or LOW I'd figure out how to get four holes in the house with the middle two for jigging and using the single flasher (I'd be fishing with my son more than likely and at 12 he doesn't yet have the electronics). I also would move the seats pretty far back so that the jigging rods had their tips right over the holes and the bobber rod was in a holder or strap probably not all the way to the hole.

I'm really thinking the two middle holes closer to the sled than the door with the outer two holes another 6" or so closer to the front wall--that way the door is still kind of open. Not sure where the heater would be but I plan on experimenting some more and hopefully somebody else will have some recommendations.

[Farley]

I use a Otter Magnum Lodge, maybee the Yukon is a bit smaller, but for two people I usually drill one in the corner opposite the zipper for the door (far left corner when sitting in the house), then stagger a little bit and drill one closer to the seat for the person I'm fishing with, then I drill one by my feet and usually have a tip up out so I only end up drilling 3 holes at the most but if I do need that last hole, I position it so as when you step in the door, you dont step in my hole. We fished 3 people in there the other weekend and used 3 tip ups outside and drilled two holes for the regular seats and one between our feet for the guy who had to sit on a bucket facing us with his back against the door. Worked out pretty well actually, even though I ended up firing up the spare heater and sleeping in my truck for a few hours that night, (or morning I should say).

[mudman]

depends on what your fishing for.......

Walleyes, when sitting in your chairs I drill one on the left side and right side furthest away from me as I can. I clam a rattle reel in each corner and then use the holes closest to us for jigging

Panfish I usually just fish one with grubs and one with minnows then switch to what is working the best.

[Wobbler]

I have a Yukon and 2 of us fished in it last week with 4 holes in it. We were at LOW in 30 FOW. We put 2 holes in each corner by the door, we put 2 holes out a little ways from the sled like about a foot. We pushed our seats back and both of us used vexilars. I had some interference but was able to still fish. I saw my bobber line as a faint green line and knew if I jigged and it would not follow but was red that it was going to bite my bobber. The Yukon is a great 1 person house but is a little cramped for 2. That is the only way I see a group of 2 can fish each with 2 holes and 2 FL-18's going!

[Walterwontfalter]

This is how I drill my holes in my Voyageur and my buddies Yukon. It works well for me. We usually put the dead-stick in the holes in the corners to each side of the door and jig out of the ones between our feet. Where I labeled the vexilar we have used two of them without problems as long as your "IR" button works and you use it correctly you shouldn't either. Only one of you has to press the "IR" button until the interferance clears up. Though, in this layout one vexilar can read all 4 holes. Hope this helps.

[hanson]

walterwontfalter-

I've started to auger my holes almost exactly like you do. I used to stagger the 4 holes across the width of the sled but I've been using the layout in your sketch more and more.

I've been deadsticking the one hole and jigging the other hole. I've been playing around back and forth to see which hole I like the deadstick in and which one the jigging rod. I actually like it both ways so haven't decided on one yet.

[Wobbler]

I may not have explained it right but that is my set up as shown above. However, I put the vexilar in one of the holes by the sled and the other person can do the same. With the IR button you can cancel each other out and just see your jig hole (by the sled) and one line by the doo (above the vexilar). My question is does it get confusing with all the lines down there with only 1 vexilar if you put a hole in the middle just for the vexilar?

[CrappieJohn]

Next year I am buying a piece of black indoor/outdoor carpeting, as in for a boat floor. I'm cutting out four twelve inch circles for the holes. This carpet will be large enough to extend beyound the draft flap to the outside on all three exposed sides and just under the sled.

When I get to the ice I can mark the holes, drill them, clear the snow and chips to the ice and lay the carpet out. Then I'll set the shelter over the carpet. The hole pattern for the carpet can be set up in the garage by setting up the shelter for a few minutes.

In addition to acting as a template for hole placement, this carpet thing will keep the light out when I want it kept out. It will cover the ice so shadows or movement cannot be an issue. It will insulate the feet a bit and will help to eliminate noise .

[Walterwontfalter]

I've drilled a fifth hole in the middle before just for the vexilar before and it worked fine for me. When it's reading all four holes you can see when each person lifts their jig and the jig on the deadstick usually. It's easy to tell which line on the vex is yours and which is that of your buddy by which one moves when you lift your rod. If you set your gain so that your individual lures show up as a green line they will all together show up orange if at the same depth and likewise orange to red. I haven't had much problem marking fish coming in either but it took me a little while to get used to this and learn what I was looking at. I found it just takes practice and time on the ice.

[Walterwontfalter]

Quote:

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Next year I am buying a piece of black indoor/outdoor carpeting,

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I've thought about the carpet idea too. It would also keep you from slipping when getting up. I've seen a few people with a piece of carpet in the bottom of their sled as well.

Does anyone else have any different ways of placing your holes than the two above? It would be interesting to find another way to try because i can't come up with a better way in my mind than the one I use above... at least that works well for me.

[MT Net]

I have the Voyager and also set up like your sketch.

I was wondering about just leaving the heater in the sled; any thoughts as to this as opposed to putting it out on the ice in front?

Crappie Tom, I like your idea. I use 2 rubber backed carpet pads for our feet, works great, but found at times they stick to the ice.

[Wobbler]

Thanks for the info! The carpeting is a good idea. I have seen even car mats for a person's feet or just where a person walks.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Most of the time I use a buddie heater.. I then leave that in the sled behind the seats.. Leaving the entire area up front for holes and everything else.. I then stagger my holes as best I can.

The only thing you have to worry about is when you take the house and fold it up that the material doesnt touch the heater...when moving from spot to spot!

[booshy]

I use about the same hole set up but my question is does your heater cause trouble coming in and out of the house?

I use a Frabill XL Ranger and use about the same hole set up but keep my heater in the opposite corner as the door opens. However this does make me nervous if windy as I'd hate to see a tear in the cover. I use a 20lb tank and sunflower heater.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Booshy- You can and will melt your tent on your portable if it comes in contact with the heater. Its one of the reasons I went to the buddie heater, its deffinatly not as warm.. but I think your chances of burning your portable are a lot less...

Hopefully somebody will invent a heater that is warm and yet cool to the touch around the outside so its safe for portables... I saw a guy that had built something for in his slead that held his heater away from the wall far enough. Was pretty slick.. I really do like my heater behind me better.

[hanson]

Here's what I've been doing.

I had this posted in a thread titled Flip Over Portable Floor in the equipment forum.

(2) Rubber perforated floor mats from Menards for about $3 a piece. They work absolutely awesome! They keep your feet off of the snow and conform to the snow.

The carpet idea is great also but I don't think it would work very well on the amount of snow I find myself fishing on sometimes. I think it is an awesome idea for right on the ice.

[bigbucks]

Ditto to you booshy on the house, hole setup, & heater, other than I do put mine in the middle. I just move it closer to the sled if I have to go out the door & it's at all windy. It's no big deal to move it a couple of feet & move it back. I just point it at the door when I move it or towards one of the sides.

I always jig in one of the close holes & bobber fish the corner holes. If I'm fishing by myself the two holes are still to the sides, but more like half way from front to back.

[picksbigwagon]

after a lot of trial and error in my voyager, I have found that if it is one person (me) I put one in front of me on the left side which I actively jig out of, the heater in front of me in the corner (if I need it), and I put the other hole in the opposite corner by the door , either bobber'd or in my artic warrior tip up thing with the bail open. I can then set my marcum towards the middle of the floor. I bought the rubber mat thing after reading Hanson's other postingm they are awesome I fully recommend it. With two guys, heater in the middle holes in the two corners and in front of the two seats. I use the marcum and my buddy has an aqua view. I have found that if I set the marcum towards the middle it picks up his jig too. with three guys, we put three holes across the front with the middle one a little bit further out from the sled and a 4th one in the corner opposite of the heater, and then put 2 tip ups outside. I have tried 5 holes, but it gets too crowded with a 20#propane tank in the corner.

boy did I get carried away with this one...... the most important thing is to make sure that the guy fishing with you doesn't catch a thing

[Bigfife]

Thanks for all of the good info. I really like the four hole layout and I will be trying it out this weekend. I am also investing in some ice cleats because it got very dangerous in my house last weekend. I will also try the Buddy Heater to see if it can heat the whole house.

[Tripleplay]

I just got my Guide and picked up a Buddy on a strong recommendation that a sunflower would be too strong for the smaller house. I've used it the last couple of weekends and although they haven't been real cold (very windy last Saturday), I haven't even run it on high yet. Usually go about 5 minutes on low and then switch to pilot as it is getting too hot (still have my bibs on but usually my coat off by then) Your Yukon is definitely bigger but the Buddy is handling my Guide very well.

[picksbigwagon]

check out home depot if you can.. they had some pretty good deals on heaters and they had a buddy knock off for about 70 bucks. they might be on close out now. in fact, I might just head down there tonight after school and see if they are on sale........

[Tripleplay]

I got my Buddy at Fleet Farm in Brooklyn Park on an unannounced sale price for $60 a couple of weeks ago. No sales on the hoses if you decide to go with other than the 1lb disposables.

[booshy]

60 bones! Now that is a good deal...

[Walterwontfalter]

I am pretty careful to make sure my heater stays away from the sides of my house. I find that as long as the braces on the front on either side of the door are put on the canvas doesn't blow much in the wind there but it does on the sides...which is why I chose this placement for my heater. I use a 20# cylinder and sunflower heater and it is plenty of btu's to heat my voyageur and I'm usually am turning it on and off. I just turn it off a couple minutes before I plan on going outside so it cools some. I usually run the heater on low and open both vents on the side because I like to fish in just a t-shirt and jeans if I can, maybe a sweatshirt if it's cold. I've seen a few people get sick from carbon monoxide poisoning running a heater in their portable all day with no ventilation. I want to make sure there is plenty of air coming in even if I have to run the heater the whole time. By the way, these guys didn't know they had a carbon monoxide problem until they got up to go outside of the fish house because there is no smell associated with it. Be careful.