Portable Fish House Modification Get-Together - Sat. Aug. 6 !!!

[wallydiver]

You can add Northland Sportsman to the list. I'll be with him.

[hanson]

That's looking like a pretty good list.

Who plans on camping & when & where?

I'm trying to decide when to come up and how long the weekend will be. Right now, I'm thinking of coming up Sat. morning and staying Sat. night. I'm not positive though.

[Matt Johnson]

I'm going to make the drive up there Saturday morning before the event. I'm not sure where I'm staying Saturday evening yet. I might make the trek back to the cities after the event or I might crash at a friend's place in St. Cloud, I donno yet...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Paul Waldowski]

IF I'm able to make it, I will be staying and camping on Saturday night. Right now it's iffy as my Kitchen Manager decided he wants to go on vacation that week. What's up with THAT!!!!!

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

I'm waiting to hear the weather report before I reserve a campsite.If it's too nasty,I(we) are comeing Sat. AM and headout after the eats and whatnot.

We should start an epuipment list...like who has what tools to bring,building supplies to contribute,power sources etc...

Am I the only one with goose bumps & sleepless nights thinking about this ?

[hanson]

Camping- I'll be coming up Sat. morning (sounds like that is what a few are doing) and possibly camping that evening. The tent will be packed just in case. Tent packed? What am I thinking, I can just sleep in the Otter Lodge.

Tools- I won't be bringing any. My mods are done. I will be available to help and offer up ideas.

Only a couple weeks away now.

Can we officially kick off the upcoming hardwater season with this event or is it still too early?

[wallydiver]

I'm bringing a brand new otter. What all should I bring to set it up and do some mods?

[CRAPPIEBAIT]

HANSON,I think we should make this an annual event (bet Matt backs that one up).This thread kicked off the hardwater season for me.Been going through everything since the first post from Matt.

WALLEYEDIVER(and others),I can bring some lumber (2x4's,might have a sheet of plywood),I also have some 1 1/2" PVC tube,rain gutter(make nice trays in the tub),I know I have more stuff too.

As far as tools,if anyone needs to assemble new shelters or install any new stuff.I can bring sockets/ratchets,wrenches,screw drivers,hand saw(not the best,so bring one if ya have it)might have a cordless drill or 2.I can also bring a couple handfulls of misc. nuts/bolts/washers/screws/nails etc...

OH ! I might have some marine carpet too.

THIS IS AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matt Johnson]

You can bet this will be an annual event There is nothing wrong with kicking off the ice fishing season at the beginning of August

As far as what a person needs for mods, it all depends on how extravagant you want to go. If you are going to make simple mods then you can get by with less, but if you plan on outfitting your portable to the extreme, then you're going to need wood, hardware, tools, etc. There will be some finished portables present at the get together, I know hanson has quite the set-up, as does Dennis and Paul.

And a person doesn't have to necessarily construct all the mods at the get together, you can take notes and build them at home too. I'm going to try and take as many pictures as I can and hopefully put together a decent list of mods that were done at the event and mods that were done prior. I'll put together a nice long topic concerning different mods a person can make once I get back from the get together.

I'm not sure what will be there as far as tools are concerned. I won't be bringing much on the category of tools, but I'll bring with some of my ice gear to show off as well as a few mods I've made already.

I think a list of who is bringing what tools is a good idea...

Looks like CRAPPIEBAIT is going to bring a few things Thanks, it will be much appreciated!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Matt Johnson]

wallydiver,

Is your Otter still in the boxes? If so, you're going to need a drill to punch holes in the sled, a drill to fasten screws, a socket set and some WD-40. We'll get your Otter put together in no time

Which Otter did you get?

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[hawkeye43]

[wallydiver]

I got the new Small cottage with the wide sled. I took it out of the box to look at it, but that's it. I can't wait, just a couple weeks away.

[Matt Johnson]

I also have a Small Cottage, it's a nice portable, you'll like it. A lot of room yet not too big. In my opinion, it's the ultimate in a portable one-man fish house if you're looking for a little extra room. You'll have it put together within 30 minutes of taking it out of the box... then the fun begins with the mods

Otter Small Cottage

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Matt Johnson]

Current list...

Matt Johnson

Paul Waldowski

Dennis Steele

hanson

Dan Thiem

Big Paulie

riverrat56

ATM

picksbigwagon

wolfman-k

Uncle Grump

woodyjd (and son)

nytelyter

Chris-Neises

CRAPPIEBAIT (and son)

H2O

ivegottabite

JoeT

tonyjor

BDR

bassman186

Ryan V

wallydiver

Northland Sportsman

hawkeye43 (and sons)

Count is approx. at 30 people...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Matt Johnson]

Check out this Double-Wide portable fish house available from Otter Outdoors...

It's called the OTTER II MAGNUM VILLAGE - DOUBLE WIDE. There's 77 inches of head space and you can fish out of both sides. That's quite the set-up! A person could definitely have some fun modifying that one!

www.otteroutdoors.com

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Matt Johnson]

Since we're only 2 weeks away from the get together, I figured I start to come up with a few in-expensive ways where people can modify their portables. There are a few different products available from different companies that can help in the process...

The ROD STRAP by Todays Tackle

Simply attach the non slip rubber part of strap to the tubing, strap your rod (without the worry of stepping on or losing rod) and start fishing with your other rod or use it for storing! You can stack 'em up above each other for thee old swithcheroo when needed!

The Rod Rocker by Todays Tackle attached to the seat of an Otter portable fish house.

Great for permanent or portable ice houses. Now you can fish and not worry about losing your extra Ice Fishing Rod down the hole or stepping on it! Simply position the Rod Rocker against the wall (in a permanent fish house) and insert an Ice Rod (so that the rod tip is directly above the hole) and lightly screw it to the Permanent Ice House wall. Now place your rod into the Rod Rocker, set the depth and sit back and fish with your other Rod etc. For a portable fish house you can attach it to a bucket, a seat or any other way you'd like to rig it up.

When a fish bites, the Rod Rocker will pivot, your rod tip will dip downward, pick your rod out of the Rod Rocker and set the hook. It will detect even the slightest bites!

www.todaystackle.com

These are just a couple options to how I've modified my portable fish house in the past. They are simple, in-expensive ways of making small modifications that make fishing a lot easier when out on the ice.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other modifications others have made to their portable fish houses. There is no limit to what a person can do when it comes to mods...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[wolfman-k]

Great article on the 'Bulls' Matt!!

I got one of the magnum double-wides at the end of this last ice-fishing season, and I'm looking forward to getting some ideas on modifications at the "Rendevous" on the 6th.

The house I bought is made by Canvas-Craft in Anoka, I got the insulated one. They must have some sort of deal with Otter because they sell them as Otters and they sell all the assessories that go with it too. The get-together should be a blast. I'll see you there.

[Matt Johnson]

Thanks for the kind words wolfman.

Awesome! We'll get to see the new double wide up-close! I'm sure we can come up with some pretty cool ways of modifying it...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[wallydiver]

I've got a little bit of 1/2" Plywood. Is that what you guys use to modify or should I get something else? I plan on making compartments for my auger (if it'll fit), LX3, rods, etc.

[Borch]

Count me in. I'll likely be there to mostly soak up some ideas as most of my portables are stock. I'm also looking to add another one this winter so just looking at all the houses and possible modifications will be helpful. I'll talk to the wife to make sure we'll be around as we may have some space for folks looking for a spot to pitch a tent. I'm about 20 minutes or so from the park.

[wolfman-k]

Sorry Matt, but I haven't got a rig to haul it with---yet. My next new buy is going to be a newer used pick-up. I've been yapping about it for about four years, and it's time to git-er-done! I have a friend who works in St. Cloud for a car dealer who's going to be on the look-out for a good used one in the next couple of months. So, I'll be packing my camera and taking notes. Maybe after I make some mods this fall I'll take some pics and post them.

[Ryan_V]

looks like I might have company coming up with me, my nephew!! Looks like if we can make it we will be coming up for the day on saturday. thought about camping somewhere, but we get home from vacation with the camper the day before, so it really wouldn't be ready to go on another trip right away anyway, so this will just be a day event for us!! hope we can make it, my portable is stock right now and needs improvement

[Matt Johnson]

Bring 1/2 inch plywood, that should work just fine for some of the modifications. I would also bring a few hinges so you can enclose your equipment too. Add some sort of top to the compartment. Pretty easy to do and it will give you added space to set stuff on once things are closed up.

Thanks for the help Borch! This will be a little closer of a drive for you than the statewide events

wolfman,

We'll be sure to get some good pictures, I'll be taking quite a few as well. If there is something you really like we'll snap off a lot of pics from different angles. It'll make modifying your new portable a whole lot easier when you get back home.

Ryan V,

Sounds good about your nephew! More the merrier! Not a bad gig, gone for vacation then you come home and get to meet up with some fellow FMer's and talk fishing

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[hanson]

1/2" Plywood will do it. You can build a bomb shelter to drop into an Otter Lodge sized shack with (1) 4x8 sheet.

Hinges are a good idea for compartment hatches. Piano Hinges work pretty slick. They'll give you support across the entire hinge side of the lid. Buy a long one and cut it to perfect size with a hacksaw.

Elmers Wood Glue & wood screws (1", 1-1/4") work well to assemble a modification. Just be sure to predrill your holes near the edges and whenever screwing into the end of a sheet of plywood.

I'll be bringing with both of my modified shacks as well as most of my ice fishing gear so everyone can see how slick a mod like mine works, and how your fishing can benefit from being organized.

[Borch]

Well it looks like we'll be around and I'll definitely be able to make it. Like I mentioned, we'd have room if anyone wants to pich a tent. We have a 1.3 acre lot and a nice campfire ring if it cools down by then. Just let me know if you're interested.

Jeff