General Ice Fishing Questions

[eyepatrol]

Your thoughts on the following things??

Portables:

What would be a good portable to buy that would house 3 fisherman, electronics, equipment, be easy to set up and take down, and be mobile with?

What would be a good portable to buy for just yourself, would allow room for two ice holes, electronics, equipment, easy to set up and take down, and be mobile with?

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Auguers (gas only):

What brand auger would you buy and what size (for walleye and panfish fishing)?

Reason why I ask is my dad, brother and I like to get together to do some fishing, but our equipment (5x7 house & auger) is getting rather old and beat up. I'd also like to get a 1-man house for myself for the times where I go out by myself.

[Wish2Fish]

For a one-man option: I fish solo pretty often in a FishTrap Guide. It's nice & roomy for one person--but also works pretty well when you have a second angler with you. The quality is very good. The sled has just enough room for your tackle, bait & auger. I pull mine by hand most times, but with the optional cover and hitch, you can pull it behind an ATV or snowmobile. Measure carefully--but you'll probably find it will fit easily in your SUV or large car. I wouldn't mind upgrading to a Yukon, but that would be overkill for one angler.

[smmurphy]

I have an Eskimo Lodge and my son-in-law has a Clam 8600 and they are both rated for 4 people. I like the layout of the Eskimo better than the Clam, but they are both comfortable for 3 with electronics and equipment. They works for 4, but depending on how much equipment you have and what type of heater (if any) you are using 3 is much more comfortable.

I have the Big Buddy on a 20# tank with a hose going outside that fit 3 with a small camp table, and my son-in-law uses a sunflower mounted directly on the tank and looses about some space, but with practice and providing at least one of the people are skinny, there is room for 4.

[EBass]

Otter Magnum lodge. I think that's what TonkaBoy has. It's big, roomy, flip style, and could house 3 people. Heck the Otter brand all together is just what the Dr ordered. Check em out. Fish traps are nice to.

Auger, brand and size? Hmm, I like strikemaster lazer mag as my friend has one and it's really fast. 2HP and 10" blade. 8" would be fine to and cheaper. I have an Eskimo barracuda or something like that and it's slow. It works but is slow.

That's my .02

[oil painter]

I have the clam 6800 and for me it is aperfect two man house with all the room you need 3 people it will still work but I like to have space. I also have a strikemaster mag 8 inch love it. fast runs well cuts like adream if you want a pop up house with all the comfort and space look at a sleeper,8x8 heavy but comfortable

[eyepatrol]

Thanks for the replies. I'll check into the Otter and Clam houses. I think a 6x8 would do well for 3 guys as the 5x7 we have isn't too bad, but does get a little cramped with gear, heater, electronics for 3 guys.

As for a one-man house...I suppose there are a number of models out there to choose from. I'd just want something that will set up and take down quickly and will pull and possibly haul gear on easily so that I can move around.

As for the auger, we have an 8-year old (or so) Strikemaster LazerMag 10". The choke arm is broke off and the blade is very dull, but in another post I've found that I can replace the blade with the Lazer 2000, so I'll give that a go. I'll have to bring the auger in I think to have the choke lever fixed though...need a needlenose pliers to move it up and down right now, and that's somewhat tedious...still works though.

The portable is pretty well shot though. Wood is cracking and chipping away, screws are getting pretty well stripped, latches are about shot and the canvas has alllll kinds of holes eaten in it from being stored at my dad's garage where he's had mice in the past. Now that I've got some debt paid off and some extra bucks available, I think I'll try and get a 1-man portable for myself and see if other family members will pitch in on a 3-man portable. Three years from now I'd like a permanent though so I can take the wife and kiddies out to enjoy fishing, relaxing, or playing on the ice, etc.

Thanks again for the replies. I'll look into those models.

bc

[FishPiCkLeS]

I just wanted to inject my thoughts too.... The clam I believe has one of the best fabrics there is. It is so durable, and works well in any temp. I have a Clam Voyager. It is seriously a TANK... HOWEVER, I dont think I would use much else. For one, if you have 2 houses, you have 2 houses to store... For 2, more than likely you wont use the same heater in both houses, because one would be either too big, or too small for either house.. (did that make sense???) Anyway, I love my Voyager. Its the largest in the fleet from Clam for a flip over. I generally fish on my own. I pull my 4 wheeler on a trailer behind my pickup. When I load or unload the Voyager, I just pull it out of the truck onto the trailer then off. Its heavy, but isnt fishing about getting a little fresh air and maybe making your heart beat a little faster so you dont get fat eating deer sticks and drinking beer all day while fishing? Thats how I look at wrestling it. As a calorie burner so I can have 2 more sticks...

As far as your auger situation goes, I would get the one you have now fixed. I use an ancient Mag 2000 Strikemaster. I this year however found a new 9" shaft with blades on hsolist for $120. It fit the old power head perfect and cuts like a dream. I took the power head to the high school, and had the small engines class go through the carb, and change the filters. It seriously works just as good as a brand new auger...

I say good luck you to you buddy. There are so many options in this fantastic world of fishing. Its pretty much a trial and error kind of learning curve. You're on the right track though by asking opinions from other fisherman. Good luck in whatever you deceide...

Pickle

[Captain B.R.K]

As for one man portables, there are a couple of options for you and they are by Clam or Otter Outdoors

Option 1#- Clam makes the Fishtrap Pro or Fishtrap Scout that are perfect for those one man outfits! I have had both and currently running with the Fishtrap Scout. The Pro is a little better because it sets-up the width of the tub and gives you more room. Both are around #40-50 pounds and are very easy to lift in/out of a vehicle.

I would recommend you buy the hy-fax runners to extend the life of the tub.

Option #2- Otter Outdoors makes the Otter Den. Again another great buy and option for those one man outtings! This option does not come in a package and all the accessories....house, tub,bench seat/seat...have to be bought seperate. Yes it does get a bit expensive for this set-up, but the durablility and the craftsmanship put into the material/tub are excellent!

What is nice with the tub is if you are looking to use it around the yard in the summer/winter or to store anything in the summer, pull the house off it and you have a storage or portable sled!

You even have a choice in the canvas color with this option- go with Gold/Green or Purple/Gold; you can't beat that can you

I have products from both companies and have been very impressed with the quality! Just a matter of what kind of money you are looking to spend and the different options you want.

Good Luck!!

[hanson]

Hey basscatcher-

You've got a few options with your auger but I don't think buying new is the best 1.

#1- Get the choke lever fixed and have someone (small engine shop, HS shop class, or bring it into Strikemaster) give the engine a good tune-up. They'll put in a new plug, rebuild the carb, and make sure all the proper adjustments are made.

Once you powerhead is good to go again, fix those blades!

Option 1- Replace the blades with new ones. They are available from Strikemaster and just about every major retailer (Gander, Scheels, Cabelas, Fleet Farm, etc) Strikemaster Lazer blades will not be sharp after 8 years of decent use. I replace mine yearly!

Option 2- If you are looking for an "upgrade" from what you currently have (not sure what that is?), replace the entire auger assembly. You should be able to get one from Strikemaster. D-Rock in New Brighton, MN (drockicecenter (Contact US Regarding This Word)) also sells new auger assemblies. I just checked and you can get a new 8" Lazer auger with blades for about $120. In the past, D-Rock has sold used auger assemblies as well although I didn't notice anything listed yet. I think they received the augers after the Forest Lake ice fishing contest. Could check back then.

[eurolarva]

Is that $120 a misprint on the auger? I called D-Rock and they only had demo lasers for 285 which was the cheapest they had for sale.

[fishfart]

That's for the auger with blades, no powerhead.

[eurolarva]

Thanks Fishfart for clearing that up. Seemed strange to get a new auger for that price.