Best portable shelter?

[HOGEYE]

Looking at buying a new portable (otter or trap maybe) lets hear some opinions.

[Opie]

It all depends on your means of getting it out on the ice. If you are going to tow it behind a snowmobile or atv, then get the Otter. Their sled is the best around. If you will be hauling it in a vehicle or going by foot, the Trap is great. I have two traps, (2 man & 3 man) and love them, but I don't tow. Can't really go wrong with either.

[Guest]

I fish out of a Fish Trap II and haven't had any problems. I like to hit early and late ice pretty heavily and the Fish Trap II is easier to pull on foot. The canvas on the trap is pretty durable as well. There is a lot of room to fish whether it be alone or with a partner. I haven't fished out of an otter but I would assume that they are nice shelters as well. Hope this helped.
Good Fishin, Matt.

[Guest]

Opie,

Great advice. I will add that if you go with the Otter make sure that you add on the Halifax runners if you plan on putting on a lot of miles.

In addition to the trap the Glacier three man is a nice little rig also (at twenty six pounds it is hard to beat its portability. and is very easy to pull behind you if you're walking.

http://fishingminnesota.com/glacier.html

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Paul
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Pwaldow123 (edited 09-13-2002).]

[Steve Foss]

I use a four-year old Fish Trap II. Light, tough, easy to pull by hand and plenty roomy for one guy.

And as for snowmobiling, I don't own one but have pulled it behind a buddy's sled several times, alone or in tandem. Works great, as long as you've got the traveling cover to keep out snow. You can also get an add-on metal tongue, which makes it easier to slow down and speed up than the rope.

[chunkytrout]

Bought the HT Polar Deluxe last season. Impressed at first with canvass quality and design however, after one season I have seams busting and some of the locking poles won't lock. All repairable but it's only a year old. Also, if you're going to tow, MAKE SURE and get a rigid towbar and hyfax runners.
Good Luck

[This message has been edited by chunkytrout (edited 09-18-2002).]

[HarryG]

I think the best one is the Otter. It is the most durable and if you use an Atv or a snowmobile it is the best choice. A cheaper alternative is a Shoremaster. It is very durable but it is a lot cheaper. It could mean you buy a better auger or a better fish finder.
Good Luck

[Guest]

Last fall I bought a Shoremaster Jigger II after having fished out of a Fish Trap previously....Comparing price and portability, I chose the Jigger for several reasons. It has a zip open back which turned out to be real handy on windy days. It comes with 2 extendable rods to help stiffen it between flip sections. The tub is HD and has a square top instead of being otter shaped. A lazer Mag fits flat on the bottom. I built custom seats for it from cedar for weight savings, and for alot less that the heavy metal ones availble. With the square top rim, the seats can be moved further apart. The skin material is green and it is very good. All it lacks is a window in the back, only has one in the flipdown front end. Take a good look at one-you'll see what I mean. Just right for two people and a regular fishing suite for one........T

[This message has been edited by Pwaldow123 (edited 09-25-2002).]

[Guest]

I'll give another vote for the Otters. If you're jumping around like me, you gotta have something that gets over the snow with all your gear in it. They got the zipperd doors so you can bank the house on windy days and not mess up your banking work when you need to take a leak. They really hold up in the wind. I also think they are the best value. You really get your moneys worth. And they are very spacious out front. plenty of room to set your heater and latern on the ice and still have enough leg room with burning holes in it.

[This message has been edited by Bigguns3 (edited 09-25-2002).]

[Jig stick]

To all, read all replys and just had to set up the otter in the garage no holes thank god! These are by far the best in my opinion. But your choice is yours by all means.I would have bought the fish trap pro, till I heard about the tubs wearing out in just a year.that made me swing on over to the otter side.LOL And im glad I did.If you buy one you wont regret it at all! Think ICE! And ><sUMo> perch tight lines. jig stick

[This message has been edited by Jig stick (edited 09-25-2002).]

[Guest]

Just adding my two cents worth - no one mentioned the new Ranger by Shappell. I bought one in the middle of the season last year and it performed pretty well - 30 second setup (sit down and pull the cover over). Only downside I have noticed is that the velcrow used to secure the corner flaps is too narrow to keep the flap secure and have complete darkenss for sight fishing. Good for towing by hand - don't know about behind a sled or ATV.

One more point - if you are getting a one man and it gets pretty windy, keep an eye on the cover so it doesn't come in contact with either the heater or a lantern. I've seen many portables on the ice with such holes and almost had one myself on a particularly windy night.

Good luck with whatever shelter you choose.
Later,

[Ret-ro]

Pwaldow,
I live in cokato and work in Minnetonka.
Yes, I am nuts.
mail [email protected]

[WallEYES]

RETRO
Don't feel bad, I use to live north of Dassel on Big Swan Lake and work in Edina. I hated that stretch between Independence to the other side of Long Lake until it turns to two lanes on 394. Seems to be a "turkey year" in Long Lake so far this year. I just moved to Elk River not too long ago and I think the drive is worse. A friend of mine...T-BONE fish first ice on Minnetonka and can put you in some good eye spots.

[Ret-ro]

Rick,
Where can you see these glacier houses?
I would like to see them hands on.

[WallEYES]

I've been using otters ever since they were first introduced in the late 80's. The sleds are great, but the skin or shelter is the key. The purple or the green is to thick of fabric and does not breath very well and tends to frost up during cold spells. The black skin is perfect and on a sunny below zero day the black canvas absorbs the rays of the sun and there is a good deal of warmth. The only place that I know that makes the black skin is canvas craft in Anoka, Mn.

[This message has been edited by Pwaldow123 (edited 09-27-2002).]

[Guest]

Retro,

Where do you live? If you are close by me I would be happy to show you my 3 man.

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Paul
[email protected]

[Guest]

I have two Otters , a one man Fish Trap and have fished in my buddies Frabil XLTwin many times. ALL have thier strong points and I don't think you can go wrong with any of em.
I like the Otters cause they are tough but they are best if you have a machine to pull em.
I like the Fish Trap cause it's easy to pull on foot missions. I did'nt like the cover that came on the Trap though so had a new one made at a tent and awning place. It now has a black canvas type cover. Yea , it's a little heavier but not bad to load and unload in the back of the truck. No light shows through the cover now which makes it great for sight fishin. The tub on it wore out in one season too which I thought sucked! I called USL and complained and they sent me a new tougher tub to replace the chincy original one. Anyways , I put plastic runners on the Trap and hav'nt had any problems since.
The XLTwin is a nice sled too but it needs a bar that runs top to bottom in the back to keep the back of the shelter from blowin in on ya. I think they now come with that bar ? They did'nt when they first came out. They used to have a squared sled too which made it a pain to pull by hand in deeper snow. I think they changed the sled design there to a tapered front now.

[Rick]

Getting the original subject back up.

Geeman has a good view, they are all good units. here are some of the differences:

The Otter is the most durable sled, especially if you're pulling it behind a snowmobile or ATV. Sets-up quick. I have 2 Otters (Nice units, but spendy). The cover is canvas, not as durable as the following in my opinion.

The Fishtrap has a great cover but not as durable a sled. Great for pulling behind by hand or in your vehicle. Sets-up quick. A bit pricey unless you find a late season or show deal.

The Glacier is the lightest weight, very durable cover, sets-up quick, and one of the least expensive. The sled is similar in make-up to the Sno-boat.

The Frabills are similar to the Glacier, but are heavier to haul and take a bit longer to set-up.

Same deal with the HT's, good units as well.

They're all good portables. Fishtrap was one of the first mass marketed on the scene. I've reviewed most and will do so again in another month or two.

My choices right now are as follows
*1 Otter
*2 Glacier (3 person).

We do sell Glaciers here so you may think I'm a bit biased and I am. For good reason. We sold a bunch of them last winter and we've received many rave reviews and none of the current owners have complained. That should tell you a lot right there. They're a great portable for the price.

You should also notice that we do not sell Otters here and I recommend them as number 1 if you've got the money and don't mind the extra weight. They do get a little heavy. In fairness, I can handle the Lodge loaded, by myself, but it is work.

Click here for more info on the Glacier Series of Ice Shelters

If you're looking for shelter details, this is the thread to share em on.