Best portable ice shack and gear?

[chiroeye]

Hey all, just wanted to start a little discussion on what everyones thoughts were regarding the best portable ice houses. I have been looking at a clam 5600, does anyone have any experience with these and what are everyone elses favorites? Also, what is everyones favorite ice fishing rod and also reel? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Tight lines!

[Seabass77]

I was wondering how long it would take for this debate to get going. Maybe we should just post last year’s novel up here!

I personally like the flip-over style fish houses over the suit case style ones. The suit case style ones take too long to set up and take down. If you need to move, it’s a pain in the keester.

For rods, I really like the Berkley Dave Genz rods for $30 bones, but St. Croix has some ice rods coming out this year too, I’m sure those will be a winner. They are also supposed to come in around $30 bones.

For reels, there are lots of options. Tica, Silstar tiny 20’s, shimano’s, are all good options. A lot of guys I know just use their regular open water reels on their ice fishing rods.

Thill stealth floats are great and I also get lots of use out of my Garmin 76.

[hawgTime]

ch

If you're seriously considering the 5600, take a look at the Frabil Speed Shak. In my opinion it's a much better shelter. It sets up in less than a minute and the tarp is attached to the sled in a way which prevent less draft.

hawgTime

[Iceman77]

I have a 5600 and I wish I had never bought it. The seams are pulling apart around the windows and the zippers. I picked this unit up for $200 new on closeout and as far as I'm concerned it was a waste. The house only lasted 1 year(fishing at least once every weekend during ice). The North Dakota wind really rips up the clams. I just bought an Otter medium cabin and I really like the setup and can't wait to give it a try. The tarp is much thicker than the fish traps, with much better quality seams, and a bigger heavy duty zipper.

[Guest]

I own a Fish Trap II. I've used Frabil's and Otter's too. All three are good choices. Any way you go I don't you'll be disappointed. I remodeled my Fish Trap II so I guess it different then a normal Fish Trap II no anyway.

I own a lot of Genz Rods by Berkely. Great sensitivity and backbone. Graphite blanks,titanium eyelets, and solid cork handles. $30 in price is tough to beat. I like to equip these rods with Tiny 20's or Ultralite Quantums when using panfish rods. I use medium sized Quantums and Shimanos for walleye rods. I've been playing around with baitcasters too.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[rap]

i'd reccomend a flip-style house also. i have a fish trap guide and think it is the perfect house for me and my kind of fishing. all three brands have good reviews from everyone, if you want more than 2 people in the house,i know the traps come in three man flip-overs and i think the others do also but am not sure.. all brands sound like good choices

[Guest]

Slip Bobbers for ice fishing?

Ice Buster bobber is the only way to go !!

Quick to put on or take off the line and they don't freeze to / stick to the line.

I bought 5 of them the first year they were at the Ice Fishing show in St Paul and haven't used anything else since. (For hardwater that is; differing conditions on open water call for more diversity in bobber selection depending on conditions i.e. wind, waves, nighttime etc. But that's a whole 'nother subject.)

TEACH A KID TO FISH ETHICALLY
TEACH A KID TO LIVE BIBLICALLY

www.gemfishing.org

[Crappieman]

My wife bought me a 5600 a couple of years ago and I hardly use it because it is not very portable. But if I was setting up on a site for a period of time it is a great shelter. I have left over night and loved it. It is not very portable, but if you are fish with childern it makes a great shelter.

[Guest]

I bought a Shoremaster Jigger shelter last fall. After comparing some others including the Otters, I felt it was just what I was looking for in a 2-man flip and fish unit. The back zips open like the soft top on a jeep and with the front flipped down, it's nice on a warmer day to have it open and get some fresh air. The tub is square on top so you can move the seats from one end to the other unlike the Otters which have the slant at the end. I built my own seats out of cedar to reduce weight. To each his own but these are worth a look as well. Green or blue canvas and well constructed. Price is competitive too. Used it all last winter (alot) and can't wait to get back in it again.......T

[curt quesnell]

More on the bobbers topic. I just hated
using bobbers for ice fishing because of
all the hassle of getting the line to
slip thru the bobber.

I even tried spring bobbers for a while
and realized it wasnt the answer either.

THEN I got an Ice Buster Bobber and the
search was over. The line tumbles thru
the slot on the bobber, you dont need a
bead, all you need to do is use the bobber
stop string that comes with the Ice Buster.
It's great, I love it.

Now there is the Wave Buster Bobber for use
in the summer. Its all that I will use now
because I can cast it and not worry the jig
is a foot down from the bobber. It works
perfect everytime.

SeaBass talked about Thill Bobbers. They
are fantastic and until this foam stuff came
out Thill was the tip top of the line.

These Wave and Ice Busters can be seen and
purchased on this site I believe, and at
your better bait and tackle shops.

I wanted to pass this along before the upcomming ice season so you all had a chance
to get ready.

Curt Quesnell

[Twitter]

OK...I'm another Clam 5600 owner. I love it... When I know I'll be set up for the day....or the night, and not have to move it again. It's not a good portable for dragging across the ice because the hole covers open up and the tub just isn't designed like a sled. You almost need to lift the front end off the ice to drag it. I carry both my Clam 5600 and my fishtrap II in the back of my 5 1/2'shortbox truck and use the trap as my sled when and if I want to move after I've set up the clam. I can get the clam set up in about 5 minutes with the holes drilled and the heat on and get in and take off my coat, stretch out, and get comfortable, and if I'm not in the spot I want to be in I'll take the trap and try somewhere else. This works great on big water like URL and LOW. The other half and I can fish out of my clam for 8-10 hours comfortably, stand up when we want to (I'm 6'3) and easily fish 2 holes each. She also prefers the clam because of the suitcase design. The floor's all plastic and her feet aren't on the ice. So she stays warmer.
All houses have their pros and cons. I guess it's a matter of what you can transport in your vehicle, how many people you'll be with, how you need to transport the house once your on the ice in the early season, and how comfortable you want to be once your in it......
Don't be afraid to ask people on the ice if they're happy with the type of house they have... 99% of them usually don't keep their opinions to themselves

[Raven]

I have a Frabill XLTwin that really works for me. I drag it behind my Bearcat or 4Trax depending on conditions. I did have a single Otter sled to start, but it was too small. I like this XLTwin as there is plenty of room in the sled for all your gear and it sets up in seconds. It is easy to move short distances with the top fliped halfway back. Been in some real blows with it and the canvas is holding up well. Got a lot of use last winter and I am just now getting it ready for this year. If you get one of these, be sure to buy the cover for it. They work great also.

[Rick]

Wwe're going to try and get back to the original thread on best shelter:

Click here to get to the Best Shelter Thread

[Wobbler]

I vouch for the ice buster bobbers. I use that on my pole. On my back up poles I have a bobber with a brain. I used the "Bobber with a Brain this summer and was impressed. No more sending the depth checker down. You can just bait up and let it drop!

[fishhollwood]

I guess it's up to me to say something good about the Clam 5600. I bought a new one last Christmas and I love it. It takes about 30 to 60 to setup. The only thing I will say bad about the Clam is the cover is very snug and can tear at the seam if you don't release some of the tension from the frame.
Good luck!
HWD