Fish Trap Scout mods??

[gopher_nation]

Has anyone done anything to modify their scout? Any ideas would be great.

[joneshat11]

gopher,

One thing I did was center the seat over to the left since the holes move over to the right more. That allows you to fit a buddy heater in tight along with a small cooler for a minnow bucket. On the otherside the vex and camera fit perfect. I add the LED rope light which is perfect amount of light. Also added a spring loaded broom holder for a rod holder on the front base. Besides that IMO you really want to leave it alone as the more you add the more heavier you get. The mods that these guys have with Otter's are crazy as it adds way to much weight to hole hop effectivly. Believe me, I was out all day weekend hole hopping around guys with heavier houses and able to fish way more effictivly in a warm house.

[McGurk]

Quote:

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The mods that these guys have with Otter's are crazy as it adds way to much weight to hole hop effectivly. Believe me, I was out all day weekend hole hopping around guys with heavier houses and able to fish way more effictivly in a warm house.

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I won't disagree with the added weight, but I wanted room for my wife or a buddy to go along, so I am burdened with a bigger house to begin with. We are both carrying an auger, flasher, camera, and a seat (+1 for me, though) in addition to the house, so that is a wash. I also have a LP tank and a big buddy heater (she can't be cold!) so I am pulling that in addition to you, too. The larger sled size and extra canvas are where you will see alot of added weight. Luckily I have an ATV to get involved in the heavy pulling and long distances.

I really tried to pay attention to the materials used and minimalist design so as to keep the additional weight down, and I think I did pretty well. I think my entire mod would weigh less than a 2 limits of sunnies in a bucket, just to keep it all in perspective. I like what I did, and you are right: you will have a MUCH easier time hole hopping. If I were looking to fish by myself, I'd be in the same boat you are in, but I like a little company from time to time.

[joneshat11]

McGurk,

Don't get me wrong the Otters are great for semi basecamp/semi hole hopping with a partner. The point being that the scouts are the best for hole hopping and fishing more effectivly an area by covering more area in a short amount of time. That is the reason you buy and fish with a scout. If you do to many mods to the scout you add more weight and make it more chore to move when needed to move. Therefore you don't want many mods done. If you want to fish with someone and getting your wife out fishing (which is an awsome deal) the Otters do the trick and the mods make it great for that. But for the reasons you buy the scout you don't want to many mods.

[gopher_nation]

I've got this years model and when sitting in it the seat is just left of center. Camera, lantern, and marcum fit on small side. Poles and small stuff go in the hammock under the seat. Bait bucket and buddy heater on big side. Do you keep your heater in the sled when its on?

I was just trying to see how to keep things from sliding around.

[joneshat11]

I mainly centered it so it holds the buddy heater better. Oh yeah, I put a rug with rubber on the bottom and that seems to hold things in place better. I did that so I could pull it out and shack clean once in awhile.

[PerchJerker]

I have a small one-man Fish Trap, not sure of the model name but it is the older style with the wood bench seat.

The only mod I did to it is to make a tray or shelf out of plastic rain gutter that you can buy at Menards or Home Depot. The shelf runs down the 2 sides of the sled and across the back. In the corners I used inside corner pieces of rain gutter so the whole thing is 1 open, continuous shelf with sides. Very handy for fishing rods, fishing tools, flashlights, grub boxes, gloves, 1 lb propane tanks, etc. Total weight added is probably about 2 lbs and the cost is pretty small, maybe $20 for the parts.

Other than that, I have a couple pieces of grippy rubber that is used to line tool box drawers that I put on the floor to stop stuff from sliding around.

I really like using rain gutter for trays or shelfs, I've done it in the last 3 portable houses I've owned.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[DTro]

Quote:

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I have a small one-man Fish Trap, not sure of the model name but it is the older style with the wood bench seat.

The only mod I did to it is to make a tray or shelf out of plastic rain gutter that you can buy at Menards or Home Depot. The shelf runs down the 2 sides of the sled and across the back. In the corners I used inside corner pieces of rain gutter so the whole thing is 1 open, continuous shelf with sides. Very handy for fishing rods, fishing tools, flashlights, grub boxes, gloves, 1 lb propane tanks, etc. Total weight added is probably about 2 lbs and the cost is pretty small, maybe $20 for the parts.

Other than that, I have a couple pieces of grippy rubber that is used to line tool box drawers that I put on the floor to stop stuff from sliding around.

I really like using rain gutter for trays or shelfs, I've done it in the last 3 portable houses I've owned.

Hope this helps, good luck.

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That sounds good, I think I'll do that to my Fish Trap Pro.

Thanks

How did you attach?

Got any pics of it?

[MASON38]

This is a Pro, but what I did was take my rotary tool, and cut three slits spaced out. The rod holders are HT bucket holders. Figure whatever I am doing I can place the rod where it will do the most good. You should be able to do at least two with the Scout.

a close up.....

[DTro]

Nice!

What do the bungies do?

[muc33]

got any pics of the gutter/shelfs? Neat idea!

[PerchJerker]

No pics right now but I will try to post some later.

I attached it with small bolts, fender washers, and nylok nuts. Drilled holes right through the rain gutter and through the side of the sled. Doesn't take many bolts.

The rain gutter is flexible enough it can be fit into position and made to work as long as you aren't super-particular about everything being 100% straight and square. For example, the corners of the sled are rounded and the corners of the rain gutter are square, and the sides of the sled are flared out slightly -- it just doesn't line up as good as you think it should but it works great.

For the 'U'-shaped tray in my small trap I used 2 inside corners, 2 end caps, and no mounting brackets. In my larger Otter I used rain gutters and due to the longer run I used a couple of mounting brackets for extra strength and stability in the tray.

There's 2 styles of rain gutter, a wider shallower one and a deeper, narrower one. I've used both but prefer the shallower wider one, seems to hold stuff better.

[Shack]

Quote:

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The mods that these guys have with Otter's are crazy as it adds way to much weight to hole hop effectivly. Believe me, I was out all day weekend hole hopping around guys with heavier houses and able to fish way more effictivly in a warm house.

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Way to buzz kill this guys main question of this thread. The guy wants some advice, not criticism.

I was hoping when I opened this thread to see some mods on the Fish Trap Scout. Anyone have some ideas for this guy or better yet some pics.

(Edit: Not be harsh. Everone it entitled to their own opinion. Any advice is good adivse.

[MASON38]

I ran one bungee width wise down the middle (side to side) and the two that you see going front to back. They just help stabilize buckets, tackle, cooler, flasher...etc. Just a preventive thing to stop things from sliding around, without adding any weight. Sections off six equally sized areas.

In the top pic, I installed one of those folding marine cup/can holders. Just didnt think it would work on the Scout so I didnt mention it. It folds up flush to corner bracket when not in use.

[DTro]

I've seen these gutters heated and bent, I bet a guy could get a continuous seamless race around the 3 sides

[Shack]

MASON38,

Nice setup!

[gopher_nation]

I like the ideas guys, keep 'em coming.

I like the gutter idea for the 1lb cylinders, and beverages.

Looks like the same corner brackets, so I think the can holder would work too. Not to mention the stickers are a nice touch.

[joneshat11]

shackbash,

Where's the buzz kill? Noticed in my response I pointed out some mods that I've done first and stated the idea not to put much more than that like the guys with the Otters. It's an opinion that it adds more weight. If you going to quote me please add the whole reponse and not just pick out parts that you find to be harsh.

[Shack]

Jones,

Quote:

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gopher,

One thing I did was center the seat over to the left since the holes move over to the right more. That allows you to fit a buddy heater in tight along with a small cooler for a minnow bucket. On the otherside the vex and camera fit perfect. I add the LED rope light which is perfect amount of light. Also added a spring loaded broom holder for a rod holder on the front base. Besides that IMO you really want to leave it alone as the more you add the more heavier you get. The mods that these guys have with Otter's are crazy as it adds way to much weight to hole hop effectivly. Believe me, I was out all day weekend hole hopping around guys with heavier houses and able to fish way more effictivly in a warm house.

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Quote:

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McGurk,

Don't get me wrong the Otters are great for semi basecamp/semi hole hopping with a partner. The point being that the scouts are the best for hole hopping and fishing more effectivly an area by covering more area in a short amount of time. That is the reason you buy and fish with a scout. If you do to many mods to the scout you add more weight and make it more chore to move when needed to move. Therefore you don't want many mods done. If you want to fish with someone and getting your wife out fishing (which is an awsome deal) the Otters do the trick and the mods make it great for that. But for the reasons you buy the scout you don't want to many mods.

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Here is the rest of the other post you wrote.

I still just do not see how this goes with anything from what the original thread question the poster was asking about. He was not asking "do you guys think I should mod my fish trap", or "what problems am I in for when I mod my fish trap". I just feel when you go into a post asking about how to mod. a portable and knock it right away, it hinders some people with good advice out there form posting in this thread.

Again like I stated in my first post, every one is entitled to their own opinion and your advice is valid. Sorry if I offended you, I was not trying to do this.