Another Otter Mod. Idea,

[Shack]

I know, I know you guys gotta be sick of my mod. post’s. I do not post all of them, just the idea’s that are killer and can help fellow F.M.ers in our quest of making fishing as easy as possible.

I was out getting ready for some after noon evening crappie rustling and came across another brain storm. I know you guys all have the Legacy rod bags and in that first rod case/bag post I told you guys what I had. I have since read/heard Legacy is low/out of the very good rod case’s you guys post about (the last I checked), so I am keeping the one I have now. In my defense, my rod storage compartment is the right size to hold a Legacy, if one comes down the pike.

Very easy on this one. Get a couple of those coat hooks at the local store. Purchase a rod case like this one. Poke holes with punch in fabric on both top otter corners. The corners are reinforced with heavy material sew around outer edge of the rod case. Pulling the key chain threw rod case corner is almost impossible. Put two large key chain loops on each corner. Hang key chain loop on inner/outer hook of coat hanger. The rest is pretty easy.

Here are some images. Very easy access, rod bag rolls up and stores in compartment in mod.

[Sandmannd]

That's pretty slick man. I think I might have to add that to mine.

[Grainbelter]

Nice idea and keep them coming. I can't imagine anyone getting sick of new ideas for their sleds, I just need a wheeler before I can do most of them, it's already to hard enough to pull.

[Cletus]

I have always thought about tricking out my Yukon... but have always decided against in lieu of keeping my sled light and mobile. But THAT mod certainly wouldn't add much weight (other than the fact that I would then have no excuse to bring MORE rods with). Good thinking!

[picksbigwagon]

I have one of those cases in my garage right now, that would be awesome, except I put my heater in my voyager sled, right about where that would hit, but not in my one man otter

[Shack]

Thanks guys!

It worked very slick tonight and I do not see my self changing to anything else soon on my rod case.

As a matter of fact, everything went great to night. I had my pre- mod jitters, but every thing that was supposed to work, worked.

I hit a little (very little) lake to night. It holds A ton of pan fish and does connect with a lake that’s known to hold walleyes. Unloading and loading was a dream. It only took seconds. Fortunately, the conditions on this lake where very good for a one man pulling team. My mod glided like a dream. Set up was a breezy and I was fishing the first spot with in minutes of drilling and checking structure. Boom, boom, boom, lines where down and heater was on. The first spot was slow, so I decided to move. The second spot was action about 15 minutes after lines where dropped. I spent a lot of time designing and thinking out my mod. and it paid off big time. I could go into vast detail of the whole trip, but I will rap it up in Otter mod’s are the greatest.

I dedicated the entire evening for crappies. I started out in 10 FOW, but after making 3 moves, I end up finding the best action in 5-6 FOW. Very small presentation was key. I did not have larva, but had some very nice small minnows. Dead sticking with a ultra light spring bobber worked the best, although I did switch to a very light Thill bobber and minnow combo later in evening, which caught fish. Just enough to hold the bobber up on a light crappie minnow. Jigs where anything I could find small and glowing. Vertical and horizontal jigs seemed to work, but they had to be small. Also, do not think its a sin to fish a foot or two under the ice when action slows up. Flurry of action was almost on the clock at 7:00pm, 8:30pm and 10:00pm. I gave it until 11:00pm and wanted to see how loading was going to be. I went alone today for a purpose. To see how it will work with my mod… I said every thing above on how it went. I love my mod...

Caught a lot of crappies. Here's is some pics. Taken pics alone is a job, but it worked out. Nothing big tonight, but at least I got fish in the new mod… Thanks for all the idea’s. Also, all the fish went back for the good of the lake. Catch and release folks!

It all fit and loads nice. I do have a cheater. Check out at bottom of image.

The rod that saw the most action!

[BoxMN]

Awesome Shack! Very cool, glad everything worked great. Gives me ideas and encouragement for things I think I want to do to mine. Nice fish too!!!

[Sandmannd]

Nice Shack, I went out and found a rod holder like yours and did the same to mine. Big Wade and I went out today and that thing worked slick. Nice to have a place to hang the jackets as well.

[hanson]

I think that is a great idea!

While I might still use my Revolution for storing and transporting my rods, while in the shack fishing, that would be a great place to have a couple extra rods at the ready for quick lure changes or in case of a break off. I usually have an extra rod or two out anyway and they are usually in the way or in a place where they could be easily damaged. Rather than the coat hooks, I might find a way to zip tie mine right to the rear bar and leave it permanently installed.

[Shack]

Hanson,

That’s a great idea also.

If nothing is in bag, it should just fold right up with cover of shack.

I had elec. ties out, as well as alum. flex rod, bailing wire and curtain hooks. I was going to mount right to pole at first, but thought about what else I have going their. That’s when I thought up the key chain loops.

I could see this being a feature built right into these flip over shacks. Hanson, I think your idea of permanently mounting some holder would be something that would be awesome. Have a Legacy type bag and have pockets sown into back of canvas for rod holders when fishing.

Let’s see how powerful F.M. is with manufactures and see if this shows up on the market. Remember folks, you saw it here first.

The bag is very cheap, I think the hooks I used cost more than the bag (bought them last year), but the ease of use is priceless.

Sand,

That’s great to hear. Did you catch anything?

[joneshat11]

Now that is a hell of an idea! I think about how long I mess around trying to get that one rod ready at each spot or trying to get the certin one out. This for the little time it would take setup even when hole hopping would make things a little easier to pull out that right rod. I might even try and setup one in front or the side for even quicker access. Never know when that school of crappies roll in while fishing for walleyes!!! Again good idea!!

[CrappieAttitude]

HAve you guys found those holders at any regular sporting goods stores? I like the idea of having the rods on ready alert five without digging around in my other case when time is of the essence.

Can you actually roll them up with all those rods in it? It seems to me that the reels would get in the way of one another while rolling.

Definately something that I may need to investigate a little further. Nice work Shack!

CA

[Sandmannd]

Got mine at the ol' Walmart. Like $10 and I rolled three rods up in it. You can put a tipup or two in as well.