Fish Trap X Series...for real?

[EyeSkater]

Hi,

Am considering purchase of a Fish Trap X2 very soon. I have used Otter for several years, so don't necessarily need any plugs...very good units. Why change? Pole system on Trap X looks really good. Lighter colored fabric is better for fishing early/late in the day. I don't ever sight fish. Vents, windows and door look better than ever too. The new seats are first class.

I'd like to hear input from anybody with an opinion...but owners of Trap X would be especially valuable. One question: What do you think of the 900 denier fabric...its sturdiness, abrasion-resistance, and windproof characteristics?

'Eye-Skater

[jigging-matt]

My brother in Law has one. Seems like a very nice setup. I have a Voyeager, and am extremely happy with it, but see where the heavier tub and other upgrades are very nice.

[hugonian1]

I bought an X2 last year and have no regrets. It is definatly a well built, solid, heavy duty unit. It sets up easily, the pole system is great. I expect this to be my last portable purchase, but you know how that goes.

[anyfishwilldo]

I absolutely love my X2. Clam addressed all the probs with the F/T line, and made them right with the X series.

[Farley]

I dont have one but have sat in a few in the showroom. One thing I noticed is the seats are really nice and comfortable, much more so than any of the other brands.

[SXViper]

The only drawback of the x2 is the sled. The slope on the front and back of the sled make it impossible to get the seats far enough apert. I am a bigger guy and my friend bought an X3 last year. I fished with him for a weekend at LOW and that was the one thing that kept me from buying an X2. The seats are just too close together. You are always rubbing elbows with the other guy.

Brian

[otis]

That seems to be the case with all fish houses though. To me it alsways seems to be a better idea to get the one step bigger than you need. A 3 man house is perfect for two people, two man house perfect for one, and so on. That is my two cents. I sold fish houses for a time at a Gander Mountain, and the X series houses are the real deal. I would recomend them over any others. I have not tested the new clam houses that are supposed to be warmer, but if you go with an X2 you will enjoy it.

[EyeSkater]

Size matters! I currently have the Otter Medium Cabin and fish by myself 100% of the time. The Trap X2 would still be mostly used for one person (me), but with room for my wife or a guest. I understand about the double seats; it takes a big shelter to prevent occasional contact with a second fisherman.

Being an Otter user, I don't intend to give up strength, durability and functionality. My gut tells me the Trap X2 is every bit as good as my Otter, and improved in some respects. The sled seems very, very nice. The hitch....well...you can't expect everything to be great.

If the poles and cover prove to be first class I'll be tickled. Now for a great heat source...!

'Eye-Skater

[BIG DS]

Don't give the fabric on the tent of the X2 a second thought. There is not another house on the market with tougher fabric. We had a 8" x 8" swatch of the frabric for the FT series houses with a 4" or 5" cut in the middle of it. 2 grown men pulling on it couldn't make even a thread crack. They have 600 deneir fabric and the X series have 900 denier. You will not tear the tent. It is even hard to cut. Great house. I am considering trading my Otter Lodge for a X-2 because of the tent and seats.

[MuleShack]

X2's are great.

Like with any larger shack, make sure you have a wheeler or sled to pull it with, cause dragging 100lbs is no fun in the snow.

But it certainly is wind proof and sets up in seconds. It comes with 4 support poles, but i have "rarely" used them with the exception of maybe 3 days on Mille lacs when the wind was howling. The pole system has plastic guides on the ends that keep it smooth up and back down. It comes with built in rod holders (not literally) where you put your rod inbetween the first and 2nd pole in the bracket and it holds the rod out at about 45 degrees over the hole.

Putting the hitch on the front is another story, make sure you get everything lined up the mounting brackets straight the first time and it will work great...line it up off just a little and it could be a pain getting the bar put on.

I have an X 2 and pretty much fish alone in it. I did take the wife with a couple times last year...the seats are adjustable on a sliding bar so you can move way to the outside...but like someone else said, 2 larger guys with 4 holes would get crowded in any house. Back to the seats...they come with a storage compartment under the seat, which is very nice, its fabric and your stuff doesn't bounce on hard surface, it's suspended. I keep flashlight, tacklebox and some small other stuff in there...handy.

I like mine...very durable.

[EyeSkater]

Good feedback, particularly on the fabric...thanks!

With respect to the hitch: I typically pull with a 500 atv. The Trap hitch looks very questionable compared to the Otter's. I'm often out 3 to 5 miles and riding in after dark. I don't need hitch problems. I'll probably use an Otter hitch bar and fabricate my own brackets for the sled. Incidentally, I still think the Otter sled's hitch connection (molded hitch brackets) is the cat's meow. Drilling a sled to attach steel brackets is definitely second rate.

'Eye-Skater

[skippie]

I got my X2 end of '06 I think, all I can say is it is the best money I have spent on a ice house. I would recomend getting the travel cover though. I use it as a one man, taking my daughter of a buddy once and a while. I love a fishhouse that I can stand up in.

[Kodiak]

i love my x2 also, the hitch wasnt that bad to install and once installed it works great!

[ozzie]

How is this house for pulling while walking? I am going to get one I believe but was curious as it is a heavier house....

[EyeSkater]

It's listed by Clam Corp at 145 (sumo) pounds. I think it would be a dog to hand pull. That weight is the combo unit which includes the double seats. If you use a cover, add 3 to 4 pounds. Your gear is, well, your gear. I'd have a coronary trying to hand pull a 145 pound sled loaded with around 20 to 40 more pounds of gear. At that rate I could only fish for 6" perch.

[Scott K]

My friend just bought one, we fished out of it, pulled it by hand with all of our gear in it. I can tell you its not alot harder to pull then my voyager loaded with our gear! It needs 2 people to pull it though.

[eyebjim]

Funny you should mention that. It is a very good fish house for pulling with a snowmobile/4 wheeler. I bought the X2 last year after there was enough ice for the wheeler and it works wonderfully if you are towing it. I used it for early ice this year and it was great until it snowed. That thing is like dragging a deer. After almost having a heart attack pulling it out I went and bought a fish trap scout for early ice. The X2 will have to wait for enough ice for the wheeler from now on. I do really like the X2, its just weighs a lot and has too steep of a slope on the front of the sled so it want to plow instead of ride up on the snow when pulling by hand.

[ozzie]

that is sorta what I thought.....I have a pro but have wanted a bigger house for sometime and really like the X2....I did notice the sled and thought it looked steep but I thought maybe with runners that might help?? I will still have my pro so on the days I don't have someone to go out with me I can still get out!!! Are they easy to assemble or are they a pain like the Pro was?

[eyebjim]

The assembly is very similar to the pro only more of it, a bit of a pain in the neck.