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Marcum Technologies - IcePac Portable Fishing System


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Marcum Technologies IcePac Fishing System

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With all the gear one hauls to an ice fishing spot, you really need another pair of hands or, something like the IcePac Fishing System, from Marcum Technologies, to lend you a hand.

Marcum’s IcePac, manufactured using a very tough 600 Denier polyester water resistant PVC material, allows you to transport all your ice fishing gear - minus the auger and minnows – by simply carrying it like a golf bag. We tested one and here’s what we found.

Electronic Storage

The padded electronic storage compartment, at the base of the IcePac, can hold most any flasher electronics shuttle or underwater camera system without any problem. Your flasher or camera can be toted in its original case or without, since this area is padded well for protection. The cover is velcro’d in place along the sides and bottom, with two snap buckles on the top side. We chose to slide in our Marcum LX-5 without the original case and it was most convenient come time to start fishing; simply open the velcro cover of the IcePac, fold the cover under or totally remove, and the flasher or underwater camera is ready for duty. You can simply remove the flasher or camera out of the compartment if needed as well.

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Rod Storage

This built-in, crush-resistant compartment on top holds four rods and reels very comfortably. One could squeeze in more rod and reels if needed. The rod compartment seals up tight using side zippers and velcro along the top.

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Tackle Storage

The middle front zippered storage compartment holds at least two plastic jig trays. On the front of this zippered compartment is a mesh pocket, ideally fitting our line cutting scissors, forceps and pliers with some room to spare.

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Need More Storage?

Our Marcum LX-i handheld sonar was safely toted in its own storage compartment, above the tackle compartment. Don’t have a LX-I handheld sonar? Don’t worry, the velcro’d compartment is large enough for items like cell phones, handheld GPS units, a roll-up hat, sunglasses or beverage container.

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Each side of the Marcum IcePac also has easy access open compartment areas for a variety of gear. They proved to be perfect spots for bait pucks, lanyards, flashlights and extra gloves.

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On each side of the IcePac, you will see a buckled strap, which proved to be useful for strapping longer items like our Big Dipper ice scoop on one side and a tip-up on the other side of the IcePac.

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All this gear together does make the IcePac feel quite heavy but, carrying the IcePac on our shoulder, using the padded shoulder strap, didn’t seem that terribly bulky. One has to keep in mind, you have everything on your shoulder that normally would be carried using four hands!

The IcePac “hung” nicer on the shoulder when the shoulder strap was shortened, too, said our 12-year old tester. The weight more centers up your body rather than hanging low. And, when moving from hole to hole, you can carry the IcePac to the next hole using the strap handle that's securely riveted to the top of the IcePac, too.

Marcum’s IcePac Fishing System can stand alone in the upright position or, when initially setup, launch an automatic “tilt stand” out the rear after lowering the IcePac from your shoulder. The IcePac stood sturdy in the corner of our fishing shelter while in use. The shoulder strap can also be unsnapped and stored if not needed.

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For us, the Marcum Technologies IcePac Fishing System did work well and as claimed. The material and design is top quality. We did not experience any problems with the construction of the IcePac.

For long treks, having all your ice fishing gear slung over your shoulder allows your hands to be available for carrying an auger, minnow bucket or maybe a lantern. Or, leaves your hands free, if someone else was carrying those items.

Another observation we noted while using the Marcum IcePac Fishing System, after we slung the IcePac strap over our shoulder and were gone, we were indeed “One Step Ahead” of others, as they fumbled to gather their gear and catch up.

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Contact

Marcum Technologies

[email protected]

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I have been interested in one since they came out...I will give it one full year to see if Marcum decides to modify anything.

Not that Marcum has ever let me down, but iI like to wait with new items and get some testamonials from users!

DW

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Well, here's a testimonial: Purchased at the ice show before Christmas, and used most all of the winter.

Design: 4/5. Needs to get the sliding mechanism tweaked a bit, and a better way to keep the pivot point on the stand on the back of the unit.

Ease of use: 4/5. A place for everything, and everything in it's place. I would have liked a little more velcro on the GPS/Depthchecker pocket for smaller items. I was alway leary of my etrex falling out.

Materials: 3/5. Looks good, held up so far, but wished it would stand on it's own a little better upright without the stand out when inside and charging my flasher while out of the Icepac. I'd like it to stand on it's own upright without a flasher in the bottom.

Assembly: 2/5. All in all it held up so far, but I did have a major hangup that I contacted Marcum about and they will hopefully resolve.

The shoulder strap attachment points at the bottom of the Icepac both ripped off comletely on my Icepac. In my opinion, the sewing method to hold them onto the sides of the bottom caused the material to weaken so they ripped out in nice clean lines. The stitches did not come apart, the material did. Marcum admitted to an assembly error, and hopefully a new attachment method will be used. Their offer of replacement didn't seem like an answer, as it would just happen again, but I did thank them for the offer. Instead, I heated up a nail and burned a hole through the clasp tabs and the sides of the Icepac a little lower than the previous attachment points. I then threaded a short bolt with some wide washers through it and bolted the tabs back on. The only way it would rip out now it to REALLY tear a large hole in the side of the Icepac. I suggested this or rivets to Marcum, and I hope to see a new method used in the future.

Would I buy one again? Yes, as it did simplify my running and gunning, but they need to fix the attachment method for the shoulder straps. I don't consider myself hard on equipment, but a loaded Icepac is heavy, and the shoulder strap is meant to carry the full load.

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