Sleeping in 6800 or 8x8 sleeper on LOW or URL

[FishingWebGuy]

Does anybody make extended trips (3, 4, 5 days) to the big northern lakes with only a soft sided house for accommodations?

I'm looking to take a couple trips this winter with my Voyager and possibly a trap link connected sleeper. But as I look at buying the sleeper I start to wonder if it's a crazy idea.

Some things that come to mind are.

1. Adequate Protection from strong winds

2. Condensation getting everything wet. Including sleeping bags.

3. Don't really want to sleep with a heater on.

Should I just save for a hardside or a guide instead? Having to store another portable in the off season for 2 or 3 trips might not make a lot of sense either.

[tisosy11]

I have thought about sleeping in my Clam 5600 attached to my X2 but haven't had the guts yet. I think you wouldn't be able to sleep without the heater unless you had a super bag. I would imagine a guided trip or go all out and buy a wheel house.

You could always try sleeping in a soft sided house one night or something and see if it is managable.

[WinterHaven]

Set it up in your backyard on a cold night and see if it is manageable.

[only ice]

You would be more of a man than me!! Not to many days up there where its not cold and WINDY! A friend of mine tryed that one time and ended up in our sleeper.Maybe in March when its 35 outside.For a few bucks a Hot Shower and Bed are GREAT!

[GRAND DAD]

WOW this really makes me laugh and brings back great memories.

Growing up this is how me and my dad would fish just about every weekend, We would go all over the state fishing and sleeping in our portable it was a 6x8 and at night we would sleep in lawn chairs and have a black and white TV string up in the corner with rope. Any one that try's this will be just fine and if you run in to some bad wind jump in your truck.

[fadal]

I sleep in my 5600 all the time. I have a cot that folds up into a bag and I use the big buddy heater. The worst time I had with it was on Gull Lake a few years ago wind was 30 miles per hour. It kept lifting the corner of the house up. So I had to sit in that corner,good thing I weigh 250lbs lol. It was a terrible night,but I survived it.

[gritsnham]

Just get a cheap motel and drive between red and lake of the woods. We do it with a group every year and its a blast everytime! That big lake weather can get to be a little to much for sleeping in a portable I would say ESPECIALLY for 5 days!

[fishNcrappie]

i wouldnt try and sleep on red personally(least not in january). last trip i took up there we stayed in hotel on hwy 1. got on lake about 7am with flipover. was 20below with 30 mile an hour winds. managed to get 4 holes drilled and frabil set up before i had to get back into truck to warm up. raced back to flipover to start fishing. i had a big buddy full blast and cooker on 1#tank for heat.plus wearing full winter clothes couldnt get warm. after an hour of nothing thought about moving spots but too cold. toughed it out for 6 hours before i had enough. did catch 1 crappie 10 walleyes.

if you do plan on sleeping overnight, i would suggest putting reflectix (sp?) in your portable.would be big help

[FishingWebGuy]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'm convinced that unless temps are forecast to be in the 20s and 30s I won't try it.

Even if I could tolerate it, the kids would probably be complaining the whole time.

I'll probably just arrange for some guided stays while at the ice show.

[Chode2235]

One night might be fun, if you could sell it to yourself and kids as a "night fishing adventure" but not for as long as you are thinking about it.

[slipperybob]

I did the URL three day weekend in my Clam 1060. Lounge cot, sleeping bag and Coleman Procat. Cot to keep me off ground. Sleeping bag is good to like -50 F. I drop the shelter height by one section, less air, less loss of heat.

[robert1965]

I have camped out in my 6800 four times on L.O.W. fished all day then turned the hut into sleeping quarters, I used carpet for the base and used thick movers tarps to insulate the walls. I had two fans on the support poles, a big buddie hooked to a twenty pound tank, two cots and sleeping bags. it worked great there's a little work involved switching from fishing to sleeping quarters, it got below zero one night it still wasn't bad, I will definitely do it again.

[Crusty old Swede]

We've spent many 2-4 night trips in 8x8 portables on Mille Lacs,Leech & Red. When it gets windy, park your vehicle perpendicular to the wind with your house snuggled up to the down wind side. A blue trap that covers 3 sides and the roof will add 20 degrees on a windy day and 30 on a still day, it will also greatly reduce frost on the walls/roof. A CO detector will let you heat with propane safely all night. Search the Leech forum for sleeping in portables, lots of info there.

[The_King48]

I think you better have a darn good sleeping bag.... I have a pop-up camper for sale.... Its priced to sell. I fished with it for 2 years on LOTW.... It has hard sides, heater, cook top and it will sleep 2, 3 if you really like somebody. Email if you want more info. [email protected]

[Random guy]

Break it down, 60 clams per adult per night you can stay in a sleeper on Red. Fish all night long (can't do that in a motel) and you can day trip to LOW or stay on Red if the bite is hot.