Portable Fish house for kids

[OTBASSER]

I am looking to buy a new portable fishhouse and I am looking for one that would be good with kids in the future as I have one kid that is 7 months old and another one on the way in Sept. I want a portable that would be good for my wife and I and the two kids. Any suggestions?

[NCLaker]

Various options have there pro's and con's. Since you are looking at 4 people - these are my thoughts:

1) Clam 6800: Good - roomy, but crampt for 4 IMO 6'x'8', floor so no standing directly on the ice, easiy to setup, and use trap link to connect to another clam shack. Bad - heavy, and bulky to haul, no intergrated seating

2) Eskimo QuickFish 6: Good - Cheap for their size ($300-320), Even roomier 6'x12', very light (37#), and compact to haul (fits in back seat of any car), easy to setup/take down if not much wind. Bad - no floor so may want to haul something to stand on so not right on the ice, challenging to setup in windy conditions, no integrated seating.

3) Double wide flipover style (I think many of the big vendors cary them), Very spendy, Very large & heavy - likely require pickup to haul.

4) Hybrid - combine clam shacks connected with the trap link(e.g. Yukon+5600, Voyager+6800, etc) lots of flexibility, but spendy

Personally, I would go with a roomy 2-3 man flip style (most flexible), and pick up a QuickFish 6. More than likely I would guess that most your fishing would just require the 2-3 man, but for those few ocassions for the hole family you have the QF6 (or just rent a permanent for if you think those occasions will be very sparse).

Good Luck.

[OTBASSER]

I have a permanent but I use that only for walleyes..the wife really likes to fish sunfish and that would be the best for the kids in the future.. thanks for your suggestions

[metrojoe]

I'd have to agree on the QuickFish 6. I was in one for the first time last ice season and it was very roomy. The guy had one 20lb lp tank with a sunflower on it an it was plenty warm. The biggest advantage is the weight and the size when collapsed.

I went a bit of a different route because I fish quite a bit by myself. So I have a Fish Trap Pro for when I'm flying solo and when the boys come with I bring along the Clam 2000 for them.

[Scott Stein]

If your willing to spend the money go with a X4. I know a guy that has one and have fished out of it and it's got plenty of room for four people. If your looking to buy right now,they are on sale all over.

[OTBASSER]

Thanks a lot for your help

[OTBASSER]

Most of my fishing is done by myself but late season pannies are a great way to get kids into icefishing and I want a good portable to keep them warm..if they dont stay warm they definitely aren't going to have fun

[PerchJerker]

I have an Otter Lodge. Works great when just my son and I go fishing. Lately my daughter has been coming along and it works great for all 3 of us too. A few times a year my wife comes along too so all 4 of us are out there, that gets a little tight but it works out well. Usually when all 4 of us are there we're doing more goofing around (eating, playing with minnows or wax worms or fish or ice scoops, running around outside) than fishing anyway. I have the Otter swivel seats but the bench seat would work better with 3 or 4 people.

The house is heavy enough that it's hard to pull by hand, and I use atv ramps to get it in and out of the back of my truck, but other than that I think it's a great house.

[OTBASSER]

Thanks..I am not too worried about pulling it by hand I've got an atv for that.

[thedeadsea]

I would go with the larger clam as NCL suggested.

Small kids are going to want to move around and keeping them dry in case they crawl or fall on the floor is very important. Plus you can cover the holes when more people are inside and open them back up if some of the family is outside fishing/playing.

It depends on how your active your kids are but before age 3 they aren't going to sit on a bench or chair for long if they are anything like my kids.

Steve

[BartmanMN]

Go to C-list, search Eskimo Outpost and buy it. If you have wheeler you are set. I am by no means associated with this house, but I saw it last night and it looks sweet.

[Bottle Fish]

It depends on how your active your kids are but before age 3 they aren't going to sit on a bench or chair for long if they are anything like my kids.

How true. I would add if they ever settle down at all. Mine will be 5 and still is a little wild man.

[gonehunting]

I would go with the otter lodge. My brother has one and when his little guy gets bored he throws a couple sleeping bags in the sled and brings in the dvd player. After he tires out he goes to sleep in the bottom of the sled. Plenty warm with heater going, sleeping bags, and snowmobile suit on. I'm not sure about the tent style houses with no floor. A little heat on the ice and you have a skating rink of water for the kids to slip around on. Just my opinion. Fishtrap X4 probably the best option if you have the money and a wheeler.

[OTBASSER]

Thanks for all of your suggestions, it helps to hear from people who have kids!

[Northlander]

I would suggest a Otter Resort. A lodge will be tight with 4 people for sure.As will any single sided flip shelter. The double flip will be BIG and need a full size truck to get to the lake. Even with tailgate down and strapped in unless you have a long bed.

These are very easy to set up. Get some hyfax on it. 2 single burner sunflowers or big buddy heaters. 1 on each side.

[Tyler23]

a clam sleeper is very big and roomy. since you have a 4wheeler i would take a look at this one its kinda heavy but pulling it with your atv wont be a problem. i got one forsale now