shelters

[knelson]

What is your favorite shelter? What are some of the best economical ones? What are the pros and cons of some of them?

[wyoutdoors]

I use a portable one-man flip with a thermal cap from Clam. It is large enough to hold my gear and power auger, and light enough to get in and out of the truck with ease. This season I picked up a Jason Mitchell 5000 Thermal which is super nice, and use it when I take some friends and their kids along.

Other than that, the Ice Armor suit I wear is generally warm enough, and I stay fairly mobile and move quite often, I hardly ever sit inside my flip for very long. The suit is like a shelter unto itself.

- wyoutdoors 

[Wifes folly]

I use a 2-man Clam Voyager TXC.  It is self contained in it's own sled which can be hitched to a snowmobile or 4-wheeler, yet can also be pulled by hand if its not too far.  Advantages are roomy (27 sq. ft. fishable area), can stand up in it, thermal cap, swivel boat seats to sit on , it is well-made, and goes up and down quickly.  Disadvantage is it is more costly than other popular brands, and fairly heavy for a 2-man portable at 110 pounds.  I can load it alone by picking up the front end and then pushing on the back, but it fills a pickup bed or a suburban fairly well all by itself.

[Dirty P]

I've gotten to use almost every kind of shelter except a hard side permi and will say each has its own pros and cons. I prefer a sled based clam style, I personally have a Dave genz fish trap 2 man, it's a little heavy but has tons of room inside stays warm and gets me out of the wind, carries all of my gear and fits in the back of my truck

[transmontanus]

I have the Qwikfish 2.  It is simple to put up and has plenty of room for two people with their gear.  The bag it comes in has shoulder straps so you can carry it like a back pack.  It retains heat well.  I have had a pole snap when it has been below zero and the sides pop in when you get a good wind gust but all in all I like it.

[jopes]

I just wear arctic armour and fish out side

[olefish]

9x7 hut I built

[trogdor]

I just wear arctic armour and fish out side

+1
A good suit is usually what you need. It fits for my prefered run 'n' gun style fishing.

[culinarypunk]

I have a killzone 4 man. It's more like a two man and its good to block the wind.
The windows do not like cold weather! But its a good first hut for us.

[rorr]

I've got a Frabill 3 man and it works great. Windows aren't the greatest but no complaints.

[Phezhead]

I got the Clam 4000T, easy for one guy to set it up, plenty of room.  I had read some complaints with the zippers breaking, but have had no problems with them.  I am more than happy with it, but I will say I don't have much too compare it to as it is my first shelter.

[7lazy77]

I have a 6x6 hub & I like it.  Its lightweight, easy to put up & has plenty of room.

[WYOBEAR]

I fish out of a Eskimo Fatfish 767 and love it!  It can handle any Wy wind!  Well made and easy to use.

[IceHutt]

Regardless of the shelter that you may choose, plan to get some good screw in ice anchors.  I learned the hard way that you put out 1 anchor first to throw your tow ropes over.  I went on a wild chase for some of my gear on one of my ice sleds when a wind gust came up and got the sled moving across the lake.    The best that I have found is the Clam ice anchors.  If you have a cordless drill and a extra long 3/16 inch drill bit to predrill the hole for the anchor, it will make life a lot easier.  Then a 1/4 inch eyebolt that has been put in the vise and sprung sideways enough to let the ice anchor handle into the eye of the eyebolt.  Put the threaded portion of the eyebolt into your cordless drill and it will work well to turn the screw anchor into the predrilled hole.  The predrilled hole also helps keep the ice from cracking and spalling out when you screw the anchor in.       Happy trails ! 

[blue grouse]

a buddy and I had been using a eskimo fatfish, but this year we bought a 4.5ft X 7ft wooden shipping container from a moving and storage company for 25 bucks.  We have been working on it night and finally used it for the first time this week.  It is great, has 4 holes and 2 windows, flexible rod holders, sliding bench seats on each end, and storage for rods and tip ups.  We are into it for like $100 dollars, using materials that we had laying around.  It does require a trailer that we already had.  It has been a project that has been fun to work on. We love it.  I will put pictures up once we get it painted.  We are going with brown paint and will have the Wyoming Cowboys logo in yellow painted on it.  if you can find a wooden shipping container I would recommend it. 

Blue Grouse

[legend]

great idea !

[Rat-Man]

I just wear arctic armour and fish out side

Yes a real true ICE FISHERMAN like myself only use my flip if its real cold and windy.

[ratfink1]

nice hut ole I wish I had the time to make one like that

[jritten]

I also normally don't feel the need for a hut (in fact I've never owned one until this year), but the wife said 'it would be a good idea to have one' if I was going to take my 2 year old out.  I just got a Cabelas "Ice Team 2000TC'.  7.5 feet by 7.5 feet square pop up, and I can stand up in it (I'm 6'4").  I haven't had it on the ice yet, but it seems well built, and has an insulated top.  And, all the paperwork says it is made by clam.  They're on sale for just about $230 right now. Not a bad buy.  I've set it up in the back yard a few times.  Goes up and down really quick.  I'll let you know how it works on the ice after I get it out (probably next weekend).

[Sawtooth]

I've been using an Eskimo fatfish for 3 years, and had no real problems with it.  When something did break, Eskimo has been wonderful with free replacement parts.  Strapped and pegged down correctly, it can withstand 50 mph winds.  My only problem has been if I am unhappy with my spot on the lake.  It is too tough to tear down and move around. 

So last week the little woman let me buy a Frabill Trekker for 2.  I've only used it twice, but once was high wind, and it much easier to set up. And I can tear down and move in about 5 minutes.   And being black, even in 20 degree weather with sun, I didn't need Mr. Buddy heater.  I am still keeping the fatfish for larger numbers of fishermen, but I'm currently hooked on the flip. 

[Loudmouth879]

Most of the time I'm just in my blue clam ice suit however if it's windy out or really really cold and too hard to jig outside I'm in my clam bigfoot xl 2000 which is a pop-up style and goes up and down quickly just make sure you anchor it down correctly and it will withstand a lot