Clam 5600, Love or Hate?

[liprippinWI]

Just wondering how many guys have had experience with the 5600 and what you think of it.  I guess my main questions would be on the versatility of the unit and how fast it sets up and folds down.  Thinking of getting one and would like input from experts!

[1Eskimoshack]

Just bought mine a month ago, it sets up REALLY easy even in the wind.  However it weighs 75 LBS and is not conducive to carrying gear, you'll need a jet sled or something similar to carry your stuff.  It can be a bit of a pain in the snow as it is a little on the heavy side.  I guess this is to be expected for such a roomy shelter.  As far as fishing very comfy for 2 and servicable for 3, works fine for 1 also.  Just depends what you are looking for but I really like mine.

[shantyman1]

I just got one not to long ago. It is a little on the heavy side but its worth it doesn't blow around in the wind and works good with a buddy heater.

[RealityCheck]

I like mine....fishead hooked me up last year with mine.  Fished in it several times...it is heavy...but i usually only break it out when I am fihsing with friends....so I have extra help hauling it out.  Over all the unit is great....roomy ....and durable.  Also if yo are hard on gear like me......replacement parts are available

[Seedtree]

I use mine mainly in "basecamp" situations now, since I have a Guide that I use alot.  The 5600 is great for outings with kids, or when I know an area and am not likely to move around much. 

[Bluefox]

A friend had one for a few years, then sold it for a flip-over style. He likes to move around alot and it was time consuming with this shanty. It was very hard to pull in snow, so he built a sled out of conduit, with built in bucket holders. The sled worked great and it is a nice shanty to fish in. The sled also made it possible to strap everything in place with bunggies.

[Melbs7]

I have had mine for about 6 or 7 years. I love the shanty.... and hate it. It sets up great. It is roomy. it's great to fish out of. Heats nice with a buddy heater. It is, however, a capital "B" to drag once there is more than 2" of snow on the ice. I will strongly be looking at getting a flip over style for next year, I think. Then new Frabill's sure look nice!! The other thing is, you have to keep the rod length down a little bit inside the shanty.... but I guess that's any shanty pretty much.

[DR.SPECKLER]

i borrowed my buds clam5600 and with snow on the ice it pulled like a stack of drywall.but it pretty roomy.but im sticken to my 2000

[tightlineusny]

For me it's a love hate thing. Roomy, easy set up, stays warm easily. Bad, pain in the a@@ to pull. I hardly ever use it for that reason, I like to run and gun and this is not the style to do that with. Usually just put it up at the crappie derby.

[Jeff S]

Im gonna brag here but what ever. I managed to find one a couple years ago hardly used at an estate auction. No one wanted to bid and I finally said ten bucks. Had a guy run me up to $30 but I won it at $30. So far so good. I will have to get a picture of it, but the owner had made a steel sled frame. Its pretty much 1/2-3/4 inch solid steel re-rod but smooth. That is used as the skis and such and they sit nearly 10 inches off the ice. The top is just angle iron. The Clam fits nice and flat on it and pulls well. As for those who say it lacks storage, when pulling it leave leave the floor out of the upside. Each hole will hold a 5 gallon bucket well. I have to get a pic and post it, its layin in back of brothers truck so it will be a day or two. He has a Shapell and we had em connected a few days back. I was floored how much the 5600 dwarfed the Shapell he has in size. I have a couple young kids and would not want anything smaller.

Jeff

[RLWagner]

I love it as long as I do not have to pull iy by hand through deep snow......

[liprippinWI]

Man, you can't go wrong for $30.00.  Sounds like you got a heck of a steal there.  I've actually been doing some digging and research and think I might end up going with the 2000 instead.  It sounds to me like the biggest con with these units is pulling them in the snow.  I think I can work my way around that issue as long as the quality and ease of use is good as what folks say it is.   

[MILLERMANKT]

I love mine. I built a frame out of 2x3's and put a set of skis on the bottom. pulls ok by hand, awesome behind the 4 wheeler. use it as a base camp also.Love having it when I talke out new people or little kids. Keeps them from getting turned off from the cold. I bop around if fish aren't biting, so does my 13 yr.old. If it's crazy windy it's nice to just sit inside w/ my 2 boys.

[bigdaddydb]

BOTH....I just sold mine to raise funds for a new Trekker DLX.  I had it out a couple of times all day and once in norther Ontario where it was awesome but it is just too cumbersome to be lugging around by myself.  I live in Ohio and we have a short season and I fish probably 10 times a year on the ice if I'm lucky and I think I had it out 1 time last year when I took 2 new guys out.  I built a sled too but I like the convenience of the flip over for 1-2 guys.  The crack shack as I call it is great for someone that never fishes alone and always stays out all day in one spot though.

[Whitefish Slayer]

I've fished out of a 5600 for a long time, my buddy bought one when they first came out, I'm sure they are better now.  I really enjoy it, yes it's a bit we got a sled build out of aluminum measures exactly for this shack with 3 skis, pulls like a charm!!!!! Plus throw all your gear on top strap it down and away you go.


Not sure if they changed the Wooden Hole covers, that's the only thing they could have worked on I guess... wood would warp and break and stuff.. they needed/need to make plastic inserts or flip ups..

Good investment buyng a 5600