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Best Ice Shack
#1
Hi,

I'm new to the board and have a question. What do you guys think would be the best ice fishing shelter to buy? I'm looking for something to house myself and my 9 year old son. I would like it to be easy to set up and light enough to pull around the ice on foot fairly easily. Mrs. Clause is giving us the green light we just aren't sure what to get.

We haven't been getting out much but I'm going to change that and when we do we will post reports here.

Thanks,

Utahbill
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#2
I like the Eskimo Quickflip II,sold it to Ironworker because I was not useing it,but it would be great for kids.You can but all your gear in it,and fold the tent on top.Had a Frabill before that,but most brands don't have enough room unless you can find some really SHORT rods.Sports warehouse has them sometimes.
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#3
Welcome to the board. We were all newbies once! You should get some differing opinions on this topic which will be helpful. Here's my opinion...

I am always on foot and already drag a pretty heavy sled with propane heater, fishfinder, gear bag, auger, shovel, chair, extra rods, etc. Even more stuff when either my 3, 7, or 10 yr old come along (more rods, more chairs, more extra clothes, etc).

I discovered fairly early on that I don't really like to fish in a shack. I like to be social and like the scenery of the outdoors. I also don't like to fish 4 feet away from anyone else (which happens when you are in a shack). I feel like we are competing for the same fish. I think if you are 15 or 20 feet away you can still be social and have a great time and be fishing for different fish. Anyway my point is that I have only fished in my shack 1 time when I have not had my kids with me. When I take my kids I almost always take it and sometimes we fish out of it (depends on how cold and how much wind) . It is a much better experience for the kids to be inside when it is really cold or windy.

I looked at lots of different ice shacks. I really like the set up of the Eskimo Quick FLIP III. Its roomy, sets up quick, has a bench seat, sturdy, etc......but its like 82 pounds. Add my already 50 pounds to it and I am packing way to much weight!

So I was looking for a shack that was light weight, quick set up, roomy, and sturdy and I found it. It is called the Eskimo Quick FISH III. It weighs only 23 pounds, sets up in less than a minute, and plenty sturdy and roomy. The only draw back is it has no floor and if it is at all windy you need to anchor it down with the included ice screws which adds about 2 minutes to set up time. It works great for me and my kids and I have been very happy with it. Here is one link that shows the tent. [url "http://setthehook.com/icefishing/shelters/quickfish3.htm"]http://setthehook.com/...lters/quickfish3.htm[/url]

Good luck with whatever you choose. One of the recent huntington reports shows a picture of one as well. Let me know if you have questions. I bought mine at sportsmans wherehouse.
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#4
Thanks for your replies. I dis see the eskimo shelters at Sportsman but I was concerned about anchoring it down. Are the eskimoes hard to anchor down?

Utahbill
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#5
[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][#333366][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?forum=129;"]Fishing Gear, Gadgets, Techinques, Tactics &Tips[/url][/size][/#333366][/font]


[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]There's been a lot of discussion of ice fishing shelters recently. Try the link above for some ideas.[/size][/black][/font]
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#6
Bill,

If you check out ksl.com classifieds, they have had some good deals on shelters that people are selling. There has been some decent variety as well.

Slayer
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#7
I have not had any problem anchoring it down except for at very first ice when it is solid ice with no snow or frozen slush on top.
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#8
No shanty is hard to anchor if you prepare ahead by layin' hands to a couple eye bolts, a couple lengths of rope and ice anchors..
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#9
The Eskimo tent that has no floor and sells for under $200.00 is slow to set up and hard to move around. You have to drill spikes into the ice to hold it in place.If you get a shelter with a floor, it will set up faster and be easier to move around on the ice, but they can be hard to pull out on the ice.
I have both styles and I do like the Eskimo pop-up, if I have help to set it up. It is not a good shelter in the wind though. I broke a pole when the wind picked up and pushed one of the sides in while we were setting it up.
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#10
I had a eskimo heavy flip-up shelter and found 7 out of 8 times I didn't fish in or use much after hefting it on and off the ice. I sold my shelter and bought a couple of very light weight 3 sided "wind break" tee-pee type sheltes that you sit on ( basically a folding chair with 3 tall sides). 2 of them will fit nicely inside my sled along with my power auger and other gear. You can get these at Cabela's for around $60. It sets up in seconds, provides a comfortable place to sit and has pockets in the inside for gear /poles. It allows you to see everyone and be socialable with all those around you. I really like the ability to move to other spots easily . With the big shelter, it was a real PITA to move often. The only thing that really bothers me while ice fishing is the Wind [pirate]. Now with the wind blocked on 3 sides, wind is no longer an issue. For the times the snow is coming down hard, the tent would be nice, but then again, I usually leave when the storms hit (tent or no tent) .
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#11
you got those three sided things at cabelas? sounds like you wouldn't recommend one of those frabill sled/shak things that has it's own sled with the shak built into it and a couple seats. i think it weighs #64. i'm worried it might be a little heavy. i have a clam 2000 now and it drags through the snow like a log, so thought i'd try something else. thanks for the info.
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#12
I have been doing more research and was thinking about the Clam 2000. It concerns me that it's hard to pull across the ice. How small does it fold up to?

Utahbill
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#13
it folds to about 3' x 4' x 6" thick. unfolded, it's about 4" x 6'. you also have to be real careful with it the bottom cracks real easy if it is not on a flat surface. it's also quite crowded. even with short ice poles, you almost have to have the pole off to the side of you to have it in the center of the ice hole. it does set up easy and other than those complaints, it's ok. those complaints are the main reason I'm looking for a new one. I'll be up to scofield tomorrow in it. if you're down, drop in and look it over.
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#14
[cool]EXCELLENT advice, Bigcat! That is the shelter that I've been leaning towards for some time now as I have two small children, and in a little while I'm going to need a shelter. Since I don't own a snowmobile or 4 wheeler, I need lightweight, but roomy, and this shelter has both. It's awesome! I think they have it listed down at Sportsmans for $165. If I DID have a snomo though, I'd get one of the sleds made by Otter. They are truely awesome (but pricey). Also, did you see the collapsable chairs in that add too? Those things look perfect for icefishing (especially in a shelter because they are small, but still have a back on them but don't take up too much space, and for $10 how could you go wrong? I think I'll buy 3 of those pretty soon for when I have my shelter too...
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