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Soooooo....I can appreciate the idea of getting out of the elements but is it realy worth the added work to haul?
I have yet to use one while ice fishing here and have weathered some pretty rough days. I just have a hard time getting cooped up in a tent. I enjoy "seeing" what is going on around me too much to get locked in a closet on the ice.
No disrespect, just wanting to hear some thoughts.
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[black][size 3]Ice fishing is like the rest of the fishing sports, it's just a progressive think, starting with one rod, a 5 gallon bucket, and a hand full of lures.[/size][/black]
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[size 3]From there it goes to a sleigh to pull with a power auger to replace the hand job. Then a desire to get out of the cold wind (generally comes with age), and before you know it, you have all the comforts of home.[/size]
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[size 3]I recently visited a site that had an impressive outfit that really appealed to me. [/size]
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[size 3]I have attached the site:[/size]
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[url "http://www.whatisgt.com/"]http://www.whatisgt.com/[/url]
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You ever go with wife or kids? Ice shack is absolutely worth it. Not only does it keep you out of the weather and let you stay warm, you can see way down into your hole and see fish swim past, watch your line begin to drift from a bite long before your pole shows a tap.
I love mine and actually go fishing alot more than before I owned one because weather doesnt detract me. My boy loves ice fishing and we've saved a heck of alot of fishing trips after he stepped in a hole by being able to warm him up and dry off (we just use one of those small coleman single burner pump up cooking stoves for heat source), warms things right up and lets me keep a pot of hot water ready for hot chocolate or whatever.
2nd best ice fishing investment I've made... behind the ice auger. Pick up either in the spring if you can wait that long to get season closeouts. I bought my gas auger for like $160 and my ice shack for $150 (a really nice Eskimo).
-DallanC
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I too don't like to be cooped up. Thats why I have a clam style shelter(frabill trekker) because during those first few hours before the sun comes out you stay warm and then when the sun pops up you simply grab the front of the tent and lift it up over you. Half way if the wind is blowing or all the way back when your ready! In a matter of seconds you can rejoin the open air people! But I agree that the older you get the more comfortable you want to be[crazy].
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Whenever I can I like to stay out of my ice shack; however, when it is bitter cold (5 degrees below zero or colder) snowing or the wind is blowing hard I will gladly get inside of my ice shack and enjoy being able to feel my fingers again. I used to have a Shappell, suit-case style shack and it was heavy, and a pain to drag out on the ice. I have moved to an Ice Cube which has at least twice the room inside, lighter and fits nicely in the bottom of the sled.
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My father-in-law and brother-in-law each have a suitcase style tent. They are very warm and very nice for keeping the weather out.
But they are very heavy. To me it seems a lot easier just to carry warm boots, hat, and mittens instead of a tent. Plus the larger tents won't fit in my compact car and my full size truck gets horrible gas mileage.
In my opinion they are not worth the extra haul. (unless you are bringing kids, wife etc)
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An ice shack is the only way to go on those cold windy days. I just got a new one but have yet to use it. It looks like tomorrow might be the day.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2][#002850]I currently don't own one but plan to pick up a cube (like kentofnsl's) soon. But I seldom ice fish without one because I fish with my brother Bait_Caster who has all the cool fishing toys ... including a VERY nice tent. His is heavy but his snowmobile don't care.
For me, the biggest reason to fish out of a tent is simply to keep the ice from freezing in the eyelets of my poles and the line so that I can use my braded line (braids are bad for holding frozen water).
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I built this one myself and its a dandy. cant pull it by hand, but I usually use this shack on the bigger/windier lakes and pull it with my snowmobile. Pulls good, folds flat and you can secure gear on top of it.
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