2009 September | Modern Ice Fishing Gear

Otter Ice Cabin Ice Fishing Shelter Review

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If you and one friend are planning an ice fishing expedition, and you are the kind of ice fishermen that like to fish many spots on each lake, Otter’s Ice Cabin is a good option for you to consider. Combined with the weight of its sled, the Ice Cabin is only 65 pounds, making it one of the lightest two-man ice fishing shelters commercially available. If mobility is what you are looking for in your two-man ice fishing house, the Ice Cabin could very well be right for you.

With base dimensions of 66 inches by 84 inches, and a center height of 70.5 inches, the Ice Cabin has plenty of room for you and your fishing buddy to store all of your ice fishing gear and still stretch your legs. Despite the fact that most people would be content with amount of room inside the Ice Cabin, it is not quite so luxurious in this respect as some two-person ice fishing shelters on the market. If you and your ice fishing buddy have much more equipment than the average ice anglers, then maybe you should look for a bigger shelter, but the Ice Cabin is definitely enough for most people.

The Ice Cabin is a flip-over style collapsible ice fishing shelter, as opposed to the suitcase design. While the flip-over design is usually heavier than suitcase models, the Ice Cabin is actually lighter than some. However, like all flip-over models, the Ice Cabin does not collapse into as small of a space as a suitcase ice fishing shelter could. When collapsed, it is 65 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 20 inches tall. So, while the Ice Cabin is much easier to move around than other flip-over styled ice-fishing shelters, it is still more awkward to handle when collapsed. Flip-over shelters make up for their awkward collapsed dimensions with how easy they are to set up. As with any kind of flip-over ice fishing shelter, the Ice Cabin can be erected in less than thirty seconds. Also, the flip-over design features compartments for your gear in its collapsed form, whereas the suitcase design forces you to leave your gear on top of the shelter when it is collapsed. People with the suitcase design have to be careful to strap their gear together carefully, or it is likely to get lost. You don’t have to worry about this precaution if you have the Ice Cabin.

People who like the Ice Cabin say it is very comfortable because it features adjustable swivel chairs with backrests. Many two-person ice fishing shelters have only a bench for their inhabitants to sit on. Some people who bought the bench models complained of discomfort after a few hours with nowhere to rest their backs. Other people who bought the Ice Cabin said it was uncomfortable because they were cold a lot of the time. To make the design more lightweight, the fabric covering the shelter had to be made thinner than that of other models. If you get cold more easily than most, you might do better to buy a heavier, thicker shelter than the Ice Cabin.

Clam Fish Trap Yukon Ice Fishing Shelter Review

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If you are looking for a more rugged ice fishing house with most of the mobility of the lighter models, consider Clam’s Fish Trap Yukon. The Fish Trap Yukon is made for two people, but has much more room than most two-person ice fishing shelters. It costs $550, but is worth the high price if you want more room to stretch out and relax, or if you have a lot of ice fishing gear.

The Fish Trap Yukon is 85 inches by 65 inches at the base, and 70 inches tall in the center. When collapsed, it is 65 inches long, 38 inches wide, and 24 inches tall. It weighs 107 pounds, but is relatively easy to move around because it was built on a taller, sturdier sled.

For only two people, the Fish Trap Yukon is quite large. It is much bigger and more luxurious than the other Fish Trap models made for two people, but is also slightly more expensive. It features two swiveling seats instead of one long bench, which allows both people to properly stretch their legs and fish in comfort. The seats are removable, so if you are ice fishing alone and don’t already have enough room for all your gear, you have the option of freeing up a little more space. Another distinctive feature of the Fish Trap Yukon is the Trap-Link shelter connection system, which allows you to attach your Fish Trap Yukon to other Fish Trap ice shelters, as well as the Clam 5600’s. This is a nice feature because bigger groups of ice fishermen can socialize while they wait for the fish to bite.

Some people complain that the Fish Trap Yukon is not well ventilated enough. It is difficult to find a balance between ventilation and warm air retention in ice fishing shelters. If the shelter is not ventilated at all, it gets too stuffy, but if there is too much air exchange between inside and outside, it gets too cold. The Fish Trap Yukon does feature air vents, but some people say that it could have more.

The Fish Trap Yukon is a flip-over style of collapsible ice fishing shelter, as opposed to the kind that collapses into a suitcase. Some people prefer the flip-over design because it is much faster and easier to set up than the suitcase design, but other people are deterred by the flip-over style because it is usually heavier and more expensive. Also, flip-over shelters are harder to carry around because they do not collapse as tightly as a shelter that fits into a suitcase.

The Fish Trap Yukon is designed for use in the roughest of ice fishing conditions, but it allows for more comfort than the average two-person shelter. It has a very sturdy aluminum frame and is built on a strong, tall sled. It is definitely intended only for very serious ice fishermen, but if an armature wants to pay a little more to have an extra solid shelter, he will certainly not be disappointed.

Otter Ice Cabin Ice Fishing Shelter Review

Clam Fish Trap Yukon Ice Fishing Shelter Review

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