ice fishing

i am looken for a new ice shelter that can fit 5 or more people in. any ideas on which ones are better?

Some of the bigger Clam pop-ups would be a good bet

I use an Otter Resort Hub.

We got the Eskimo 9416 2 years ago for a group of us and it is a great shack. Quick to set up and take down, lots of room, and it is really good quality. It’s not one you are going to put on your back and hike in though, weighs about 70 lbs. Ours is the insulated model and I haven’t run a heater in it all year. Holds heat like crazy.

Sun is out and its melting like crazy. What on earth do you need a shelter for in this weather?

I hate fishing in pressured areas with no shelter. Might as well wave the I’m catching fish and come drill 10 holes around me flag.

Wind sucks too.

Put your back to the breeze and fish un-pressured areas….simple fix eh?

Breeze yes, wind no.

I don’t assume the OP lives in or out of the city, I also don’t assume he has the time or even the want to go somewhere else.

i live in the city and will fish mostly around the cities but will be going up northern and to other unpressured parts of minnesota.

5 or more people? with gear? Good luck with that. I use a Otter Resort and fish 2 comfortably anything more and it would get very crowded.

Everyone has different expectations about room.

To be honest I don’t think I’ve heard many bad reviews on hubs, which is your only option really. Otter had some bad posts here for about a year but that was some time ago and know many happy otter hub owners. Also know many Eskimo hub owners who love theirs including myself.

Imo find one on sale and bingo

I think Beads and EPG are both right. I have the mid-sized Otter hub (Lodge) and it’s advertised as being able to fish up to 5 people. I’ve done it, but it’s miserably cramped and that’s with most of the gear outside and one hole per person. There isn’t a hub out there that will fish 5 people, their gear, and multiple holes in what I’d consider a comfortable fashion.

I don’t know that brand is too important. Just make sure to get a thermal denier fabric for insulation. I’ve heard good things about many brands.

All three of the big companies (Clam, Otter, and Eskimo) make really nice shacks these days. Pop up and flip over. I’ve fished out of both Otter and Clam hubs and both are nice. Go to a store or the Clam HQ in Rogers (they have their shacks all set up in the showroom) and step inside each one and figure out what they come with and what you want specifically. Then find the one that fits your needs the best.