Otter Sportsman Caddy

Wondering how many people use this product.

I tested one for Otter before they came out on the market and love this storage unit.

I have one in my Canvas Craft insulated portable that I have set up for 1 but 2 could fish it. I have one in my Otter Lodge also but not my Cabin.

I have the caddy right next to me on the rail. All my lighting wires run to a toggle switch and my vex battery for the lights is velcroed in the bottom.

I can put drink of choice in the bottom, lunch or whatever. The top tray is nice as it has the pop holder and many other areas for storage and it’s all right by ones side.

Interested in what others have done to utilize this caddy.

just put mine in my one man Otter Pro….

There are endless possibilities

Mine in my otter lodge holds everything under the sun in a jumbled mess that takes me forever to find something…..just like my workbench in the garage…..lol

hook outs, fillet knife, toilet paper, hand towel, flask of whisky, some cigars, extra rubber binder for auger guard, rattle reel,spare gloves, you name it……….. it is an awesome addition to the shack.

For those unfamiliar with the Caddy or how it works with the ice house, here’s a vid that covers it well.

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just put mine in my one man Otter Pro….

There are endless possibilities

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How gig you mount it in your Canvas Craft insulated portable? I habe one and like to do the same. I have the seat with the bars that go across the sled

I had to change the seat rail in my portable to an Otter to fit it correctly. I also had to trim the ends to fit as the CC tub is a bit shorter in length.

I also put in the Otter swivel, sliding seat into the portable so it really is just like an Otter. I like those newer Otter seats so much that one can slide it or swivel it.

Not that bad of a job.

Thanks for the vid James and nice job Joel.

Thanks Tom, and like yourself, I use it as part of an entire fish-house organization system that works for me. Koonce is right too, the possibilities are endless. I think each one of us probably uses it a little differently, which is the beauty of it.

I can think of a handful of anglers last March on Lake of the Woods that were thankful I had the thing plumb full of chain and several types of hitch pins. We doctored their hitch system 4 times in 25 miles coming off the ice. Without the sportsman’s caddy, small items like pins, especially metal ones, would’ve long been rusted junk in the bottom of a wet sled. Which of course means I wouldn’t have had them with!

Joel

Tom–I certainly like the concept of the caddy; however, I simply do not like the new seating system with which it integrates and is needed to use it. Have you ever heard if they ever made a full width version for the Pro Medium sled?

I have not but that of course does not mean that it could not be done now as mine CC portable that I converted is like 4 years old.

Unless there was a change made to the Canvas Craft tub size or thier rail system to accomodate the Sportsmen caddy, it would be some expense and time to install it.

I am sure that has to be a way to get it installed in a CC portable but I took the easy way out and added the Otter rail and chair. The front part of the caddy does fit the width of the tub but it does not fit well with the CC seat rail and that is why I just changed it over. I like the caddy that much.

I did make one mistake when I wired the lights to the caddy. I should have wired some disconect connecters right outside the caddy so all I would have to do is simply unplugged the caddy from the wiring for the lights and slide it into my Otter portable. Would have saved getting another caddy.

What makes this better than a plastic tackle or tool box with a lift out tray? At a hondo seems I could have a couple or more boxes with specific contents rather than digging for quite a bit less.

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What makes this better than a plastic tackle or tool box with a lift out tray? At a hondo seems I could have a couple or more boxes with specific contents rather than digging for quite a bit less.

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It’s a fixed part of the sled, which is fully adjustable, and rides above and away from the rest of your gear. Tackle boxes of equipment (which I used to carry) were in the way when I wanted to put the auger in there, or got left out because these items are the first to go when space runs tight.

By utilizing the space between the seats, which is otherwise unused, you maximize the storage capacity and organization of the entire house. Not to mention, when we’re talking about bait, lures, etc – things that you need at your fingertips while fishing – you can get at them easily without having to stand up and dig for another tacklebox.

It’s a convenience factor absolutely. Call us lazy as fishermen, but offer something that makes the experience easier and more productive, I’ll usually bite. It’s like a TV remote control. Got along just fine getting up to switch the channel, but it sure is nice to flip through them with that dang remote!

Joel

Is there a way to put it in the wild 2? looks like it would take some rigging, anyone done it?

Thanks for the info Joel. I’ll have to take a look. Am not sure it would work with the bench seat, which I prefer.

No problem! I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work with the bench seat as-is, with it attaching to the center aluminum support bar that runs the length of the sled.

Good luck!

Joel

I agree wholeheardtly with Joel.

Since I installed mine, I do not have stuff rolling around oon the floor of the tub.

I have extra hitch pins, batteries for my lights, few small tackle trays and sometimes I will carry my lunch in the caddy.

In the top try, I have bobbers and hooks and other misc gear and one is always open for a pop or brew. I flip the lid open and also use that for a tray for anything I would like to lay there as I have it rigged so it will not fall down. I also set my bait pucks on the tray so they are at hand whenever I need them.

If there is anything I need, I just open the top and there it is. No more in the pockets and wondering which one I put it in or looking all over the bottom of the tub as I usally have that full.

A great way to keep misc items stored and not a mess all ovet the portable.

Could I fish without one, of course. But I use to use a chiesel to cut holes and a pail to set on instead of a fast gas auger an a nice warm portable.

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Could I fish without one, of course. But I use to use a chiesel to cut holes and a pail to set on instead of a fast gas auger an a nice warm portable.

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Geez, this thing must cook you dinner and vacuum the floors! Just kidding, but I always do enjoy a good stretch and associated hype about certain pieces of hunting or fishing equipment.

Once you used the caddy, I have to believe one would never take it back out.