So it’s time for me to upgrade from my eskimo quickflip 2 and am thinking I want to go to a full thermal 2 man house. Was just wanting to hear opinions on every manufacturer and what they like or don’t like about them.
The Fish Trap Denali II TC is on my short list for this winter. The layout provides a ton of space for fisherman compared to the traditional side X side layout.
I like the Denali, it’s a great house for two people I fished out of one two winters ago. The only draw back you can’t stand up in it and I don’t think it would fish one person all that great.
I personally think Clam makes the most sturdy/durable house out there.
Aaron
I have owned 2 otters and a clam now. I sold an otter cabin to upgrade to the lodge. Last year I bought a clam 1 man for solo fishing, I will never buy clam again, very cheaply built and canvas is loosing its backing after 2 months.
You will defiantly pay more for otter and it will out weigh all the competition. However, I firmly believe it will outlast every house out there.
This is simply my opinion and it is based on my experiences. I realize not all critique equipment as I do. The weight comes from durability and as long as Otter keeps producing equipment like they have they will be for me.
One of the reasons I spend time here on IDO is that I tend to trust their judgement more than what I hear from other fishing websites because the products they endorse are the same ones that are in my own experience a cut above the rest. Otter is one of those brands.
Back when I was in college and money was tight my dad bought me a Clam fish house as a Christmas gift. Seeing as I had spent my whole life fishing out on the open ice I loved it, but after only 3 years of hard core ice fishing it was falling apart and needed to be replaced. I saved up my $$ and really did my homework on what to buy next and decided to go with an Otter because of the extra durability. After 7-8 years of fishing hard under all conditions my Otter is still going strong and I would never switch to another brand 
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So it’s time for me to upgrade from my eskimo quickflip 2 and am thinking I want to go to a full thermal 2 man house. Was just wanting to hear opinions on every manufacturer and what they like or don’t like about them.
If you want a fully insulated house with very comfortable seating the Otter Pro should be on your list of houses to check out. Otter uses the thickest canvas and their sleds are the longest lasting / toughest in the biz.
http://eelement.appolis.com/OTTEROUTDOORS/estorefront.asp?P=5057&S=67&PubID=4393
James,
I have been interested in buying the Otter portables for awhile. Any idea when they will be back in stock or what retailers will be selling them soon?
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James,
I have been interested in buying the Otter portables for awhile. Any idea when they will be back in stock or what retailers will be selling them soon?
That’s a good question. I know it was pretty hard to find some of the Otter Pro models last winter once we got into January so I wouldn’t expect there to be much carry-over inventory due to the demand. I’ll reach out to some people I know in retail and see if I can find out when they expect to set their ice fishing products. Hold please…. 
One thing to keep in mind is that if you fish alone that The weight of those houses is going to be rather heavy and hard for you to load by yourself. Jusy a FYI.
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James,
I have been interested in buying the Otter portables for awhile. Any idea when they will be back in stock or what retailers will be selling them soon?
That’s a good question. I know it was pretty hard to find some of the Otter Pro models last winter once we got into January so I wouldn’t expect there to be much carry-over inventory due to the demand. I’ll reach out to some people I know in retail and see if I can find out when they expect to set their ice fishing products. Hold please….
I received this in an email this AM…
“Most of the Retailers will be receiving their opening ice orders from middle of September to the first week of October. Should start seeing some store sets end of September, but most will be first to second week in October.”
Hope this helps.
Another place to look is canvas craft. I have their 8×8 that I use as a sleeper, and one of their flip overs. They made the first otter I believe
There is no doubt that Otter makes the best shacks on the market, Weve been fishing out of my brothers lodge 2 for as long as ive been ice fishing. BUT I also have a scout, had it for three years now and it looks like it did the day i bought it, I fish 2-3 days a week anywhere from 8-10 hours so the thing has seen a ton of use…so I cant say that i woouldnt buy another clam….
I did however pick up a wild cottage with the thermal top for this year and I can already tell that when walking out its gonna take some extra effort! LOL
Especially if you have any aspirations of pulling your fish house with an ATV or snowmobile, there’s really only one choice. Over time the others will fail, especially in difficult conditions over punishing terrain. I’ve run an Otter since 2000, and have been happy with both their Cabin and Lodge as a 2-3 man house.
Here’s a picture of the Lodge. It’s an incredibly spacious 2 man, and hauls more than you can throw in it. It’s my pick so long as it fits in your truck well. If you have a smaller vehicle/trailer to haul it to the lake in, then the Cabin will more than suffice as well. It’s a bit smaller, lighter, and cheaper in price.
Joel
very nice Joel!
Joel,
Do you know if you can get three otter chairs and the caddie in the Lodge?
Thanks,
FDR
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Joel,
Do you know if you can get three otter chairs and the caddie in the Lodge?
Thanks,
FDR
The Lodge can support three seats or two seats and the console, not both. The part number for the extra seat and cross link attachment hardware is O-2500 if you’re looking to order.
I run with two seats and a console, and to fish with both of my boys, I actually bring a little foldable camping chair. There’s enough room for me to sit in the chair, back to the door, while they sit in the seats and we all fish. With the heater, it’s a bit tricky, but I’ve learned that as long as you keep the fire next to you it works out great!
Joel
First of all, let me say that I’ve been a proud and thankful Otter Cottage owner for probably ten or twelve years now. Further, I’ve outfitted my ATV with Otter boxes front and back, have extra cargo sleds, corresponding hitches and hitch pivots, rod boxes, etc., etc., etc. Additionally, I’ve sold my father and friends on the products and am surrounded even further by Otter tents and products. However, and maybe it’s just me, but there is one area of product improvement that I would like to suggest and this is the upgrade that I would purchase next.
When I look at the shelter line-up, there is one that seems to be missing and that is one that fishes with a minimal amount of set-up. While I realize the trend in ice angling over the past few years, especially with the advent of better and better ice clothing and suits, is to go back to basics and fish out in the raw. Personally however, I like fishing out of a shelter. Being out of the weather, I can better control and watch my presentations as a result. I think a shelter makes me a more effective angler, but it does tend to anchor me to a spot more than not using one.
In my mind, there are three things in fishing out of portables that tend to anchor an angler: 1) the time it takes to set-up and take down the tent, 2) unpacking and pack rods and reels, especially if a person is running more than a couple of rods, and 3) unpacking and packing accessory gear like heaters, sonar and cameras, etc. I have a couple of suggestions to help address this issue.
If Otter were to come up with a single person tent that did not require an angler to extend or retract poles every time they moved that would be a good start in the right direction. Yes, right now I can fold back my extended poles but that leaves my tent to drag on the ice and the tub open to gather snow when I move. What I envision is one that fishes in line with direction of pull…i.e. you’re fishing off the back-end of the sled instead of the side. Simply flip the tent over and you fish, flip it back to move without having to monkey with the poles. I think the wide of a current large sled would suffice but it’s length would need to be sized accordingly for a tent of adequate height and length. Personally, I’m a tall guy so the higher the better but that’s just me.
Secondly, I would like to be able to make short to medium smooth runs with my rods out of their travel case. This could be accomplished more easily if behind the seat there were a removable board that had rod holders on either side. The board would install vertically and be held in place by slots built into the sled walls thick enough to accommodate the board sliding into place. In doing so, this would require a cover with a flap that can be opened for use with the rods or closed for normal travel. Velcro would seem to be the obvious answer here.
Lastly, there’s the issue of accessory gear. I don’t really have an answer for this other than efficient packing. Again personally, I prefer to keep my electronics and most of my gear in my ATV box and over suspension instead of banging around on the ice in the sled but again this is my preference.
Here’s a link to a quick rough drawing that might work. Just my two cents.
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James,
I have been interested in buying the Otter portables for awhile. Any idea when they will be back in stock or what retailers will be selling them soon?
Dave
For what its worth… I spoke with the guys in the fishing dept. at Cabelas / Rogers and they plan to have their ice fishing equipment in place in the store by the last week in Sept.
Perfect this is exactly the info I was looking for. It looks like I will have the Otter Pro xt900 in my possession a lot sooner then I expected. You the man
Always happy to help. Now let’s hope we get a real winter this year.
No kidding ice fishing a local lake on Christmas while there is ducks swimming 40 feet from me is one thing I don’t want to do.
In another forum, I had a conversation that touched upon this upgrade/additional purchase issue and wondered how great it might be if Otter were to offer a high-quality hub. I know there are folks out there that are real hub fans. For me, I can certainly see their utility when it comes to group gropes, overnights but with portable gear and taking a bunch of kids on the lake for a fun day. Otter if you’re watching…just another thought.
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Another place to look is canvas craft. I have their 8×8 that I use as a sleeper, and one of their flip overs. They made the first otter I believe
truly the thickest not otter like some will tell you. Canvas craft is good
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So it’s time for me to upgrade from my eskimo quickflip 2 and am thinking I want to go to a full thermal 2 man house. Was just wanting to hear opinions on every manufacturer and what they like or don’t like about them.
A Canvas Craft fish house with the Norpac insulation is the house you want! You are toasty warm in a tee shirt when it is below zero. I have a Magnum Single flipover. I can fit two big guys & my kid in that one. I love it. Plus, it is made in the USA!
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