lakes n rivers portable fish house or something else? Recommendations

Im buying my first portable ice shelter but don’t want to break the bank. Fleet Farm has there brand; LakesNRivers 3 man hub for $220. Does anyone have experience with this house or brand? If there is something better around the $300-350 price point let me know. It would be mostly me fishing alone with an occasional person or 2. I would not be fishing too often. Ease of set up would be great.

Also, Do I need a license for this portable house? Everyone on this site is great. Thanks in advance.

DTW

I don’t know anything about the lakes and rivers portable fish house but in that price point you can have your choice of just about all of the major manufuctures that make Hub houses. I would stick with eskimo, otter, polar bird, clam myself.

The DNR states “A shelter meeting the new definition of portable only needs a license when a person leaves it unattended, meaning they are farther than 200 feet from the shelter.”

Hubs are great for the price per SF, but they aren’t very mobile, and can be a bit more challenging setting up if windy.

But it’s a good route to go for 3 guys and low dollars.

Otter has their lodge which is in that price point, Eskimo 949i in there, all brands should have stuff close to that range.

No license needed.

You only need a license if leaving it out there unattended, or if you go big and buy a wheel house. Assuming your in Minnesota

I say find a used clam 2000 cheap.

In two or three weeks you will start seeing some pretty good sales. Look at the Eskimo 949i or Clam Ice Refuge (formerly known as XL4000T). Both very nice hubs and should be in the $300-$350 price range. Keep an eye on L&M Fleet as their prices are often hard to beat.

Cabelas has the thermal lodge on sale right now for about $280. That’s a pretty darn good deal. Love the fabric on my otter hubs (I have both sizes, been running the same cabin hub multiple times per week for the 3rd year). No condensation at all. Hubs and poles have all held together perfectly. Sets up like a dream.

An underrated factor: the bags are actually over sized. Really nice when you’re packing up after dark, and it’s windy and cold. Maybe the other brands out there have improved that in recent years, but there have been times where I have fought with the those bags the point of just packing the damn thing in my truck without the bag on it.

Cabelas has the thermal lodge on sale right now for about $280. That’s a pretty darn good deal. Love the fabric on my otter hubs (I have both sizes, been running the same cabin hub multiple times per week for the 3rd year). No condensation at all. Hubs and poles have all held together perfectly. Sets up like a dream.

An underrated factor: the bags are actually over sized (don’t just claim to be). Really nice when you’re packing up after dark, and it’s windy and cold. Maybe the other brands out there have improved that in recent years, but there have been times where I have fought with the those bags the point of just packing the damn thing in my truck without the bag on it.

Awesome info. Thanks!!