Lighting for Otter Resort

I just bought the Otter XT1200 Resort, and love the house. I’ve had it out a couple times already. This is the first Otter I’ve owned, but I’ve owned many Clam houses. Clam has a ton of lighting accessories, and the last couple years they had the light bars that mount into the actual house support poles. Does Otter have any type of accessories like this? Light bars, and things like that are nice so you don’t have to haul around any lanterns. I’m a bit rough on my equipment, so lanterns don’t usually show up functioning. Any suggestions?

I have been looking to update my flip-up ice house… I am torn between Clam Fish trap x2 and the Otter xt1200 cabin or the lodge. seeing how you have owned the clam in the past and the Otter now; what one do you like best? I’m not worried about lighting because I purchase LED striping from amazon for $8 and receive 16.5 feet of it, so I can cut and solder the lights where ever I need it.

I’ve probably owned 8 different Clams, if not a couple more. I can honestly say I like the quality of the Otter much better. The Otters feel much more sturdy than any of the Clams I’ve had. Also, the Otters are easier to assemble. Granted you’re probably only going to do this one time. The only negative thing I’ve found about the Otter is the lack of accessories, but honestly you can buy other branded accessories and they may work, or just some stuff from Amazon like you spoke about.

Josh Haynes wrote:

I’ve probably owned 8 different Clams, if not a couple more. I can honestly say I like the quality of the Otter much better. The Otters feel much more sturdy than any of the Clams I’ve had. Also, the Otters are easier to assemble. Granted you’re probably only going to do this one time. The only negative thing I’ve found about the Otter is the lack of accessories, but honestly you can buy other branded accessories and they may work, or just some stuff from Amazon like you spoke about.

Hi Josh, just got off the ice from a 40 hour night time marathon fishing session, partially inside an Otter resort. Until they make a bomb proof light bar that’s fully dimmable, and they very well might, I still like a lantern.

The resort has a high enough center so that you can hang it there and it’s not in the way too bad. As an added bonus, you’ve got heat and a glove dryer!

James had some plastic cased propane versions that held up really well, and I’m hard on stuff too as James will happily attest to.

Joel

I agree with Joel, a propane lantern is hard to beat, you can carry it outside to use for light and a hand warmer, after pulling in an eye and resetting that Tip Up. It heats the Otter Lodge T600 quite well, no need for heater unless it’s really cold.

It is more weight and something else to carry versus LED light strips but also no batteries to replace or go bad. I have the Coleman NorthStar single mantle with a plastic carrying case it it takes a good ride on the wheeler and very seldom does the mantel need to be replaced.

Guess I’m old school as they say.

Randy Shear wrote:

I’m not worried about lighting because I purchase LED striping from amazon for $8 and receive 16.5 feet of it, so I can cut and solder the lights where ever I need it.

I also just purchased a 16.5′ roll of these lights and am curious what you did after you cut them. I haven’t cut them yet but would like to but am afraid that after I cut them I will not be able to wire into the “new”/cut section of the lighting…..Do you have pics of how you did this?

Thanks

I also use the 12 volt rope lights zip tied onto the cross bar just above/behind my head. Added allegator clips and power off my flasher. Perfect lighting for the house.

-J.

We have a Chip LED rope that we hook up to a 12V. think lights up everything

I like the simple Light/fan combo that can velcro over the top support bar. More than enough light (but not too much) and the fan kicks the heat down saving propane…easily fits in the sportsman caddy too…

bigstick56 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randy Shear wrote:</div>
I’m not worried about lighting because I purchase LED striping from amazon for $8 and receive 16.5 feet of it, so I can cut and solder the lights where ever I need it.

I also just purchased a 16.5′ roll of these lights and am curious what you did after you cut them. I haven’t cut them yet but would like to but am afraid that after I cut them I will not be able to wire into the “new”/cut section of the lighting…..Do you have pics of how you did this?

Thanks

From what you describe, it sound like what I have. I cut mine where indicated, cut and peeled back the rubber coating to expose the contact points and soldered electrical wire to the contact points. I use an old weak flasher battery to power the light.

These are by far the brightest lights I have ever used. A 40″ piece lights up a 949 Fatfish so much that I was concerned it was spooking the fish this past weekend on URL.

I went with LED lighting but wired everything into a switch box with 2 rocker switches in it and alligator clips to connect to the battery. 1 switch controls lighting over the sled, 1 switch controls lighting over the fishing area. Usually fish with the sled light on and leave the others off unless needed for knot tying or releasing a fish.

You might also consider boat interior LED lights (see Cabela’s item 015545) I have the 8″ light bar and it has 18 LED bulbs. I screwed it to a 1×1 and attached it to Otter crossbar with Velcro – run a lamp cord to battery in tub. I have Otter 1200 Pro Cabin.

I have not owned an otter but fished out of otter cabin many times. It is full thermal so quiet, warm and well built. I have an X2 and it’s non thermal one. I like the size of it it’s more the size of the lodge. It’s well built also. Has good sled like otter. Not sure price diff between both thermals but both are good. I do like the square tubing of the otter.

I would just say put some strip lighting where you want it here is a video of what I did in my Frabill commando I put 2 two foot strips in one in the inside of my sled so I can see in it real well and one on my over head pole and built a custom battery box to run it all off of… its real easy and I will tell you pick up some LE Flexible LED Strip Lights off of Amazon its super cheap but they are vary bright get the Daylight White in Waterproof and some good wire and your in bussiness and you could pick up a few waterproof switches like I’m going to do so you can have different parts on at a time hope this helps

I use a Rayovac 240 lumens LED lantern from Menards. they are about $24 or $18 on sale. Small and has 2 modes. Works just like the propane but no gas and it is small. You can hang it upside down from the top bar GREAT LIGHT..

I have the Otter Cabin. I am on my third season with it. Awesome shelter!!! I had always used a lantern but when I got my Otter I wanted to eliminate the chance of burning a hole in the sides so I purchased a set of rope lights. They worked at first but the rope lights were thick and got pretty stiff in the cold, and then eventually there was a short in the line and it was a pain to try and get the entire thing to light up.

Then I switched back to the lantern for most of last year.

This year I picked up a 48 inch strip of LED lights at the Blaine Hardwater expo from Northern “Bright” Lights. I installed them before I went out this year and have been very pleased with them. I also purchased a dimmer switch from them that allows me to find just the right amount of light.

It was a little spendy at $40 for the light set and $10 for the dimmer switch, but after using them about 4 times would do it again.

I strongly suggest the dimmer switch because without it the lights are just too bright, especially on first ice.