Portable vs Skid

Hi everyone. I’ve been fishing out of portables for the last 5 or 6 years as a “weekender” on lake Bemidji . My family has a lake place that we literally drive the snowmobiles out of the garage and onto the ice pulling either our otter lodge flip over or an eskimo 949 if more than 2 people. Super convenient and relatively affordable.

Enter kids into the equation. Needing maybe a bit more room (and less feet in wet snow). We like to move around and get off the plowed roads, but typically go to our main 3-4 spots. Not super mobile. Some days it would be so nice to have a skid house (looking at a 7×10 aluma lite) to be able to just drive to, flip a heater switch, and start fishing, but I’m wondering if cost/ease of movement I’m better off buying one of the newer large pop ups (otter resort or eskimo 650?).

We currently have a Polaris sportsman 500 with chains, a skidoo 600ace expedition sport (15” track), and a Polaris voyageur 550 if that makes any difference. Eventually the family will get a ranger, but no where to put it.

Thoughts? Does a skid house lose its appeal after a few seasons of towing?

I love small skid shacks, they are so versatile. Not always the most ideal but they can get a ton of usage. The most honest opinion is to have that skid for the times it’ll work and the snow or slush doesn’t make it a nightmare off the plowed path, also they are great for early ice can be pulled out right after ice allows wheelers and sleds. But when they can’t or you don’t want to take it out, then a otter resort or the eskimo is a great family shack. But they won’t stop wet feet, those kids can find any way to get there feet wet. The Otter monster lodge is another sweet hub with lots of room, we camp in ours. But they can be a bear to put up and take down I your doing it more then one or maybe 2 times a day. They are roomy enough you can give kids a entire area with no ice holes to play. We also use those harbor freight foam pads as a floor system in ours the keep drier. A small skid house will be my next investment

I live on a lake and am retired. I have a 6×12 skid and wish it was a little larger. It’s great for 2 people. My dogs go and are off the ice and dry, so not cold. Mine is unfinished inside so I just use a buddy heater, crack a window and have a small fan. It’s way easier than using a hub. I lock it and leave when I’m done, I don’t have to take it down. I’m fishing 5 min after I get out to it. It can easily be moved with a small ATV with chains. I have a tracked ranger and move it easily when there’s more snow. You would have no problem moving it with a snowmobile. I always put mine up on blocks, back up to it, hook up and pull it away. I always chisel my blocks out when I leave. I also have a hub and two pop ups. I am way more comfy in my skid house. I usually take it out when I feel comfortable driving my ranger on the ice. I don’t sleep in mine. I’m not sure it would be big enough. I don’t want fish bothering me when I’m trying to sleep.

Sounds like you have the ideal situation for a skid house. Having a lake place to keep it is the key if you don’t have to trailer it. I’d be leery about leaving it on the lake if you’re not there. Unless there’s a way to anchor it down to keep it from walking away. An aluminum skidhouse will be my next ice fishing investment in the next year or two. Being able to leave all the gear in it locked up at the cabin and just hook up and go would be the cat’s meow.

I always anchor mine with screw in anchors and chains. I had mine blow off the blocks.

Joe Jarl wrote:

I’d be leery about leaving it on the lake if you’re not there. Being able to leave all the gear in it locked up at the cabin and just hook up and go would be the cat’s meow.

Id be leery of theft too and certainly wouldnt leave any gear in it while it was on the lake unoccupied. My buddies who leave houses out actually leave them unlocked. Less damage that way from not breaking doors or windows only to get in and find nothing.