Thanks thats awesome. They are just starting to put out the ice fishing stuff at my local shop. I also use the northland impulse stuff. Its my go to for ice plastics at the moment but I always like to try new and interesting patterns.
I’ve fished out of the eskimo 949 and while it seemed to me to be good I didn’t like how tight the door was to get in and out. I recently stood in a JM5000 thermal from Clam. It has a huge door and is full thermal. The other things I liked were the strategically placed pockets and the light coloured interior. The only reason I didn’t get one is because I like to move around a lot and a flip over suits me better at this point. Once my kids get older though and want to come along I will definitely buy the Clam.
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I just purchased and put together a clam X2 thermal. The sled under this house is just like the otter sleds now with one exception. The interior is gray!
Tom
This is not correct. The sleds are made with different materials using different processes. One is vacuum formed. The other is roto-molded. Otter has earned their reputation for a tough sled. It takes more than changing the interior color to be “just like an Otter.”
Of course this doesn’t change your right to your personal preferences. May your new house serve you well.
The only advantage to a rotationally moulded sleigh is the fact that you can get a uniform thickness throughout the entire part. I don’t think this offers a tougher product just a uniformly moulded one? I watched the how its made segment on the Otter sleighs. I have not seen how the Clam units are made or even know how they are made. I can tell you though from drilling it to install hyfax that it is a very thick unit that I believe will take a lot of abuse. The houses I tow get lots and lots of rough terrain and miles of running in the back woods. I’ve owned otter houses since 2003 and they served me very well. I just wanted something different and the Clam X2 Thermal fit the bill in spades.
Lets get some ice already!!!
Tight lines,
Tom
I just purchased and put together a clam X2 thermal. The sled under this house is just like the otter sleds now with one exception. The interior is gray! No more loosing stuff in a black sleigh. The seats are the right height and very comfortable. The other thing i like is the new LED light stick thats included. Its nice and lights up the house really well. I tow with both 4 wheeler and sled. With the hyfax on the sled this will be as indestructible as the otter cottage i just switched from. I know i’m on a forum that really supports otter but with all the included features of the Clam X2 i decided to try something different. I think Clam has really stepped it up. Check them out.
Tom
My experience on the ice has taught me to be fairly mobile. It all depends on what you want to get out of your experience on the ice. If your into ice trolling a good one man like the clam legend thermal or the x1 thermal will keep you warm when its not so nice. If you drill holes like i do don’t even consider a slow auger like a jiffy or an eskimo. I ice troll and move around sometimes drilling 200 holes in a day. You begin to appreciate a faster auger in that situation because its fast but also less fatiguing to drill. I run a strikemaster now but am considering a new clam. The better transmission on the clam caught my eye. Lots of great choices out there just depends on your fishing style.
I encountered the same issue. The new X1 from Clam is designed specifically to go in the 5 ft bed of the newer trucks. Check them out. I sat in one recently and they’re pretty sweet.
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Has anyone here used the XI 9 20 Ice ducer from Humminbird with their 798ci HD si head unit? it isn’t listed as a compatible model for the ducer. I have read on other forums that people purchased the ducer for this same model, but there were no results as to whether or not it worked.
I have used the XI9-20 for one full winter last season on my 798 HD SI and haven’t encountered any issues with using that iceducer. You will need to shut off your simulation mode in the unit so that it will recognize the transducer. When I set mine up I also bought a 9AH battery so that I could have enough power for extended days fishing. I love this unit on the ice. Lake master maps are great to have along! The only drawback is that the power and sensitivity can be a little too much in very shallow water. IE 10ft and shallower. HB had an update this past march though that addresses the shallow water read issue. I noticed a difference in the boat. I am hoping that it also works better on shallow water ice fishing. Good luck with your unit!!
Awesome tips Joel! I do the exact same thing. If fish are staging in certain areas of the water body now they’re doing that for food. Food which doesn’t travel too far when the ice cover comes. Relying on that kinda scouting has helped my on ice bite up here on Rainy Lake tremendously.
I feel the same way as you. I would cringe every time I get a trout to the hole and it starts rolling around. I started using a flourocarbon leader on my ice rods a few seasons ago and have never lost a fish to broken line since. You can either use a small swivel to connect the leader or a loop to loop connection. I use a braid for a mainline and then a loop to loop with about 10 ft of fluorocarbon line. This line is meant to take abrasion and it takes the ice friction very well.
Tom
I converted my 798HD SI for ice fishing last winter. To do this with your unit you will need to buy the following items:
PTC-U-NB (no battery)
PTC-U comes with battery
These are the soft cases with the mount and everything is included. assemble and plug your unit onto the mount.
for a transducer you will need an
XI-9-20
These are humminbird part numbers. If you google you can find deals on them online. I purchased mine off ebay.
The only other thing you need to do before you hit the ice is set the unit up so that it will recognize the ice transducer. To do this all you have to do is turn off your simulation mode in the menu and turn on your ice fishing mode. Jason Halfen has a video on youtube to show you how to do it.
I love my unit on the ice the only thing I would change is the shallow water read capability once you get into 10 feet or less of water these units have a high RMS wattage and in shallow water you need to turn your sensitivity way down to be able to read your graph properly. Anything 10ft and deeper though. Game on!
Best of luck to you this ice fishing season!
Tom
