What do you like better, a Clam or Frabill Ice Shack?

[smi]

What has better options and is fastat setting up?

[smi]

What has better options and is fastat setting up?

[PJM]

smi

I run an Otter Sled now but both the Clam and the Frabill are nice and looking at them when I was working a booth at the ice fishing show I like the Frabill better. I like the canvas better on the Frabill. My first house was a Clam many years ago and I remember you had to set the frame up then put the canvas over but they have changed a lot since then. Go the the ice fishing show, if you live in Minnesota there is one the first week of December at the Xcel Center.

[PJM]

smi

I run an Otter Sled now but both the Clam and the Frabill are nice and looking at them when I was working a booth at the ice fishing show I like the Frabill better. I like the canvas better on the Frabill. My first house was a Clam many years ago and I remember you had to set the frame up then put the canvas over but they have changed a lot since then. Go the the ice fishing show, if you live in Minnesota there is one the first week of December at the Xcel Center.

[Doc_wi]

I've had excellent luck with the Frabill equipment. The Artic Armour material does a great job for durability and absorbing sunlight for warmth. Easy to set up and very functional. I have a speedshack XL and a new 1 man unit.

[ChadM]

I have a Frabill. It is very easy to set up. Material stays strapped to the frame even when stored. You just open it up, put up one side and put up the other and you are done. I bet in less then 1 minute you can have it up.

[eyedoktr]

Just gimme a 5-6 gallon pail. No set-up time involved .

[Jigging 5]

I am a folding chair fan.. But,my father just bought me a two man clam for my birthday. He told me I'm getting old and could probably use it. He also said I can take my wife now. What does he know!! No, really it seems to be real nice. It is light, folds up nice and is easy to set up. A real nice gift from a man who is old to a man who is getting old...

[Capt. Paul]

Like my Shappell better than either one.

[Backwater Eddy]

My vote would be for the Frabill ice systems.

They set up fast and easy, quality materials, very user friendly and innovative.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

><,sUMo,>

[Gilligan]

Eyedoktr has 15 years on you, he is either tough or crazy and I know which it is!

[Suzuki]

I like my 2-man clam but the Frabil looks like better quality.
I'll keep using it until it falls apart. So far it still looks new after 3 or 4 seasons. Had it long enough to forget when I got it!

[ggg]

I used to use a friends big Clam but it took a long time to set up. Two people was almost a must and it was hard to pull in snow. Four years ago I bought a Frabill speed shack XL. So nice and easy to set up and very durable. Now my friends all own Frabills.

[eyedoktr]

Fred, maybe a little of both ?? Nah, I guess it's all crazy. You know, mind over matter. If you have no mind, it don't matter.

[Pitts]

I see a lot of people love the frabil speed shaks but I set one up on a 20 below night to do some eye fishing on miltona and started 2 sunflower heaters inside with 2 people and we like to have froze to death in that plastic bottom thing.
Daylight and not real cold is fine but I have a 8X8 CanvasCraft wooden bottom and I have fished 30 below at night and it is much warmer than the frabill fish houses or clam for that matter.

Extreme cold is the main reason I went with a wooden bottom portable.
Really easy to set up 2 doors, 8 holes, room for 4 guys 2 sunflower heaters at night weighs just over 100 lbs. I reinforced the corners with steel and added 2 more latches to hold it all together and I painted it all white.

Everyone thinks that a flipover shack is the way to go which is true if it is not real cold and windy. Flipovers are probably a little faster to set up but in cold weather and wind with 4 guys setting up my house and 2 guys setting up a flipover with drilling holes and banking the perimiter it is a wash for time frame.

No fishhouse with a floor unless with attached skis pulls very well when set up they are like a square box.

Get a pair of used downhill skis at goodwill and make a sled that the house fits on and they pull real easy even in bad conditions.

All in all I was not that impressed with the Frabill Speed Shack XL that I have used many times and the clam solid bottoms are also not on my best built list.

Your decision on a house should be for you and you only taylored to your fishing situations and climate and wheather you will drive, snowmobile, 4 wheel, or walk, will make for the biggest part of your decision.

My situation warrents that I have a house big enough for 3 people. I have a homemade covered trailer that my 4 wheeler fits in with all my fishing gear and the house goes on top.
If the ice is thin 5" or less I through in my folding ski sled and hand pull it out. At 6" up to about 13" to 14" I hook it up to the wheeler load all the gear in trailer and out I go.
After 13" I drive out on roads with a vehicle and only unload the wheeler if the fish are not biting and we want to have some fun.

Taylor your house to your fishing needs. :)



Pitts

[risor39]

I find it hard to believe with 2 heaters going you almost froze.You must not have covered the flaps or you had the small heaters.I've been out on some cold days and one heater was enough.Yes a wooden floor does insulate but my Ice kings do a good job of that.Most are looking for a lightweight and portable unit without putting extra ski's or other devices on.And the floors don't fall apart.Anyone know where I can get a replacement tent for a fishtrapIII?If I were to buy another flip up it would be the frabil.

[Hawg Tracker]

Strong, has solid floor and sets up easy with two long holes in the floor. The window space could be improved but it has weathered 4 seasons now without any damage.

[Pitts]

You said it DAYS!!

It is a lot harder to heat a portable at night with the wind blowing than on a sunny day.
All 4 holes were skimming over with ice and the flaps were all fastened with there elastic hold downs.
There was no snow so it was impossible to get banking material up and over the plastic portion of the bottom.

Not to mention trying to clean the ice out of the recessed area that the hole covers go into with the cheap little twist holders that pull out if they are not perfectly clean.

After the covers no longer fit tight or twist holdowns all pull out when you try to pull it behind a sled with a very small amount of snow the hole edge catches snow until the folded up house is as full as it can get.

Get my point this is experience talking from fishing out of a Frabil many times.

If a person would only fish less than 5 times a year this house does pretty good but I may set up the house and move 5 times a day if I have a hard time finding fish and that is hard on a house in very cold temps they fall apart because of being in a hurry to get moved and getting in the truck out of the cold covered in ice and froze solid.
By no means did the wooden bottom house I have hold up very long in its original state.
I added steel gusset plates bent over the outside corners and reinforced inside corners with 2 gal 1 each primer and oil base tough paint, then 2 more latches for the fold over outside.
But it holds up pretty good now and the holes do not freeze up in any weather or wind or cover of darkness:):):)

I wil quite ranting now I think it is out of my system now until I get to use it again :)




Pitts

[risor39]

Pitts take it easy the ice is coming.Here is what i do if there is no snow.I drill a couple of holes part way through to get some banking material.This is after the fish are found of course.Or we know they will be there soon.I can't wait either.Good luck on the hard stuff.

[fishinnut]

I like my Shappell but it could be about 1 foot wider. I also own a one man Otter which is great, durable sled and plenty of room.