Homemade shanty!

[zburninator]

Hey everyone I am really excited about the ice fishing this season. this year instead of buying a shelter I decided to just build my own. It's about seven feet long and 31 inches wide. It fits 2 people and even has a place for a cooler. Anyway I just thought I'd share. I'm new to the forum and ice fishing so if you have any pointers I'd really appreciate it. Thanks
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[Kent]

Looks like it will do the job after you get it out to where you want to fish. All of the extra weight of the wood may cause you to have second thoughts.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Lots of crafty sorts out there. Very creative looking.
So - are those skis on the bottom?

Couple thoughts - if you don't mind.

1) weight - that's a fair bit of plywood. I know a lot of typical snow-sleds are light plastic, and the tents can be quite light weight.
I've heard the clamshell types can get pretty hefty to haul between the built in seats and frame.
2) wind - sometimes it can get wicked nasty out, and I've had a lot of shredded blue tarps trying to cover my boats in the driveway.
There's some heavy mil Vinyl (former signs) you can find on KSL.
3) Snow-build up if heavy powder. I have a Frabil style where the sled is about 6ft long, 3 wide - and I know its low profile and wide nose make it tougher to pull in deep snow that the standard ice sled with the thinner profile, and sloped nose. Especially dealing with hills (up - in particular!)

But hey - if it works for ya, power to ya! All for creativity! Seen a simple frame on skis with milk crates attached for a sled. But they've usually propped the skis up on something.

Good luck - let us know how it works out.



Welcome to the site.

[zburninator]

Yeah I thought about that. I may just wait for a bit till the ice gets thicker. Until then maybe ill just go with out it. Either way im just excited to get out there.
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[Kent]

I wasn't too worried about it falling through the ice, but that is always a factor with thin ice. I was thinking about how difficult it will be to drag through the snow, slush and up hills.
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[fish_fear_me2]

I agree looks good if the weight isnt an issue. I know in deep snow mine is a bear to pull. Let us know how it went when ya take it out for its maiden voyage.
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[zburninator]

I really appreciate all of your input. ill keep my eye out for lighter material. Thanks!
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[zburninator]

Oh, and yes those are skis on the bottom. I am thinking about taking an old snowboard and using the ends as wider tips for the skis. Hopefully that will help keep me up on the snow and slush.
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[FISHINMA]

I agree with Yote. I still have a 2 man Frabil for sale it's 45llb and is a beast to pull uphill and in deeper snow. My 20llb 4 man pop out is easier for me....yet I end up packing 2 sleds anyway to carry all the gear.
Your snow board idea is a good one and I like your cooler holder! Looks like you have room enough to carry all the gear in it![cool]
Smiles Always!
MA
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[SkunkedAgain]

I like the shack, but also share everyone's concerns for weight, however, if you are the snowmobile or 4-wheeler type, just hook onto it and pull it down the boat ramp and on the ice and laugh at the rest of us still freezing on our buckets out in the cold... I think most of us looking at weight are mostly used to packing our gear up and down steep lake approaches and with the snow and all, any weight is too much lately... I'm just about to leave the fish finder and sled home and just take my bucket and auger... But there is no doubt that once you're on the lake I think you'll enjoy your new palace, nice job... Later J
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[crappie_rangler]

Don't forget your poles and tackle unless you are only testing ice[]
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[DKStroutfitter]

Your shanty is very nice.

It will be hard to pull out onto the ice though.
Take it to places that have boat ramps and park right on the ramp to unload. Then park where ever.

Places like Rockport will be great to take it to.
You don't have to pull the sled very far to find good fishing there.
East Canyon will be another good choice.
You may even be fine at The Strawberry Marina.

One thing about it, you will be fishing in comfort, once you are set up.
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[zman2]

good job once built a bird feeder and the birds wouldnt even come close to it
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[Bent-hook]

It is a great idea and I have seen some similar even more perfected ! It will kill you to drag it on the ice if there is more than 2" of snow even a snowmobile will get tired ! Good Luck just my opinion not being mean hope you have good luck!
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[cpierce]

You've done some nice work on you shanty. I think you need to raise it up above the skis to get it to pull for you. When it is down flat on the skis or even a snow board it will dig into the snow and slush.
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[hooked4life]

Looks great! I too have made a home made sled to haul some (a lot) of gear. Went through a lot of trial and error in my design with how I mounted the skis. I did put a 2x6 with some blocks for side to side support to give me the clearance I needed from the snow.
[fishon][fishon]
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[OCF]

I agree with "cpierce" - you need to lift it higher to float above the snow; otherwise, you will be plowing through the snow or worse, pushing a wake of snow ahead of you. It is going to get heavy.

I am not sure how it is going to work if the wood starts absorbing water & then starts freezing and collecting snow. I have had this happen with a plastic sled - pull it through slush and it starts freezing to the bottom of the sled. Makes a 5 pound sled feel like 50 pounds.

It ought to work fine if you can find a lake with no snow on it! Good Job
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[CoyoteSpinner]

You might check the [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=776727;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"]general-ice-fishing board[/url]. There's some sled ideas out there too. Using skis and such even.

in some places they even use full on wood shacks on wheels, or skids - but makes a difference if you're pulling with power.

I just like that my boy "enjoys" the sled, so we split the weight. Might go 40/60!

[SkunkedAgain]

Oh yeah might need them too. Later J
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[zburninator]

Wow, I really appreciate all of your input. You guys have a lot of great ideas i didnt consider before. I think i will try and raise it off of the ground a little more to help with the "snow plow" issue. I tried to put most of my weight in the back of the sled to help keep my front end up.
I am hoping to take it out within the next few days (if my work schedule will allow it) when I do I will update you all on how it goes.
Thank you again! [fishin]
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