Best Light weight Ice fishing shanty?

[Lunker]

Whats the best shanty for the money That Oneman can pull easily. Or for the builders whats the best plans and materials for a homader ?

[craig]

I recently finished one i made. I used the shappel design. I used a piee of 3/8 plywood that was about 6' X 3 1/2'. i cut that piece in half and joined the two pieces with rope instead of hinges( figured the hinges might rust). To make the frame, i went to Lowes and got some conduit tubing, I used 4 3/4" pieces about 3 feet long for each of the bottom coerners. I each piece to a hinge. Then i formed 2 U shaped pieces of 1/2" conuit to slide inside of the 3/4" pieces. i then use the same technique to make a spreser for the top. i just cut and fitted a polytarp over the entire thing. The ket is makming each side fold down so it fits on only one of the boards, so you can then fold the boards togeather. i also attached some rope to the bottom conduit pipes and secured it onto the floor of the shanty so that when the spreader holds to to ends outward they do not want to bow out to much. I just drilled holes in the conduit through both pipes where i wanted it to extend to and have detachable hitch pins to hold it togeather.

I know this sounds complicated but its realy not. I f you here you can see the design i used and how it foldes http://www.franksgreatoutdoors.com/setupshappell.htm

I hope this at least gives you some ideas
-craig-

[Mike]

If you're looking for a single person shanty, I'll suggest the Frabill Ranger Solo. The similiar model of Clam is lighter, but it's more expensive. I finally had the chance to use it this weekend - it's great.

Mike

[jpollman]

Lunker,
I've got an Eskimo that I bought at Dunhams Sporting Goods late last season. They normally sell for $199 but i got it for $160. It was on clearance (they didn't want to store it all summer;) )
I LOVE IT ! It's easy to setup and very easy to pull around. It has a plastic bottom that folds up and is very easy to handle. It has a very nice heavy canvas cover too (Not light vinyl). I just looked at shanties at Bass Pro Shop in Auburn Hills. Their shanties start at about $250 and go way up from there ! I think the Eskimo is a heck of a buy even at $199.

Just my .02 hope it helps.

[Lunker]

thanks for the great ideas
Yeah Im sure im going to try to build one since the Shappel 3000 i had got stolen when i left it at work. What a bummer . So i think ill try to make the dreams shanty!

[Fishbomb]

I have a Fish Trap and a Shappell 3000 and the Trap is very easy for one guy to pull around IF you can resist the temptation to load it up with tons of gear. The 3000 is not bad for short walks, like out on Saginaw River, and I like the room it has for jigging 2 rods when you have the potential to hook a big eye. Most of the time I take the Trap though. I made an alluminum tow bar for it so I can pull it behind a sled or quad. If you think you may do this, get the cover for it too. It keeps your gear in and snow and slush out. All of the new fold over shacks are nice, just find the one best suits your needs and pocketbook and I think you'll be happy. Hope it helps.

[Fishfoote]

I also have a Shappell 3000 and a Fish Trap. I haven't used the sheppell in a couple years because the trap is much more mobile - sets up easy and stores all the gear. (you can move around without emptying it out). If you go the trap route, here's a suggestion: I put a 6" thick piece of foam in the entire bottom of my trap and cut holes to snuggly fit each piece of equipment (heater, tackle boxes, bait containers, bucket, etc) to hold everything steady as I move around. Securing the heater was most important since I have had a tendency to knock it over when I set it on the ice - now it's fitted in right behind the bench where I don't have to move it when I open and close the trap while it's running. With this setup I can go over big snow banks getting on the ice and nothing moves.;)

[Major Hamhocks]

I have a clam 6800, four man... I love it. It is not really easy to pull through the snow though. I had to build a sled out of downhill skis to pull it.