Quinte Fishing

I found the discussion on vexilars posted here over the past few days to be very interesting and engaging. I like the fact that guys get real passionate about their "toys." I still use a FL8 and for the money I paid and few problems (other than a bad battery that wouldn't keep a charge this year), I find it works for me. Interestingly, the guy who caught the most fish on our recent trip was using a Marcum!

So, now I'd like to open the conversation to portable shanties. I've used all types, but this year was given a Shappell Rover 2.0 to use. This model has a bench seat w/ a back cushion (this lays down if you don't want to use the back), and plenty of internal space. It is a cheaper alternative to the popular Fish Traps.

After a week of using the Rover 2.0 (along w/ the three other guys in our party), I'm not a fan. First, each of the shanties developed a hole in the bottom from use dragging across the ice. The fabric was showing signs of tears and weak points from the wind ... in fact, the fabric stretched so much that on a couple of units the tube frames were not real effective. The seat location makes the unit "top heavy" and easily susceptible to tilting in even a mild wind. The seat unit should have been more centered to balance the weight. Finally, the unit's price may be a couple hundred dollars cheaper than the Fish Traps, but I guess that's where the old adage, "you get what you pay for..." certainly applies.

To Shappell's credit, they've agreed to replace the units (Hardwater you'll have to make contact w/ them to get a replacement shanty), but not before we had to make the case that these shanties did not stand up to normal usage, much less some adverse conditions. Thoughts?

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Rocky Mountain Man

The real question is did you like your heater!

I have the fish trap yukon only 2 months and some of the seams have opened up and 1 of the front guide poles will not slide in and out very easy , so i called them at there head office and they sent me a replacement tent and a new pole right away , the only problem i have is when your in a lot of wind and there is not much snow on the ice it wants to take off but , the idea is that they are lighter and you can move with ease, but very comfortable.

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!!!!!! SET THE HOOK !!!!!!

first things first, i for one have a hard time believing that anyone of you guys out fished dicky.LOL. secondly i had an hour conversation with both brothers at shappell and told them the exact concerns you had with the seat, placement of the seat, the folding pole vs telescopic and lastly my huts material is flaking off. if you remember one of you guys were being questioned about your hut and the material flaking by me! i think you hit the nail on the head that sometimes you get what you pay for, and saying that doo dah watch out for these problems with your new rover.
100% club
ps they sent me a new replacement tarp immediately as well.

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Walleye 1oo% Club

Oh yeah, forgot about the heater ... at least the Shappell was good for blocking the wind! Thanks to Walleyebythepound, I got nice and toasty after a morning of shivering inside the tent. Don't know how you did it, but I was mucho grateful.

Also remember your visit 100% and the flaking just shouldn't be. It is my understanding that Shappell tried to argue we were "abusive" with our shanties. We set them straight, and told them that if they can't stand up to a Canadian ice fishing outing ... then they needed to have their designers go back to the drawing board.

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Rocky Mountain Man

I fished a few times this year in my buddy's Dave Genz 2 man and it was sweet.... very light folded up nicely pulled nice just overall it seemed well made and well thought out.
Mike