Just got word from FishUSA, my shanty is on it's way!!    Hope it comes with pontoons!!!!  Not really, I expect things should settle down in a day or two and the ice should be good to go.
 
HT and Outasync sure appreciate the help.   I'm soooo happy!!!  But right now I gotta make the better half happy, and go sit in my ground blind.  She enjoys the peace and quiet when I'm away.

Nice ! I hope it serves you well !
You ended up with the Eskimo-3 insulated ?

Fish USA Is a place to shop . They are always my first choice because of their great service. So I guess I can throw them in as a gear review for their store and services. Never once in the many years and products have I had a complaint towards there.

Not insulated HT, I looked at the weight difference then figured for the size, I should be able to keep the space heated if need be, using my Coleman radiant heater.

When I saw the item would be back ordered I sent a email asking a expected delivery date. Wasn't a few hours they returned with an answer of Jan 15.

Around 4:00 PM this date I received a delivery notice from UPS. I have a delivery on Jan 15. OHhh BOY!!!

Now, if all the area ice that is currently flooded refreezes, won't that be super?

I've done business with FishUSA for a couple years now and not had a problem so this year, my letter to Santa ask for FishUSA gift cards.

They price match for thirty days after your purchase plus if they put your item on sale (within 30 days) after your purchase they will issue you a credit to your account.

Returns and exchanges are hassle free but they do have rules.

Anytime I had a question, they have always gotten back to me within a reasonable time.

Thanks again for your input, hope someday I might return the same.

Keep the "Gear Review" thread open, you might be surprised how many people such as myself, enjoy the read.

Good times and tight lines......

Do yourself a favor and put it up and take it down several times in your garage or basement. Get proficient and it will make you life easier on those cold windy days. As far as keeping it warm I was fine down to 0 with my buddy heater. Not warm, but able to operate with no gloves easily.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mr-Heater-Propane-Tank-Refill-Adapter/1151605.uts?productVariantId=1662921&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=BingPLA&WT.z_mc_id1=03046991&rid=20&msclkid=f592a14e97941beb73fafb17d373d3d0&gclid=CMGowp3K09gCFRLQswodI9ENtg&gclsrc=ds
 
I will give my thumbs up to this.  You can refill your tanks at home for about 50 cents or so. There is a trick though.  Keep your small tanks outside or in the freezer ad you big tank indoors. I can 15 or 16 fills out of a 20# tank. Always test for leaks after I use a bucket of water. If they leak screw them on your heater then how away from empty. Some of the little last 15 plus fills, some only one. Saves some green for sure. You can usually find enough tanks on the ice that goons leave there to be set.

I copy Clint and thanks. I have a hub style ground blind I use for hunting and that sucker can be a PITA to set up and tear down for sure.

I've refilled propane tanks myself and the adapter is worth the cost if you burn a lot of propane for sure. In the days before LED lanterns or fluorescent even, we used a lot of propane in our lanterns camping the shores of the Allegheny or feeding the mosquitoes night fishing our local lakes. Not to mention heating the shanty, lighting our way on the ice and perking a great cup of coffee on the Coleman propane stove.

When it comes to reviews, thumbs up to Coleman camping products. I have Coleman products thirty years old and can still find repair parts if needed.

Tight lines and becarful pushing this new snow around.

The adaptor refill has saved me lots of $$ as I burn those 1 lb tanks every weekend and it seems I'm always the "Guy" with propane 🙄
Becarefull !! As Clint said, some tanks last , some are leakers from the get go. I'm very cautious with them and I test using dish soap and water but still find "stinkers " and label them for disposal.
I also weigh them and find the first 5-6come out heavy sometimes.
The last 12-16 usually not enough "juice " in the big tank left so they run about 0.75 to 0.50 lbs. Then the big tank goes on the grill.

Another interesting thing happened Sunday was I put a heavy tank on the cook stove. Wen finished cooking I put stove and tank outside of shanty and fished another 3 hrs. Upon leaving, I unscrewed tank and the tank valve didn't ( wouldn't) seat thus blowing a plume of propane at high pressure. It was like holding a garden hose at full blast. That thing took at least 5 mins to drain. It rode in bed of truck for 3 hrs and was still "stinky "

Becarefull !!

Now I'm looking for any gear reviewers. BTDT, shanty working out ?  It's going to be a stellar weekend to use it if not already, I hope.
 
My question is I'm always looking ahead. Believe it or not I'm working on getting my Striper and trout gear ready. Plan ahead is my goal . What's your thoughts on okuma reels. I have not had great results. Its the price point that always kicks my butt on the avenger series. I bought a series of baitfeeder 55's and they seemed to light. My only size  65 was huge in size  but  had a better line retrieve and handled 30 lb mono better.
I run 4 to 6 rods be it trolling or live bait, not including jigging for bait on stripers.
The bait runner reel is the key .  Is there a better quality bait runner for $100.00 each ? don't forget X 4 .
I have an awesome shimano from the early 90's that today is over $200.
Penns are great reels too but have not owned any or used any that were made prior to the 21st century .
 comments and thoughts welcomed . am I wasting my time with a reel I'm not satisfied with ?
 
 
 

I have an Okuma fly reel I beat the crap out of for a few years, but no others. It's turned into my loaner reel, but has yet to let anyone down.

 

HT I was just talking about the hub shanty and unfortunately I have not had a chance to set the thing up.  UPS arrived late in the afternoon yesterday because of the snow and I spent the better part of this morning plowing that snow out of my driveway.  I was just telling Outasync I didn't want to get the shack outside for a trial because of all the snow still coming down.  I didn't want to get the shanty  wet in case something would be wrong and I would have to return it.  Plus, the better half said no way to setting it up in the living room cause I think she thought I might get overly excited and fire up the ice auger too. 
 
The real problem was trying to figure out how to get the shanty on the sled without chance of upsetting and dumping the works while moving.  I didn't want to unpack the thing until I was absolutely sure I could haul all the equipment in one trip by myself.  Usually not a problem taking someone along for a day of fishing on the ice, so help is usually available to carry the equipment out.  It's getting all the equipment back 'cause the help disappears, when the ice starts singing.
 
I did take a sneak peak and must say I am happy as the material is heavier, coming in at 300 denier, than I expected.  It's not insulated but the material is much thicker than the material that is on my present shanty and that thing is like me, beyond old. 
 
I hope to get out first thing tomorrow morning and try my luck at setting the shanty up for the first time but that will depend if I can turn my neck in the morning.  Spending an hour plowing snow wasn't bad except I was using a plow attached to the three point hitch on my tractor.  I been walking around looking backwards most of the day.
 
Hey, while we are on the subject of reviews and snow removal, I sure can attest to the Torro Power Shovel as I been putting one of those to the test the past week.   Stupid wind has been causing the snow to blow over my house dumping it right on my back sidewalk and deck.  If i would have had to shovel the piles of snow from those areas, there would be marks from tractor tires over the deck and across the sidewalk.  I don't use the power shovel every time but I am sure happy to have had it so far this winter.  I'll have to do a edit to post some pictures so bear with me.  Ummm, that's "bear" as in "bear" and not intended to sound like "bare".


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