My dad installs the new thermal material on my old Yukon. Considering a brand new version of this shelter is $1,000+, the refurbish was well worth it.
I started using a Dave Genz Fish Trap about 20 years ago for much of my ice fishing. It was a one-seater. As my kids grew, the larger Yukon, with two full seats and a good deal more room, served us well for quite a while. However, like many things in life, it was set aside as life changed, and the once well-used pop-up shelter was relegated to spending winter under a tarp in the backyard. Last winter — inspired by a Facebook group devoted to the subject — I took it upon myself to update my tired old Yukon. The term used now for hot-rodding these units is “Trick your Trap.” So that’s what I set out to do.
Salvage operation (free)
The first thing I did was pull the old shelter out and give it a good look over. The plastic tub was in remarkably good shape, considering its age. The plastic was not cracked, and the bottom of the tub was solid, thanks to some old plastic runners.
The original blue nylon tent was stained, sun damaged, and sported several holes. It would have to go. The original frame poles were in decent shape and could be salvaged. Overall, the two-decade old Fish Trap showed signs it had life left and was ready for an extreme makeover. Now came the fun part.
Get a thermal tent ($250)
I’d been looking at a variety of new tents and flip-overs made of thermal material. An insulated tent would be a lot warmer than the nylon, but it would also be heavier, which had to be taken into consideration. The Fish Trap is made by a company called Clam, and when I visited their website, I was pleased to see that they had replacement tents for my vintage Yukon. This was purchase number one.
For the record, Otter, Eskimo, Frabill and other companies also make good trap-style shelters that can be upgraded and customized.
Add a pole rack ($65)
Spreader poles add tension to your tent material. Having the poles rolling loose in the bottom of the tub always bothered me. They often froze together and bent. A storage rack, installed on the back of the tub, keeps the poles bound and out of the way. A simple fix for a vexing problem.
Lights & power ($75-200)
My original Fish Trap had been fitted with old-school lights that never worked. A wide variety of lights can be purchased to brighten a dark tent, from LED strips designed for use inside cars, to lights that can be zip-tied to tent support bars.
To power these for several hours, you can get a rechargeable 12-volt battery. I chose to go with a power box that can be used with many different devices ― an Ontario-made unit called the Lake Simcoe Power Box. It has done the trick famously. It has all the power I need inside a Fish Trap and has fittings for USB and a car lighter as well as alligator clips for electronics.
New runners ($75+)
My last purchase was a set of Teflon runners to replace the plastic ones on my tub. These were bought stateside and came customized — if at a premium price. They would make for a much better towing experience and extend the life of the sled.
Accessories
One cool accessory I found was a corner console shelf that doubles as a drink tray ($24.99). I also added a portable measuring stick and a universal mounting system that allows rod holders, tackle bags, and cup holders to be attached to the front of the trap. Finally, I bought adjustable cushions for my original Fish Trap seats.
Rigging the trap
With all this stuff bought, there was still work to be done. On a cold evening in February, Gord Sr. and I spent an evening tricking my trap. Removing the old tent proved easy, as most of it was attached to the poles by Velcro. The most difficult part was taking out the screws that held the tent skirt to the back of the tub. A plastic flange held the skirt in place, and it had to be removed as well. When the tent was off, we added the spreader pole storage, corner console and measuring stick.
The new thermal tent was thick but with a little trial and error, we got it on the poles.
The hardest part was attaching the skirt to the back. We finished the job in three hours. A later session involved adding the Teflon runners and the universal gadget holders to the front of the trap. Dimmable LED lights were added later and proved easy to install. I also bought a new trap cover that could be tightened over the top of the sleigh.
The tricked-out trap has lived up to the hype and the thermal tent has been a real blessing. The tent holds in heat and doesn’t flap in the wind like the old one. The accessories are helpful and the overall fishing experience has been great. If you have an older ice fishing trap, I recommend a little tricking this winter. It will make your on-ice experience that much more of a treat.
Trap hacks
- After losing two phones down holes, I buy dollar store sink protectors to place over the hole. I cut a slot in them so when a fish hits, the protector can be pulled away.
- Interlocking foam squares will keep your feet warm.
- Milk crates make a portable table.
- Clothing hooks that are attached via velcro are a great way to hang stuff.
Originally published in the Jan.-Feb. 2024 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS
