Ice fishing shelters, like many other products, are often displayed indoors, where it’s warm and there is no wind.

So in the same way that you can’t tell what a truck can do while it’s parked on a polished tile floor in a dealer showroom, true performance of an ice-fishing shelter is revealed on the frozen surface of a winter lake.

That’s when you find out if the designers are also ice fishermen.

Dave Genz is the inventor of the original Fish Trap instant setup shelter. His creation of the Fish Trap was the first shot fired in the modern ice fishing revolution.

Genz, and Clam, continue to lead that revolution.

You have to be able to move out there on the ice,” says Genz. “And it has to be easy or you won’t do it. You can’t just drill one hole and sit there all day.”

Mobility has become a buzzword in modern ice fishing, but the concept is more complex than simply being able to move. To maximize success, you have to be able to move easily, as far as necessary, as often as necessary– while remaining comfortable and able to fish well.

Having said all this, we realize that, on some days, you don’t feel like moving a lot. And in some situations (when you’re over a good spot and the fish are feeding) you don’t have to move much. So the same gear that maintains mobility must also serve your needs when you’re going to sit in one spot for a while.
That’s what we demand out of our equipment.

That’s what you’ll notice from the first day you fish with our stuff.
At Clam, we sell solutions, tools, innovations. We begin by imagining what we need to fish better, and that’s how we come up with what’s next.

Selecting the Right Shelter for You
Portable shelters in the legendary Clam lineup were created with different purposes in mind. Any given model will also perform well in other situations, but typically there is a ‘best use’ for each design.

Don’t you hate it when you can’t get any real shopping advice? So do we. Read through most catalogs and every product sounds like it’s perfect for everything. You have to jump to conclusions and your purchase ends up being a leap of faith. Only after you start using the product do you find out if you got the right one for you.

That nonsense stops right here, right now.

It will be up to you to decide whether your fishing style creates an exception to the shopping advice found in this catalog. We are going to say what we think each product is best suited for, and hope that helps you make the right choices.

There’s no such thing as one portable shelter that’s perfect for all uses.
Many anglers wind up owning several shelters, for different types of outings.
We realize people go ice fishing for many reasons– and on some days, your goal might be mainly to relax and enjoy a few hours over the top of a likely spot.
Let’s face it: the actual fishing can, at times, be very much secondary to the card game or the conversation.

You might choose an original Blue Fish Trap for run-and-gun fishing with your buddies, and a larger house for days when you take your family. Maybe a Clam to use as the warming house, the base camp.

If you’re a ‘walker,’ look seriously at the lightweight mobility of original Fish Traps. If you tow your shelter behind an ATV or snowmobile– even a vehicle– the X Series Fish Traps might be your winter soulmate.

Finally, don’t forget to check out accessories, such as travel covers, tow hitches and Runners (‘wear strips’ for underside of the sled). Deck out your shelter with additional seat kits, tackle bags, Rod Slicks to protect your quality ice rods, Ice Anchors to keep you in place on windy days, and interior lighting systems.

There’s more, including the Clam Chair, Arctic Warrior tip-ups, and stand-alone sleds. In fact, because we’re never completely satisfied with anything, new innovations and refinements are constantly being developed.

We love ice fishing as much as you do. We, like you, appreciate being warm and comfortable.

We all have more fun when we catch fish.

In the following pages, we’ll help you find the perfect solutions for your personal fishing style. At Clam, our mission is to keep you covered and comfortable. A day on the ice is a day on the water, but let’s not pretend it’s a day on the beach. If you don’t have the right clothing, and the right portable shelter, it can be tough to find the fun.

If you’re dressed for it, though, and you can fish inside any time you want, modern ice fishing is great fun, a great getaway, a reason to love winter.

Now, let’s make sure you get the right stuff for your style of fishing.