Clam Corporation, Inc. has a rich history. The ice fishing industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few decades and we’re proud to be one of the most integral parts of the sport from the beginning of modern ice fishing to today. Our ongoing dedication to being the leader in new technology and gear has brought us to the forefront of the sport.
1979: The first Trap Attack is held. After Dave Genz discovers he is too busy to hold his annual Christmas party, he organizes an invitation-only fishing tournament on Pelican Lake in Orr, Minnesota during the first week of January. Fifty individuals participate. The following year’s tournament is held in temperatures reaching 44 degrees below zero. The tournament is moved to mid-March the following year.
1980: Dave Genz builds the first Fish Trap® in his garage. His wife, Patsy, sews the canvas pieces together on her home sewing machine. A total of five are assembled. Over the next five years, production increases from five to eighty, and eventually to a few hundred. Ultimately, Patsy is relieved of her sewing duties and the ice shelters are professionally sewn. His original model is now the standard in the industry for all flip-over ice shelters and Clam Corp. still proudly sells the re-designed and updated original favorite.
1992: Dave Genz joins his Fish Trap® brand with The Clam®. The two former competitors unite their brands and sell side by side.
1993: With the rapid growth of the ice fishing industry, Clam Corp. quickly becomes the largest manufacturer of ice shelters in North America.
1997: Ice Team is formed when the President of Clam Corp. formulates the idea on a napkin in a bar. Original members include Clam Corp., Vexilar, and Strikemaster. Ice Team becomes the world’s largest ice fishing organization. It is owned by Clam Corp. and the organization’s mission is to educate existing ice anglers, recruit new ice anglers, and promote the best tools on the ice. Ice Team is now comprised of manufacturers who provide the most quality equipment for the sport.
2003: The fish house division of the former parent company breaks off and becomes Clam Corp., a now privately-owned company. Clam Corp. becomes devoted solely to providing the best portable ice shelters.
2003: Ice Armor, a new line of clothing, is introduced. This cold weather outerwear is built specifically for the demands of ice fishing. The product line was 
launched with the “Blue Suit”, which becomes hugely popular and a benchmark for all outerwear to follow.
2005: Clam Corp. trademarks their distinctive color of blue on Fish Trap® and The Clam®, making the color exclusive to their ice shelters.
2005: Clam Corp. purchases Polar Sports, which consists of ATV utility trailers and fish houses. The top features of these fish houses become integrated into the soon-to-be released X-series of portable ice shelters. The utility trailers are re-launched with newly engineered models.
2005: Clam Corp. manufacturing and administrative offices merge into a 100,000 sq. ft. facility in Medina, Minnesota.
2006: The Fish Trap X-series® of ice shelters debut as “the best ice fishing shelters ever built”.
2007: Clam engineers use Thermal TrapTM insulation in creating Fish Trap Thermal X ice-fishing shelter. Thermal X Fish Trap is tested and shown to be 28 degrees warmer tham comparably sized and heated shelters lacking this new insulation
Thermal Trap is engineered into other products, too, such as Ice ArmorTM X Gloves and Mitts and improved Extreme Weather suit.
