Snowmobile for ice fishing

[leech~~]

I just remembered a funny story I had to share ( having to do with lubricating slides). I was out on WBL one year, absolutely no snow, glare ice. I look out the window of my portable and see two Sheriff's deputies or DNR officers coming across the ice...on sleds. They stopped and checked myself and everyone fishing around me. They get back on their sleds to leave and the sleds wont budge...oops. It took the better part of an hour to get the tracks broke loose from the slides. Don't ride on glare ice.

Or care enough to go slow and not drive your sled like they drive Tax payers sleds!

[deadeye]

A trail/touring sled with a long track is a good choice. Comfortable, plenty of power and towing capacity make it a good option 90% of the time. If your going somewhere that you know slush will be a problem they can be a bear (they are heavy) if you get it stuck. I would put studs on the track so you can get out of those kinds of messes.

Personally, I like the performance based sleds. My ideal would be a Polaris RMK or the equivalent in another brand . The big paddle track and power really make a difference when dealing with slush. The lighter weight does help when you do get it buried too. (its not a matter of if but when) They still got plenty of low range power to pull the sled along too. Not as comfortable but if your not going all day on trails its not a problem.

My last sled was a arctic cat sno-pro 440 with a nasty studded track. Even if I got caught in the slush I would spin the track too the ice and then rocket out of it once the studs hit the ice. They are a huge help. Plus when you have the conditions later in the season where everything has frozen over again it really helps control the sled. (i dont have a sled anymore cause it doesn't snow enough in the cities where im living now)

[leech~~]

A trail/touring sled with a long track is a good choice. Personally, I like the performance based sleds.

You do have to watch the clutching on some of the high performance sleds as it is set pretty high for a lot of slow low speed pulling.

[riverview]

If you just fish low or lakes with plowed roads a narrow short track sled (performance sled) will work. a long track sled shines when you get off the trail or in slush. You wouldnt believe what a 20 or 24 in track sled will go through

[deadeye]

Ya you do have to watch the gearing on performance sleds. Mountain sleds are tend to be geared for torque. Top speed doesnt really mean squat up on a mountain. My sno-pro was a race sled and was geared for a short track, close to the same as a mountain sled. I would destroy a polaris indy 700 out of the the hole to 50 mph and top out at 75. The indy 700 would then blow by me to well over 100. So I guess you should watch what the top speed is and that will tell you what the gearing is.