ATV for Ice Fishing

[Fred_Bear]

Looking to pick up a used ATV that will be used for early and late season ice fishing and need some suggestions. I want to stay in the $3000 range. Ice fishing will be pretty much all it gets used for. I'll only be pulling an otter portable and often have 2 guys riding on it. Also want to be able to do a lot of modifications to strap an auger and all kinds of gear on it. Definitely need 4-wheel drive. Don't need a whole lot of speed or power, most important factors being dependable, easy maintenance, and lasting for along time.

I already have a snowmobile set up for fishing so don't need to worry about deep snow/slush. Just need something for when there's no snow and sick of borrowing friends' machines.

Have gotten a lot of recommendations for Honda Foreman or Rancher but I know close to nothing about atv's so looking here for some suggestions. Thanks guys.

[pulleye16]

Yeah-out of the 3 things you want most I'd say the honda line is what you are looking for. The one and only down fall I have with hondas are the ground clearance. But for early and late ice that should never be a problem. If you get a honda, get a manual with foot shifter, it'll last forevever!

However, those good 'ol hondas don't have a two-up (that I know of) so a certain few CO's may not like you having two people on there.

I know of individuals that have secured a boat seat onto the back of their ATV and have been stopped by CO's and they were okay with it but again, that depends on how much commen scense the CO has if they let you get away with it. I remeber one saying that the seat is fine if it's secured tight (face it forward so it looks just like the new models that come out) but they still need to have hand and foot rest.

Look for the old honda 300's and up...you'll never need anything more then a 500cc, never ever no matter what anyone else says! LOL!

sorry-I'll keep ranting....No need for fuel injection either, carbs are easier to maintian and cheaper to fix (yes- may be slightly harder to start in winter but for early and late ice no problems). No need for liquid cool either, fan is great.

[Biggerfish]

That really gets me going?

I heard of people getting warnings for passengers?

Rules state you can have one? I also peronally talked to DNR at the ice fishing show in Dec. and he confirmed it was legal?

What gives here?

[usmcjsy]

I had a Honda 300, great machine. The only thing I did not like was the 4 wheel drive system. I ended up getting a polaris due to the true AWD system. When I am stuck I like to see all 4 tires spinning. Not just the one thats easiest to turn.

[Fred_Bear]

So sounds like this may be more a question of Rancher or Foreman. What is the difference between the 2? Is it the Foreman is air cooled and the Rancher is liquid?

[Dave S]

Yeah-out of the 3 things you want most I'd say the honda line is what you are looking for. The one and only down fall I have with hondas are the ground clearance. But for early and late ice that should never be a problem. If you get a honda, get a manual with foot shifter, it'll last forevever!

However, those good 'ol hondas don't have a two-up (that I know of) so a certain few CO's may not like you having two people on there.

You can GO HERE to learn more about MN ATV regulations

I know of individuals that have secured a boat seat onto the back of their ATV and have been stopped by CO's and they were okay with it but again, that depends on how much commen scense the CO has if they let you get away with it. I remeber one saying that the seat is fine if it's secured tight (face it forward so it looks just like the new models that come out) but they still need to have hand and foot rest.

Double check the regs about the hand and foot rest. Not so sure it's a requirement to ride 2-up.

Look for the old honda 300's and up...you'll never need anything more then a 500cc, never ever no matter what anyone else says! LOL!

sorry-I'll keep ranting....No need for fuel injection either, carbs are easier to maintian and cheaper to fix (yes- may be slightly harder to start in winter but for early and late ice no problems). No need for liquid cool either, fan is great.

Fan cooled ATVs? Unless the cheap off brands have something, the only ATV I can think of off the top of my head that was fan cooled was the Suzuki LT80 Quadsport.

[pulleye16]

Thanks LEP7MM, not trying to get off subject but thats just some of the thing we have ran into regarding passengers and two ups from CO's so take it with a grain of salt! Soem of the rules are very confusing and then you have to go against what the manufactor has written all over the side of the machine as well (NO PASSENGERS!)

As far as Fan (sorry "air" cooled) cooled...Foreman line (which isn't the cheap line was still fan cooled as of 2009! (thats the last I did research on ATV's cause thats when I bought mine!

And if you can find those old honda 300's...there gold!

[Dave S]

Pulleye,

Is this the Honda Foreman you're talking about? According to the pic from Honda's HSOforum, the Foreman is air cooled. No mention of a fan.

[Macgyver55]

The Foreman uses a fan to cool the oil.

"Air" is pushed by a "fan" to cool the "oil"....you'll have to decide if its air cooled, fan cooled or oil cooled.

[Dave S]

I thought of the oil cooler and the use of a fan on that but again, no mention of that in the spec I posted. I only based my post on what Honda has posted on their HSOforum. Call it what you want.

Doesn't matter how their engines are cooled. Still the most reliable engine out there.

[pulleye16]

I thought of the oil cooler and the use of a fan on that but again, no mention of that in the spec I posted. I only based my post on what Honda has posted on their HSOforum. Call it what you want.

Doesn't matter how their engines are cooled. Still the most reliable engine out there.

Very True!! Very reliable!

Yeah, you had me second guessing the whole fan thing after I checked the site also...but I gaurantee its fan cooled cause you can hear it running on warm summer days (well, there's a fan cooling something under the hood anyways.)

[Big-Al]

Quote:

I had a Honda 300, great machine. The only thing I did not like was the 4 wheel drive system.

Not sure what model that 300 was, but my 03 Rancher 350 is absolutely full time all four wheels drive, all the time.

[Mcfin]

I've got a "98" Honda 400 foot shifter. I wouldn't change a thing.

[B@ssmaster]

I've got a 2000 Rancher, manual shift. Auto 4wd. I love it. Back then, it had a small 300 class engine (325 or something like that). I tow my fish house, launch boats, pull out docks, move fallen trees, do some minor logging for firewood, etc. The thing is bullet proof. Nothing stops it (unless I high-center it). Traction in snow and mud is great with standard tires, without chains.