Snowmobile for Ice Fishing

[leech~~]

so what is the trick to getting through slush and NOT getting stuck. Heading up to lake winnipeg in a couple days and am hearing there is slush starting to show up but you dont know it till you drop. I have gone through a couple small slush holes but didnt get stuck. Just gave er the onions and didnt let off till I was out. sure made a mess of the sled i was pulling though. 97 trail, 136"

Keep up some good speed, drive in old tracks if you can and make a nice loop where your going to fish and park right on your packed track so you can get going again. Also, if your pulling a porty try and pack the heavier stuff in the back so it doesn't nose dive through the snow when pulling. Oh, and follow some one else so you can stop once you see them hit the slush first!

[CaptainMusky]

What's the major difference between the panther and the bearcat?

not all Bearcats have the wide track. The base 570 model is the 15" wide track but anything denote wide track or xt is the wide track at 20".

Track lug depth varies as well the newer Bearcats come with a deeper lug track than a typical panther, etc. Clutching and gearing are also different. Bearcats are geared for the load and come with a hitch. The wide track models have under seat storage and a ginormous gas tank.

[Transporter]

What was the electrical problem? The relay issue? What was the bulletin's repair for it? I have a 2006, my friend has 2 2005's, all of our 660's had the same elec system and relay box that would have an occasional (once in 3 years) no start condition. Simple to tell, the check engine light, headlight and fuel pump would not come on with the key on engine off. Remove relay cup hand and blow warm air on it and put it back in, all ok. I determined the root cause and came up with a permanent fix, AC was no help, even at the factory level, but by then it was an outdated model. The sleds are real work sleds that are great for fishing too, not fast (50 mph), but very reliable, quiet, comfortable and get 25MPG easily pulling major loads. I know of no one that owns and uses one of these model bearcats that would part with them, I've been offered well over what I paid for it. Even if I upgraded to a new one, I would lose 50% of the fuel economy (but able to go 100mph) and they're much harder to service than the 3 cyl 660.

[CigarGuy]

I would have loved to get a Bearcat but could not find a good used one or afford a new one. So, I got the next best thing. A Panther. It has the same 570 fan cooled motor and not as long of a track, but still a 136" long track. And they can be found in good condtion used. I use it ice fishing or on the trails.

Hey Leach.....Nice Minivan

[leech~~]

Hey Leach.....Nice Minivan

Go away! This is a ice fishing sled thread. Not the crotch rocket toboggan thread!

[CigarGuy]

Just funning with ya! I screwed up! I let my 20yr old son talk me into a 1998 MXZ 583......This is NOT a good ice fishing sled! It will be gone before next ice fishing season and I will have a 2up, electric start and reverse! It's a great sled for him to play on but not an old guy like me! It's made for young kids that like to go fast! I did buy my wife a 98 Skidoo Forumla Z 583 that I put a hitch on to pull the portable around, it works good and is fun on the trials.

[leech~~]

Just funning with ya! I screwed up! I let my 20yr old son talk me into a 1998 MXZ 583......This is NOT a good ice fishing sled! It will be gone before next ice fishing season and I will have a 2up, electric start and reverse! It's a great sled for him to play on but not an old guy like me! It's made for young kids that like to go fast! I did buy my wife a 98 Skidoo Forumla Z 583 that I put a hitch on to pull the portable around, it works good and is fun on the trials.

Well next year when you get the old guy mini van like me may be we can hit a lake and do some fishing together.

[CigarGuy]

Sounds good. We had some friends up and rode the trails from Cook to Tower. Great riding and beautiful country! Fishing was poor, but sledding was great!.

[leech~~]

Sounds good. We had some friends up and rode the trails from Cook to Tower. Great riding and beautiful country! Fishing was poor, but sledding was great!.

On March 15th a few of us are getting together for a ride up in that area to Ely it's posted in the sled thread if you or anyone else wants to meet up for the ride.

[magicstix]

If I get another or I replace it, I'd try to get a Bearcat but the are harder to find and not confident on reliability.

Why?

[Wanderer]

so what is the trick to getting through slush and NOT getting stuck. Heading up to lake winnipeg in a couple days and am hearing there is slush starting to show up but you dont know it till you drop. I have gone through a couple small slush holes but didnt get stuck. Just gave er the onions and didnt let off till I was out. sure made a mess of the sled i was pulling though. 97 trail, 136"

The things Leech said are right on. I'll add a couple though. If a lake is slushed up try to not even tow a porty if you can help it. It's one of the reasons I'm thinking about getting a hub house. I could figure out a way to strap it to my sled and I already carry most of what I need in the rack and on my back anyway. If you pull a porty, pre scout your next move without it. Once you know if you can make it then go back and get your house. Yes, this takes time but you'll be glad you did if things get bad.

If you get into the slush and giving it the onions alone is a losing battle don't just sit there - stand up and rock the sled side to side a bit and shift your weight a little further back so you're not plowing with the front. Do what you can to change the balance of your sled without putting weight forward.

Sled maintenance - when your track and tunnel fill up and freeze with slush, you need to get it out of there. Bring something to chip it out so you maintain clearance for your track to roll plus you don't want all that extra weight loading up your suspension.

Leech, you kept up with the tail lights just fine.

[leech~~]

One more add on slush riding. If your moving along on a lake and find an area of increasing slush and want to turn around. Do not just make a tight turn or stop, hit the gas and make a long sweeping turn. Loosing momentum is a killer!

[Wanderer]

Amen.

And a comment about following old tracks - don't follow them unless you know they're frozen and firmed back up. If you go into old tracks that are still mostly loose slush, you're gonna lose. If the snow isn't too deep I'll follow the tracks but promptly turn out of em if the start showing signs of being loose. If the snow is deep you might have a hard time steering out of em once you get in.

I like to parallel old tracks closely so I have the traction of the snow on top but if I feel like I'm not gonna make it I can turn back into the old tracks and maybe grab a little traction off the ski tracks which will usually set up quicker than the track part. Plus if I don't make it, I'm already close to an open path to fight my way back out rather than have to make my own.

[JoeMX1825]

I had a snowmobile setup for ice fishing and recently switched to a Yamaha Grizzly 700 with big tires instead. Unless your planning on going WAY OFF the beaten trail, the 4 wheeler is great because you can use it year round and it doesn't have as many limitations a sled has, just my 2c..

[20lbSloughShark]

An ATV would be SOL right now. I have a truck for the rest of the year.

[CigarGuy]

[leech~~]

Unless your planning on going WAY OFF the beaten trail, the 4 wheeler is great because you can use it year round and it doesn't have as many limitations a sled has, just my 2c..

That is always the plan!

Like 20,lber said. This year you are done with a wheeler or truck on most lakes.

[Northlander]

My 1995 Polaris XLT Touring has been great for ice fishing. Only thing is Im going to go with a non triple sled next time. Cold blooded.

[JoeMX1825]

Then I would suggest a long track sled (144") with at least 1.75 paddle track, anything shorter and you'll dig yourself a hole in deep stuff...I'm a huge 4 stroke fan, so a Nytro XTX would be a nice option...you can find them used for around 5-6k

[Naturboy]

I notice on the tunnel side boards, where you put your feet, on the newer sleds there up higher and look like there jacked up and are further off the ground. Is that to help them from getting stuck?

Oh, great thread and thanks to all for sharing. I haven't had one for over 30 years and they've changed alittle since then.

[low277]

leach, nice solid sled that you have.

I work at A***** Cat and that is what I am looking for, a early 2000s 570 Panther.

The Bear Cats are great but a nice used one is hard to find.

[ib_jigged]

low277, what dept do you work in?

Bearcats are great but hard to find a used one. I have a '90 Panther two up that I use.

[leech~~]

low277, what dept do you work in?

Don't tell him! It maybe the Prez of Cat on the HSO forum when he should be working too!

[Xplorer]

Here is the stock photo of my sled. 2009 AC T570, 144" track, removable rear seat, kinda the little brother to the 570 Bearcat. Has served me well so far. I bought it one year old with 320 miles on it, for $5900. All I've done is add a hitch to it (gotta get the 12 volt plugin wired one of these days). Not a rocket, but with the rear seat removed it is pretty fun for the trails and some boondocking.

[centralmnguy]

I recently purchased a older arctic cat jag 440. This is the first sled I have ever owned. I wish I had one with reverse & electric start on it. It is a cold starter & unloading it is a chore. Like most things...you get what you pay for...I only paid $500 for it. My next sled will have a longer/wider track, have reverse, & electric start.

The first time I took it out on the lake I dumped it over in some deep snow.