Ice fishing rig?

[outdoor ran]

I know the right way to do it is to have a snowmobile for late ice and 4 wheeler for early season. But if you had to choose one over the other for ice fishing what would it be. Even throw in the name brand and size if you want.

[Ryan_V]

Most definetly without a doubt, a 4 wheeler!!! They are much more versatile and you can use them year round!!! you are waaaay to limited with a snowmobile, in my opinion. I've had both, and currently have a 4 wheeler, and will never go back to a sled, especially with the winters we have had around here lately!!

Just my 2 cents worth!!

[PierBridge]

Snowmobile for ice fishing.

I have both but the Snowmobile gives me greater flexibility it goes places the 4 wheeler has no chance to go, deep snow, over cracks and even open water if necessary.

[BigDaddy]

I've spent plenty of time on both. I've owned both. I currently own a wheeler. HOWEVER, if you are ONLY thinking about ice fishing, I'd go sled. I like the year 'round versatility. So, I go wheeler.

I had my wheeler up on Winnie for the FM deal. Hanson and his posse were able to travel to the fish. I struggled in 6" of slush sandwiched between glare ice and 6" of heavy wet snow.

Don't get me wrong. My ATV operates well in most ice fishing conditions and is much better at hauling downed trees and pulling in the dock than a snowmobile

[jerkin'm]

I have both, but for ice fishing only you need a sled...If you go anywhere north for any trips a wheeler is about worthless...you will get away with a wheeler most of the time but not all....

[Surface Tension]

I have both but if I had to pick one it be a sled. So many brands but any 95 or newer 2 up long track will have the clearance, good suspension and flotation to go anywhere comfortably.

If the ice is thick enough a 4x4 truck will go everywhere an ATV will.

[wallydiver]

I went with a snowmobile too. It's the best way to get off the main lake roads when the snow is banked up 6 feet.

[Matt Johnson]

It's a tough call. I guess it can depend on where and how much you ice fish. If you don't make a lot of runs up north you can get by with an ATV and a set of snow tires (at least with our recent winter snow-falls ). I know Dave has quite the ATV rigged up for ice fishing and he gets around just fine. I watched him cruise through some pretty high snowdrifts at the Medicine Lake ICE event last winter, not to mention a steady level of 12-15 inches of snow.

If all you plan on doing is using it for ice fishing, then a sled might be the way to go. Especially if you spend a lot of time on Red, LOW, Winni, etc.

For me, my first purchase will be an ATV, and I'll add a set of snow tires too. I can play with the ATV during the summer too

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[hanson]

Strictly Ice Fishing = Snowmobile

No hesitation in my mind and wouldn't think twice about that decision either. As long as there is a little bit of snow on the lake, you can ride a sled. If there isn't any snow on the lake, you can still ride a sled. I would suggest studs on the track and a set of Hyperfax for the skid and you should be alright.

Under most circumstances, a quad is alright but I personally can't even count anymore the number of quads that are buried beyond belief on lakes such as Upper Red & Lake of the Woods. While we may not get snow in the metro anymore, the north country does and it still piles up.

Another situation to think of is slush. A quad doesn't stand a chance. Up on Burntside for the bash last winter, the slush gets so bad under a lot of snow that a sled becomes almost impossible to ride around on also, but still gets through.

[Dan Brelje]

There are advantages and disadvantages to both as we all know, But here is my 2 cents.

I like a four wheeler, you can pack all of your gear on the wheeler and not have to worry about in a pull behind house. If you do not want to use a shack you can have all your gear with you without hauling around a tow sled or an ice house. As for going up north, if you are going up north there is a good chance the ice will be thick enough for a 4x4 truck. Many of the big lakes (winnie,low,url) have roads so you do not need to travel more than 100 yrds of the beaten path.

The thing i like most about a wheeler is having the ability to have all my gear on the ATV.

[burl]

Snowmobile works for almost all situations.Deep snow no problem,no snow just add some ice scratchers to the skis to keep it cool and lube the hifax.I have yet to see were a sled would not work.The only case would be if you had to run across roads to get to the ice.I purchased a four wheeler last fall and only used it twice during the whole season of fishing.Burl.

[Animal]

My opinion is that for ice fishing a sled is the way to go. A sled gives you access to any part of the lake and can take you across portage trails. 4 wheelers have their limitations as the season wears on and the deep snow and slush start to be a factor in cross lake travel. I've got an Arctic Cat ZR 600 with a studded track with an auger rack and box for gear. I generally pull an Otter except when I can expect warm temps and I'm on short runs.

[Bob_D]

My opinion.....a 4-wheeler with a track system. You can anywhere a snow machine can go and more. I'll take one over a sled ANYDAY.

[Northlander]

Randy if your just going to use it for ice fishing a snowmobile is needed around here. No way you can pull gear with a 4 wheeler on most lakes past midseason around our parts.

A 4 wheeler is great all year but ask Poutslayer how many times he was able to use his 4 wheeler icefishing last year. Im guessing about 6.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I guess a lot really depends on where you do your fishing. Down here in dixie (SW MN) a 4-wheeler will get you out on the lake just fine. However, we don't get 57 feet of snow like some place up nort do. It drifts 57 feet high, but we can drive around drifts.

So, for me it's a wheeler. Not only will it get me on the lake pretty much every time, it also pulls my permanent house out.

[Surface Tension]

boilerguy, makes a good point. Depends on what part of the state you'll be fishing. Most if not all of my ice fishing is between Duluth and the Border. Not to argue but I saw a group of tracked 4 wheelers late last winter out on the ice. With a foot of heavy snow they were making their way though it as the tracks churned down to the ice, speeds were painfully slow and RPMs were high. On the other hand it was nothing for a sled and what ground they covered in 45 min took me maybe 3 min. Not an issue if your going a short distance.