Ice Fishing Transportation

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I could use a little help with your ideas about snowmobiles or ATV's used for transportation while ice fishing. I live in northern Iowa and the past 2 years the ice has not developed enough to drive my truck on it.

I have seen other fishermen using ATV's and snowmobiles to pull their portables. I had been leaning towards an ATV but about the time I buy one we will get more snow than I think a wheeler can handle. The lake roads are not plowed in my area unless someone going fishing drops the blade. In either case I will probably try to buy a used machine. It will not be the cheapest nor will it be the most expensive. I will be pulling an Otter Lodge with all of the gear and I don't need to go 100 mph (age is showing)like I have seen some do.

In reading some of the different forums I have read about long tracks on snowmobiles and really don't know much about this. I do know that I will be putting a stud kit on the track when I buy one if I go with the sled.

Any thoughts, comments and recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks.

[StrosLit31]

I bought a 4-wheeler so i can use it ice fishing and playaround in the summer. but another reason why i went with a wheeler is i have a 6.5x16 foot crank down and a snowmobile cant pull it. but if you are just pulling a portable around you could get by with a snomobile that is alot smaller in cc's and since it hasn't snowed much the last five years you can find some cheap ones.

One more reason i went with the 4-wheeler is that we can drive it into the back of the truck and still pull the fish house down the road.

[pathogen]

ATV. You can use it for other things in the months you can't ice fish. They can go through more snow than you might think, especially with tire chains. An ATV has served me very well ice fishing over the last couple of years. Unless you're doing a lot of fishing much further north, I think you'd be happy with an ATV for your purposes.

[Down Deep]

There just isn't a best machine for all situations. As with all equipment it depends on your overall use. If you are riding around on lakes that have 12 to 18 inches of snow or less a wheeler will do better or as good as a snowmobile. Slush can also stop a wheeler in its tracks and a snowmobile can usually get though most slush especially if it is studded. But if you are traveling around in deeper snow and traveling long distances you will need a snowmobile. I fish a lot of Canadian and border lakes and travel long distances and cross portage trails in all kinds of conditions so a snowmobile works best for me. I would base my decision on which type of conditions you do most of your fishing.

[jigging-matt]

I guess my recomendation would be an ATV. Living in the southern part of minnesota I bought an ATV approximately 2 1/2 years ago. I have never experienced a problem yet with too much snow. I also pull a clam voyeager fully loaded. I realize that some time we will probably get a lot of snow. Usually after a good wind you can work your way around drifts without a problem. Plus you and use the ATV for a variety of other things where the snowmobile is pretty much a seasonal/depend on the weather item. Just my two cents, for what its worth.

[SKEETER-B]

If you got money buy a ATV and then put tracks on it, then you got the best of both worlds.

[12lb8oz]

I have both, and have used both for ice fishing. I typically fish The Lake of the Woods, the snow can get very deep up there. I haven't had trouble using the wheeler in too much snow, when the snow is deep, at least up here, it is usually pretty cold also, which means the wheeler rides along on top of the snow. A few times in the spring of the year, when it warms up, the wheeler has to really work to pull through that soft snow. But if I know I am going to be driving like 15 miles, I take the sled because you can go alot faster. I fish with a portable mostly but we also have a permanent that a sled would never pull but the wheeler can tug it around wherever we want it to go. Like many have said, you can use the wheeler year round, the sled sits around for 9 months out of the year.

[harvey lee]

I use a 4-wheeler for the majority of my ice fishing until I can drive on the lake.There have not been to many times my wheeler with chains did not get me where I wanted to go.I can also use the wheeler for deer hunting and just fooling around.

This year I have really thought about getting a sled also for the bigger lakes that have a little more snow incase the ice doesnt get real deep.

Maybe what you might look at is getting a good used wheeler and a good used snowmobile and you will have the best of both worlds if money will allow.

[john.wells]

One other option that I have seriosly considered is a hovercraft. I took a spin in one once and I think that it would be a good all around option, especially in times of questionable ice. Not cheap, but fun and effective

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have an ATV and a snowmobile. I much prefer the ATV when I can get around with it. To much snow or slush will stop them though. I have used the ATV almost all winter the past 3 years and then had to use the snowmobile for a month or so until the snow melted down again.

The ATV will pull a much bigger load, will also haul a lot of gear on the racks, rides better, and can be used around the house all summer too.

If you go with a four wheeler be sure to get one with a windshield and hand warmers! They are a "must have" for keeping warm while moving!

Get a 4 stroke motor if at all possible! They start much easier in all types of weather and there is no exhaust smoke to deal with. They are also much easier on fuel.

My snomobile is a Polaris Indy Trail 500. It rides very well, will easily pull two Otter Lodges hooked in tandom, and will go thru almost anything I have encountered.

Good Fishing!

Cliff

[Jim Hudson]

Capt H...

For overall use in your area, I would opt for a wheeler. 99% of the time, I believe conditions would not warrant a sled. But if you do fish across the mid-west, seriously look at getting a sled. Conditions will change rapidly, and a snowmobile can be used in most. Studding the track along with putting on some ice scratchers onto the machine will help in all conditions. When snow is minimal or glare ice, I also carry a mixture of dish soap and water to lube the slides every couple of minutes to help burning out the hyfax.

And for safety purposes, I believe (IMHO) a sled is a lot safer on the ice, as a sled spreads it's weight more evenly then a wheeler.