ATV or SnowMobile for ice fishing

[iCanoe]

I fish no matter if there's deep snow or slippery slush. Was thinking of an atv/snow mobile. Whats better? When the snow gets a little high does 4x4 atv have trouble?

[Bigslugger]

Get the ATV with tracks. Then you get the best of the two

[Dave S]

If you want something inexpensive for just ice fihsing, you can't beat a snowmobile for the minimal expense or for snow over 8 inches or slush.

If you look into an ATV and tracks, be prepared to purchase a large bore ATV of 700cc or greater and dropping another $3K+ into a set of tracks. Anything smaller than 700cc and you'll be lacking the power to efficiently use the tracks.

[GatorBait]

Pretty much comes down to your personal preference and pocket. Atv's are great for ice fishing and an all year round workhorse. Snowmobile, well the name says it all, but is much better in the snow than an atv.

I've done the atv route before, never had any problems other than getting stuck in deep snow, but it did all I ever wanted during my ice fishing experiences. But, deep snow isn't really that fun. I've since moved on to the snowmobile and can't say I love it anymore than the atv other than the fact that it's more mobile in all types of snow. I'd go with snowmobile, but that's my preference after experimenting with both.

[Sandmannd]

I had this question last year and went with a wheeler. I just like that I can use it all year around. Snowmobile is better if you are always through deep snow.

[piker007]

I would say ATV also. On most lakes Ive fished the snow is blown around and packed down so its pretty easy driving an atv out there.

[Brade04]

If you have no use for an ATV in the other seasons why not find a cheaper sled to use for fishing. My two cents

[FishingWebGuy]

If you want to plow a road or clear a spot, an ATV with a plow works better.

If you want to travel fast, I think the sled gets the nod.

[aanderud]

Since you only said you were using it for ice fishing, and you didn't mention that you would use it hunting or anywhere else, then I would definitely buy a sled. They're cheaper, can go on thinner ice, can go through more snow/slush, and they're faster.

[Northlander]

Snowmobile will get you too more places in deep snow. My vote is a sled.

[chad austin]

My vote also goes to the sled

I just bought one this year because I only live about

2 miles from the lake now I just hop on the sled and ride the

ditches to the lake however I do use my wheeler when we have no snow

[epkirkman]

I have one of each, I prefer the snomobile over the sled when the snow is deep.

I don't get stuck, it runs faster and it starts on the second pull every time.

[Iambjm]

I have an ATV and can't get out on most lakes with it right now.....too much slush. We were thinking about a sled but after reviewing our budget we have decided we better wait. Trust me you don't want to get stuck in the slush with one of those, my neighbor was stuck last year on our lake and it took him 3 hours to get his back to his cabin.

[B@ssmaster]

Like many have said, the sled is definitely the least expensive and best method of travel in deep snow. I have both a sled and ATV, and switch between the two depending on snow depth. I prefer to fish with the ATV when I can due to the storage boxes I have mounted on it, but it's no fun getting stuck in the deep snow/slush. And the winters we have no snow, of course the ATV is better suited. Depends on your budget and your available space for "toy" storage.

I started with a cheap used sled, then added the atv as my budget allowed.

[Derrek Caflisch]

Your best option is a used 4X4 atv in that 450-500cc class with a set of tracks. Total price around 7K. Absolutely no need for any bigger of a machine. Even the 299cc polaris hawkeye can turn tracks well enough to climb mountains high enough where an engine only put out about half of it peak horsepower. If cash is tight I would go with a used long track sled with reverse and studs. Lots of studs! That will work for the time being. You might get stuck every so often in deep snow or deep slush but it will work well enough for the money. I've slowly worked my way into a tracked atv after getting everything else painfully stuck out on the ice over the past ten years. Its been a process by elimination. Now I will not get stuck and can pull the world. Just by the sled now. Look for a great deal on a used atv over the next couple months and buy that. Come winter of '09 sell the sled and buy the tracks.

[Sandmannd]

I bought my Kodiak 400cc for $1100 last year and stuck about $200 into getting it to run top notch. Haven't had any issues with it yet.

[Derrek Caflisch]

You can get just about any track kit out there for $3300 new. Put a track system on that Kodiak and you'll have the most reliable transportation on ice. You could pull people to there spots that can't make it threw the deep snow and slush. Kinda like an ice taxi service.

[DTro]

It all comes down to how much you want to spend and what you will be using it for. If only for fishing and you make any trips North of the Metro, a sled is probably the best option.

Not quite as versatile in the offseason as an ATV but you will be able to go many more places and much faster with a sled. Not only that, but will be a lot less $ for initial cost.

[Shack]

I also vote sled!

I have owned a Yamaha quad since about 04 and I have barley driven it in the last two years. I thought I would use it around the yard more, but when I work out in the yard it is easier to just use the lawn mower and the wheeler tears the grass up if I use it on the lawn .

Even with the lack of snow the couple years, my sled has seen way more miles than my wheeler.

I wanted to up-date a machine this fall/early winter and I thought about getting a new wheeler, but even after a couple buddies trying to talk me out of a sled, I went with the sled . I am very glad I did now.

My buddies said the same old thing, that I could use it for around the yard, hunting and going on rides. Funny thing is, I bought my last wheeler with anticipations of doing this with them, but they do not even use their wheelers much if at all also .

Now we are just talking about getting out and doing some sledding on the trails.

Good luck with what you do!

P.S.

I lost count yesterday on all of the "dig out" trails from wheelers on ML that I saw, from the thaw the other day. I felt bad for those people. Some had to dig out a "long haul"

[dan z]

sled all they way dude faster, less cost initially and no snow is to deep...

[Dave S]

Your best option is a used 4X4 atv in that 450-500cc class with a set of tracks. Total price around 7K. Absolutely no need for any bigger of a machine. Even the 299cc polaris hawkeye can turn tracks well enough to climb mountains

Absolutely not true. Adding 75-100 lbs per corner onto a Hawkeye will severely cut back on the longevity of the motor.

[Sandmannd]

You can get just about any track kit out there for $3300 new. Put a track system on that Kodiak and you'll have the most reliable transportation on ice. You could pull people to there spots that can't make it threw the deep snow and slush. Kinda like an ice taxi service.

Though tracks on the wheeler would kick some hind tail, I just can't stick $3k into a wheeler I have $1k into. Not to mention having the $3k. But yea, down the road that would be very cool.

[jltimm]

Imagine the belt wear on that popo!

[iCanoe]

Thanks guys! I will only be using it for ice fishing. I made the decision, SLED! So I won't be stuck out there. What brand is more reliable? My budget is $2500 something used that will do the trick.

[Sandmannd]

You can find a very nice used sled for that amount of money. Take a look at car soup, craig's list and other classifieds. You will find a bunch. Happy hunting and let us know what you ended up with.