u could get away with a 4x4 atv 95% of the days ice fishing, a winch and a piece of metal to spread the load that will fit down the size of hole u can drill with your auger will help get u out.
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u could get away with a 4x4 atv 95% of the days ice fishing, a winch and a piece of metal to spread the load that will fit down the size of hole u can drill with your auger will help get u out.
both .............i fished simcoe alot last winter and was stuck a few times and could not get to my spots with the quad.........if the lakes are wind blown and have very little snow coverage the ATV's are best...........sleds need snow to cool the sliders..........i also ran into problems on the soft shoulders of the roads if they are muddy and you have to run a sled down them........ buy a good quad for year round use and try to pick up a 1000 dollar sled for ice fishing when and if it gets to deep for the quads.....
I only have an atv ( Honda 500 ) and most years it's all I need. Last year on the BOQ we had a lot of drifting snow that made it a little bit difficult, but most years we get a snow fall , then it warms up and then freezes again giving you a crust that can be ridden on top of. Not last year though , it was deep and then slushy ( deep slush is the worst on a quad ). Around my house where I ice fish , I will go out after a heavy snowfall to break trail . That way it packs a trail and makes access easier.
A set of chains is crucial in deep snow and on ice, and cost a lot less than tracks ( tracks will get you further, but they also get stuck in the really deep stuff ).
With all that said, I still "want" a sled, but my quad does the job 90% of the time.
Well, I've had a quad for fifteen years. Bought a sled about the same time. When I got too old to wrestle the sled out of the slush and deep snow I bought a new quad and put a set of tracks on it. That was many years ago.
The quad on tracks will get stuck, but is still great for breaking a trail for the sleds...Once a trail is broken, then the sleds are quicker. I have never got stuck in snow that a sled would go thru.....but I have often towed sleds out of the slush on a lake, and carried the surplus gear for them.
If you are going to travel skidoo trails over private land, then you have no choice...you cannot used a quad on them.if you travel forest access roads, then you are ok. If I won the lottery I would buy a sxs with tracks...
Thank you very much for all the comments lots of ideas ..... But I'm still CONFUSED on what to get :whacked: :whacked: :whacked:
Maybe both is the way to go LOL
Different spots call for different machines....Last year I used my quad on tracks to go to some spots, other times I used my sled to go to the same place, depending on snow conditions.
My advice, from using both for trapping and ice fishing. If you're planning on using the atv on ice, do not buy a big, heavy machine that will make you end up walking. Prob. the best machine I've used was a 4X4 Honda 350. Nice and light, yet lots of power to carry you and your gear. You'll be driving an anchor once you go above 600lbs. Some of the new ATVs now are absolutely ridiculous (size and weight). I used to laugh when I used to fish Simcoe a lot. I'd leave the parking lot on the light Honda, which would stay up on the hard-packed drifts, and keep you out of the slush. You'd pass a line of the big ATVs, less than 200 ft offshore, all buried to the gut pan. Not fun trying to clear a mired 800-900 machine. I use both an ATV and a skidoo (Tundra). If it's fresh,deep snow above 12", I leave the atv at home. For backlakes, it's usually the skidoo, unless we've had a thaw, or it's late season.
I would rather have a two thousand dollar sled and a two thousand dollar quad than a 4000 dollar one or the other. If you shop around there are some good deals to be had for sleds my buddy just got a 1991 Indy trail long track for 600 bucks with 2500 miles on it. Atvs a are a little harder to find cheap usually you need to spend 1500 plus to get something in decent shape.
I think my mind MIGHT be made up if there was a Tundra out there at a nice price :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenelon
One final word from me on the topic. I don't know what kind of temperatures you're dealing with in your area but around here it can darn cold. Its far warmer on a snowmachine than sitting up on an ATV fully exposed to the wind when driving.