Choosing a new Ice fishing ATV - Feedback requested!

Hey y'all,

I'm doing some shopping for a new Quad, primarily for ice fishing purposes (hopefully winter 2021:thumbup:)

I have looked at a couple options and wanted to open it up here as I am a newbie ATV guy. I want an ATV because of storage and also to do a few rides in the summer.

The two options I'm looking at are honda and polaris. For hondas, i'm looking at a rancher 420 or maybe a foreman 520.

I know honda to build a bulletproof machine, but am questioning the ground clearance for my uses. Anyone speak to that?

420 Rancher has 7.1 inches clearance and the 520 has 7.5.

When looking polaris, the 2021 sportsman 450 and 570 have a clearance of 11 inches, but I don't know if polaris makes a good machine for ice fishing purposes.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! I should also note that I'll be fishing on Simcoe primarily as well as Erie occasionally on cold winters.

Thanks!

Wild

I went in to buy a rancher 420 and ended up leaving with a foreman 500 (price was very close due to rebate) a couple years ago, I use it primarily for ice fishing and plowing snow and it very rarely gets stuck and it always starts. The only thing that will stop it is deep snow with a crust on top it will ride up until the wheels lose traction. I can't say that won't happen to whatever machine you buy. I looked at both Polaris and Honda in the same showroom and the decision was easy for me, that might be a bit difficult with covid now.

I ride and fish exclusively on simcoe.

When I researching for my ATV there were really only two brands that were on my radar as they were consistently dependable machines, being Honda and Yamaha. I ended up getting a used Honda 420 with low hours. It has a pull start cord as well in case the battery dies which I would recommend but most have after market kits you can install if it doesn't come with one. I also have studded tires I change out for ice season, it really helps when there is low to no snow on the ice! Enjoy the search!

If money is not an issue it’s the Honda all day long. Run mine all winter on ponds and swamps and never an issue with ground clearance. If your looking at deep snow check out the tracks you can get for them. Kinda pricey at 4000 but cheaper than a sled and they work as advertised. If your going with the track system you will want the 500 cc or higher engine.


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Honda or Yamaha, I am leaning more towards the Yamaha Kodiak

Polaris never had a good reputation especially when it came to dealer support. There are few used Hondas for sale as compared to used Polaris. There's a good reason for that.

I think your real question is .... is it worth it to go with Polaris because of the gained 3” of clearance? Yes the Honda is bulletproof and resale is easy. I own a Honda foreman and love it. I rarely use it in the snow, so I’m curious too about the clearance differences

Buy a Polaris and you'll end up with more time in the repair shop than having fun. Sure they come cheaper, but it will bite you in the butt in the long run.

I have a Polaris Sportsman 500. Awesome ATV, lots of clearance, better tires, lots of storage, back up lights, pulls like crazy. Around here in the bush I would say you see more Polaris. As far as dealer support, I never needed it even though I know they’re great as I buy pretty much all my toys there. You can’t go wrong with Yamaha or Honda either. It’s like a Ford, Chev and Dodge kind of choice. Not sure where your fishing, around here in deep snow and slush everyone goes fishing on sleds. Make that a Polaris sled. lol. ;):thumbup:
Good Luck

Score another for Honda. I'm doing the "Gee,I don't know which one to get" thing,too. My Grandson wants to buy my Honda Foreman 350TRX. It looks like a 520TRX may find a new home.

In terms of Reliability I would rank

Honda / Yamaha
Suzuki

I would not really consider anything else.

Yamaha..something with bigger motor...tracks are the bomb..honda is over engineered imho..like a shaved nut sack. Gave Polaris a chance with a 2016 900 never again. Can Am nope..kawi no way to many elelectronics..Suzuki worth looking into

Although I'm not a Polaris fan, I will say that my 1999 trail boss 250 as cheesy as its built has been $h!tkicked and neglected for its 20 year life of plowing, pulling a harrow, mudding and pulling trailers, as well as WFO lake running. The only parts it's ever received are a belt, a starter and a pair of rear tires. So I'd say just buy what you like, not everyone uses these machines the same so its hard to base your decision on advice. But history shows, Japanese makes are generally the most reliable with just about every powersports machine.

Basically a Ford Chevy question where responses will be based on personal preferences and what people own.
I have a 2016 Can Am 450 2-up.
I've had no problems with it but it seldom used for ice fishing as I also have a Skidoo Tundra.

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Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Make that a Polaris sled. lol. ;):thumbup:
Good Luck

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You end up buying that rocket?

The Honda should be a solid performer, I have been told the bugs have been worked out of the new generation of machines. Buddy bought one when they first released the 520 and it was a nightmare.

The only recommendation I can make if choosing the Honda is spend the extra money and bump up to the Rubicon. The Rubicon 520 comes with 10 inches of ground clearance. Don't let anyone tell you a machine with 7 inches of clearance will follow one with 10 or 12 inches of clearance in mud or snow, that won't ever happen. The three of us that ice fish back lakes together all run arctic scrap and do a lot of fixing because of it. The reason we're all running the same is the 13 to 15 inches of clearance, without major lift kits nothing else follows.

I'm still riding my old relic kitty cat with 14000 miles on it because there is nothing on the market that suits me perfectly at the moment. If I had to make a purchase tomorrow it would either be a 1000 Polaris which may need some wrenching at times due to the abuse it'll take or a grizzly which doesn't quite have the bally balls I want but won't leave you in the woods.

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I have an 1990 honda fourtrax 350D absolute tank of a quad, but solid axle front and rear makes for low ground clearance. If I was going for a new quad tomorrow it would be a Yamaha Kodiak or Grizzly.

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Originally Posted by Species8472

You end up buying that rocket?

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Haha. Not yet. Maybe next year.

I have an Argo. Put a top, set of tracks and you’ll have the best ice fishing rig going. They also don’t sink if you go through the ice. I’ve done that twice !! They aren’t the best for trail riding, but great for pulling moose out of the bush. Mine is a 2003. The new models have lots of nice upgrades....

One caveat..nothing is bullet proof as I went off the main trail with my argo I hit slush..it built up underneath. Had a grain shovel and dug it out more than a few times until I could get a good runway at it and got back on the main pack trail.

I love these posts and all the responses. Definitely a Ford, Dodge, Chevy question. Do your research and pick what you feel is best for you, there's always going to be a lemon out there no matter what you choose, just hopefully you don't get THAT one. So many people dump on Polaris. I've known many who have them who have ridden them really hard and never had a problem. Same thing can be said for many other machines. Personally, my 2003 Polaris Magnum 330 is still going strong, pulls like crazy and has only ever had the brakes done to go along with the usual maintenance of greasing etc.

Good luck in your quest!!

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Originally Posted by Crabb's Camp

One caveat..nothing is bullet proof as I went off the main trail with my argo I hit slush..it built up underneath. Had a grain shovel and dug it out more than a few times until I could get a good runway at it and got back on the main pack trail.

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Don’t matter what machine, my grain shovel goes everywhere with me in the winter. It’s always in my truck then I throw it in the sleigh.

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Originally Posted by Crabb's Camp

One caveat..nothing is bullet proof as I went off the main trail with my argo I hit slush..it built up underneath. Had a grain shovel and dug it out more than a few times until I could get a good runway at it and got back on the main pack trail.

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m

I have a winch on both ends....auger in a hole, drop down an ice anchor and use the winch. No digging necessary ..

Want pictures of what you end up with!!


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Originally Posted by rick_iles

m

I have a winch on both ends....auger in a hole, drop down an ice anchor and use the winch. No digging necessary ..

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That only works for smaller slush beds. Winching across a couple km's of slush will take for ever.
In those conditions a sled and speed are the best option.

Personally getting stuck sucks..I have CAA but it never want to have to call them..I had a 900 polaris rzr with tracks it was the best so far but yeah was a polaris...nuff said. My ride right now is a 1986 Honda 350 4 trax..International B 250 and the 414..and and Yamaha 1998 500 venture 2 up..where I am Galway Township I can walk to my iceholes and that's fine with me.

BTW I am not the sharpest tool in the shed and I will be the first to tell ya lol

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Originally Posted by Woodsman

That only works for smaller slush beds. Winching across a couple km's of slush will take for ever.
In those conditions a sled and speed are the best option.

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I’ve been in slush at 35 below, on a sled, it’s never fun !!!!

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

I’ve been in slush at 35 below, on a sled, it’s never fun !!!!

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I that I agree with.
But if it's enough to stop a sled a quad will be stuck far sooner.

Look at weight of the ATV if you're primary use will be use on lakes like Simcoe. Lighter is better as you can stay on top of the wind-packed drifts. I have a Honda 350 that is nice and light. You see all the big atvs stuck after 200yds from the parking lot with the frame hung up on the drifts. I have a 500 Foreman as well as I need it for plowing . The 350 is marginal when you pull a trailer of firewood or topsoil, etc. I think you're better off to get a cheap $1500 twin cylinder snowmobile for the lake (eg. an old bombproof Enticer, Safari or Citation)and buy the ATV that meets your needs. Honda and Suzuki have been my best experiences to date. They're all equal once you get some snow depth on the lake and you're belly pan gets hung. It's nice to have the snowmobile for the times the ATV is useless.

In response to the original question. I was talking with a buddy yesterday who sells and repairs Honda and Yamaha atvs. So I asked your question Honda vs Polaris? His quick answer was, both are good machines and if you are a maintenance and care guy, the Polaris is a good decision, but if you use and park it until you decide to go again, you are better to go with the Honda.

Tires! Good tires help in snow/slush! And not big oversized mud tires IMO. I find mud tires “dig” too China in snow. I plow and ice fish with my Grizzly 700 with a 25” bighorns ..no problem.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8676697fbb.jpg


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There is a forth ATV that didn't get invited to the party.....Arctic Cat
I have a 2014 Cat 550 Limited with 11" clearance and it has never let me down.

As someone said earlier, good idea to get yourself a used sled for ice fishing (forget about cheap - prices are nuts for everything right now) and pick an ATV that meets your needs. Yes, lots of guys dump on Polaris, but most of the guys I ride with have them and they are fine. Lots of guys dump on CanAm too but my 2005 Outlander has been reliable for me, and not babied.

Engines and transmissions, I imagine the Japanese machines have the edge, but for trail riding their suspensions are generally not as comfortable. Polaris is very plush like riding a couch,

Well Yamaha grizzly 700 works well for me. Tracks will be put on when I get around to buying a set.

You can’t beat them.

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Originally Posted by Big Jack

Well Yamaha grizzly 700 works well for me. Tracks will be put on when I get around to buying a set.

You can’t beat them.

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I think the Grizzly with tracks would be a cats meow!


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Originally Posted by huntnmachine

There is a forth ATV that didn't get invited to the party.....Arctic Cat
I have a 2014 Cat 550 Limited with 11" clearance and it has never let me down.

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Shhhhh! Don't tell them or they will be able to follow!

Jokes aside, it would be tough to recommend one given the troubles the company has been going through, even with textron at the helm. Who knows if they would come good for warranty or act the way Arctic Cat used to and withdraw warranty from machines without the owner knowing.

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You guys rock! Thanks for all the feedback. I'm checking out some used Yamahas and Hondas on the used market.

Testing a Grizzly 660 after work today and hopefully getting my hands on my first ATV if all checks out. I will update when I can!

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Originally Posted by Wild Lyle

You guys rock! Thanks for all the feedback. I'm checking out some used Yamahas and Hondas on the used market.

Testing a Grizzly 660 after work today and hopefully getting my hands on my first ATV if all checks out. I will update when I can!

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You found a 660!? Those are bullet proof if looked after properly. They do get a little cranky to start if its colder than minus 25.

Watched one end over end tumble down a hill, about 15 rotations in total, old man drove it home with nothing more than a bent rack and broken brake handle.

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Originally Posted by Saskfly

If money is not an issue it’s the Honda all day long. Run mine all winter on ponds and swamps and never an issue with ground clearance. If your looking at deep snow check out the tracks you can get for them. Kinda pricey at 4000 but cheaper than a sled and they work as advertised. If your going with the track system you will want the 500 cc or higher engine.

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I have a Honda Rubicon 500. Use it for ice, snow plowing driveway, fishing and of course summer fun. Had agressive mud bug tires that were pretty good in 4H or 4L diff lock, but I JUST got a set of camso tracks (R4S 8") and my machine cruises nicely at 30km/h without the engine complaining or high RPMs. It feels different but the thing could practically climb trees. It has another several inches beyond the standard ground clearance (its high!), stable, and manoeuvres pretty well. It's not like tires but I can move through 24" of mixed uncleared January snow without any trouble in the forest. It reduced ground pressure by 50% and doesn't "float" like 12" tracks (eg T4s) might, but it also fits the same width as my tires (for the bed of my truck/trailer), and isnt' much longer at all. The narrower tracks are coming in at about $3000 installed. Lovely stuff. Not sure how it'll handle in slush but I can only imagine it'll be better than tires based on how I've used it.

Had a Polaris 400 (1994-ish) 2-cycle and it was fantastic for a VERY long time. I am now 100% Honda, dad 100% yamaha, and we're both happy.

One thing I didn't like about older belt drives was the belt slip if it got wet (eg mud/deeper water). The shaft-driven honda doesn't flinch in water. I can confirm this after my father dunked it up to the handlebars in a river (@#$%) and I drove it out of there. Never changed so many fluids so many times. Still doing great some years later.

Coming late to this thread it's obvious that there are many choices out there and it is clearly one man's opinion. I've owned a Honda then a Polaris 500 I drove for 11 years problem free. Will admit I never went mudding with it. Ice fishing, moose hunting, logging road rides and hauling wood. I just bought my 2nd Polaris and I did do some more research. I will say this, I'd never slag any of Big 6 makers of ATV's. I think they're all good in different ways.

Not gonna bash any manufacturer..different years had different problems. We have a mixture of makes at the camp and all make it out of the bush..even through ice and 12 inches of snow. Just find what your comfortable with, has a good price, and buy brand new!! you will have it a long time hopefully.