Rethinking ice fishing

Fry Flier · **Posted:** Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:26 am

Yes that is what I am up to, Snow and weight. Just a few years ago I use to go out on the ice and fish with a small toboggan, a rod or two, a hand auger, and some tackle. All fit in the trunk of my car. One year I bought pop-up shelter and through in the folding chair......and the story goes on from year to another year. Each year I added more neater and must have equipment.
I enjoyed the open ice and fishing in the elements, but now I am at the point of what the hell is next.
Last night it took me damn near an hour to get off the ice, sweating my arse off, gasping for air and hoping the pressure crack would open up and swallow my gear so that I would not have to finish my trip to shore with better then 220 pounds of cargo. Yep by the time you add it up, the smitty sled, the 1 man commando, the power auger, the heater, the vexlar, the light, you get the picture and we have not started on the gear or electronics.

Well tonight I pulled out the Sub-Zero Pop-up, the hand auger, cut back on some gear and will continue to get slimmed down in weight and bulk until I figure that I can fish again with one sled and down to the 100 -125 pound range.

Not saying I am getting rid of my equipment but hell the snow on the bay is not new and I use to enjoy going out to the elements and flip over the bucket. Cut back and reduce the load and I will enjoy the fish much more then regret the chore of getting out and back.

Do not ask me why I posted this other than the fact that today I did not fish because the weekend kicked the crap out of me.

LarryGuy · **Joined:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:23 pm **Posts:** 142

Sounds like you have everything you need except a sled! There will be lots of them on Kiiji & Craig's List in a couple of weeks.

GOT2FSH · **Posted:** Mon Feb 16, 2015 11:01 am

I don't even fish anymore.....I've just become a gear collector Lol

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Fry Flier · **Posted:** Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:33 pm

GOT2FSH wrote:

I don't even fish anymore.....I've just become a gear collector Lol

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I do fish but sign me up...lol

LarryGuy wrote:

Sounds like you have everything you need except a sled! There will be lots of them on Kiiji & Craig's List in a couple of weeks.

I am hoping to do that for next year. I think I will take the wife out a time or two while the snow is deep and let her pull the sled...hehehe

Icebreaker · **Joined:** Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:53 pm **Posts:** 55

We have a portable that has hit the ice zero times this year against my sons protest but I personally like my little sled with two poles minnow bucket and gas auger(too lazy for the manual one lol) I like to keep it simple and light plus like sitting out in the open, we still do just aswell as others with all the gear and many times this year and last icing fish and seeing them head home empty handed, that's just me though, how I used to fish with my grandpa

Zingerman · **Joined:** Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:29 pm **Posts:** 38

the older you get the more equipment you need. its natures law.

DanElliot · **Joined:** Mon Apr 08, 2002 8:59 am **Posts:** 4329

Fry,
Keep ur eye on kijiji. I bought a fan cooled 500 polaris with reverse, electric start, 2 up seat, handle bar warmers and tow hitch for a bit more than a grand.

AndrewB · **Posted:** Mon Feb 16, 2015 6:21 pm

I hear ya, was thinking of making a buoy home till spring there the other day on the way out. tough walking jeez.

Gilz74 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 04, 2013 11:25 pm **Posts:** 7

I hear ya Fry, I ended up making my own sled. With each time out on the ice I seem to make a few modifications for it to slide better with the weight of the gear. I find myself stopping to catch my breath from the wind, cold & deep snow. At times I wish I had a husky dog instead of my GSD.

Fry Flier · **Posted:** Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:08 am

Thinking I need to adjust the Smitty as well. My width of 40" with the holes in the ski tips may be working against me by pigeon toeing in on the deep snow. Try it with the sled connection only next time.

jjz · **Joined:** Mon Nov 01, 2010 11:18 am **Posts:** 231

[quote="Fry Flier"]Thinking I need to adjust the Smitty as well. My width of 40" with the holes in the ski tips may be working against me by pigeon toeing in on the deep snow. Try it with the sled connection only next time.
[quote]

I wouldnt do that, having the rope pull from the tips helps keep them up above the snow. If you are pulling just from the risers it will be like dragging an anchor.

Fry Flier · **Posted:** Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:01 pm

jjz wrote:

Fry Flier wrote:

Thinking I need to adjust the Smitty as well. My width of 40" with the holes in the ski tips may be working against me by pigeon toeing in on the deep snow. Try it with the sled connection only next time.

Quote:

I wouldnt do that, having the rope pull from the tips helps keep them up above the snow. If you are pulling just from the risers it will be like dragging an anchor.

Very good jjz, thanks for the input. Had the sled out tonight without adjusting it , all is well. Just damn hard pulling on the weekend.

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Rethinking ice fishing

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