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Ok, so I REALLY want to get back out on the ice this year. I was really into ice fishing a few years ago and bought all the gear. I have shacks, power auger, 1/2 dozen poles, a tackle bag dedicated to ice fishing jigs, etc, and I had an older pair of snowmobiles. Unfortunately those wore out. That, combined with a new family, took out the ice fishing for a while.
Now I still have everything but the snowmobiles. I'm very tempted to sell my bike and get something I can use on the ice. I'm just debating what to get. While the snowmobiles are probably about the most fun machine there is, there is also the maintenance issue, short lifespan of a snowmobile, and short season. I'm also debating getting a UTV with tracks or tracks for my ATV. Has anyone on here had any experience with ATVs or UTVs with tracks? How do they do on areas other than groomed trails? Particularly the treacherous conditions we see on Strawberry.
While these machines aren't as fast or fun as the snowmobiles, they do tend to last longer and can be a 4-season machine when you take the tracks off and put the wheels on.
Thoughts??
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I don't have tracks on my 4 WD ATV but it is crazy where that thing will go, especially if you put chains on the front wheels... It won't go where the sleds will, but they are great fun all year round... My vote would be ATV.... Later J
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I have an atv and a snowmobile. if i had to get rid of one it would be the sled. my atv does everything i need it to. i just got the snowmobile on a trade and there it sits in the garage
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I did a lot of research on this subject a year ago. The folks I talked with all recommended that you need an ATV with > 700 cc to be able to turn the tracks. The problem with most of the larger ATVs is that they are all belt driven. I have always been a Honda fan because they have a drive shaft. Honda has a Rincon which is just < 700 cc. After looking around, I ended up getting Can AM with 1000 cc. (if 700 is good, 1000 got to be better!) The reason I went with Can AM is the fact they are designed to run tracks - the Apache 360. The Can Am has power steering (which is in my opinion is a must), it is electronic fuel injected (which is great when the temps are below zero), has a chip that will give you accurate speed and mileage on your speed/odometer. It is a belt drive, which is still a little nervie when you want a shaft drive. In addition, the Can Am's are a little pricey.
I drove it all year on Strawberry last year, through some real crappy slush and still made it OK. I even towed a broken down snowmobile off the ice w/slush. The 1000 cc maybe overkill but it sure does get me where I want to go. It sucks pretty hard on the gas!
I have a friend that is going to get tracks and put them on a Honda Rubicon this year, so we will see what the additional cc's do for you. The people I talked to all recommended Tatou four season tracks. If I had not bought the Can Am tracks, I would have bought the Tatous.
I love getting away from the crowds & found some great places to fish that I would never otherwise be able to get into. I never had a bad day of ice fishing last year!
Go for the gusto!
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When I first started ice fishing I bought a 4-wheeler. I ended up only loaning it out to friends who hunted when there was no ice. I do all my other fishing from the boat. I invested in a couple of old used sleds and have no problem letting them sit all summer. I might have $2000 between the trailer and two sleds combined invested. I paid $5000 for the atv brand new. My sleds are not state of the art but they do tow my stuff out on the ice and off also. I guess alot would depend on how much you and your family would actually use them, and if you had the room to store something for 9 months out of the year.
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Can you have overkill when it comes to CC'c? I have the Tim Taylor (Home Improvement) attitude when it comes to more power. That's probably the reason I ride a motorbike with a bigger engine than some cars. Unfortunately I just don't get to ride the bike much anymore so I'm thinking of using that to pay for whatever I end up getting, whether it be sleds or ATV/UTV with tracks. I do have a couple of ATVs so one will probably have to go to get one with tracks. The biggest one I have right now is only 400cc 4x4.
So if you know of anyone looking for a big powerful street bike let me know. Otherwise I'm going to have to look into renting a sled or something to get out onto the ice this year.
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Not a bad idea to rent first and see which you like best. I'm sure those machines with tracks would be great if you have the coin to afford them. I have too many other places to put my limited funds and I also live on the farm so I picked a tool that works for both. Good luck on finding the one that will work for you. One advantage of the UTV no one has mentioned is it has a bed to put your gear in and you may not have to pull a sled which could save tip overs and scattered gear. I've been known to forget I'm pulling a sled and drive a little to fast and cut one too many donuts. It's a little rough on your gear. I'm trying to grow up but sometimes ya just have to have a little fun. Later J
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an atv with trax would be my first choice if money were not an issue,but a good older snowmobile would be the best cheapest choise,in ut there is a lot of snow on the ice and an atv will some times get bogged down and stuck in warmer or afternoon conditions ie. at the berry,but once againif there is no or very little snow you can,t use a sled due to cooling issues,theres always a catch[  ]
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I remember a few years back, we were fishing Anvil Draw at FG. There were a couple of guys from Star Valley, Wyo driving their pickups with enclosed trailer out on the ice. Nice set up, there were cooking lunch and had the trailer heated. Set it up so the rear door faced away from the wind. Sit in the trailer, out of the wind, sipping some coffee and watching their poles. When a fish took the bait, they would walk over and reel them in. They actually did quit well.
Another option to consider, get on the right ice and drive your vehicle out on the ice!
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Ill admit there have been times where I've been trudging out onto a lake and watched people blow by me on a snowmobile and had a little jealousy.
However, I've found that at lakes like Strawberry, late in the season, even the snowmobiles struggle as the snow gets deep.
As an atv owner, I can access any part of the lake they can when the season is early and the snow is not very deep, but I usually fish in locations that I can walk to fairly quickly and don't like the bother of loading/unloading my atv along with all of my other stuff..
For all year usage, I would say hands down an atv is the better value. I can ride it 12 months of the year where the snowmobile is limited to the snowy months. So if you like to access remote locations on large lakes during the winter quickly, then the snowmobile is the way to go, otherwise atv all the way.
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I have tracks on my UTV for ice fishing and they are the only way to go. I will attempt to attach picture. If you are thinking of tracks for ATV let me know as I can same you hundreds on a brand new set of Tatou tracks.
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Thanks. Unfortunately, I think my current ATV is a bit underpowered for tracks. It is a 400cc 4x4 Arctic Cat. Whichever way I go (sleds, ATV or UTV with tracks) I will likely need to buy a machine as well.
With as little riding time as I get anymore, I think I have finally convinced myself to part with my street bike. Now I just need to find the right person.....someone with a good tracked ATV, UTV, or sled package to trade for a great street bike. If I sold both the bike and the ATV I currently have I would have enough cash for the couple of UTVs I've seen sell on KSL recently that included tracks. The bike alone would have easily paid for the couple of tracked ATVs I've seen sell on there.
The ATV / UTV option is probably the best all-around, though not as fun as a snowmobile. I think it will all boil down to what I can find to deal on.
Thanks again for all of the replies.
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Sleds are nice and the Yamaha 4 stoke sleds don't take much maintenance and can be found pretty cheap on ksl . But a ATV like you said will provide year round use. one more option would be the Japanese Kei class with tracks they can be had in 2 or 4 door even a small van version. power steering heater and a bed an ice sled would fit in perfect.
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