DanD

Yes I usually do; but wanted to try someplace different. The ice reports for the East side sounded better; plus the last I read about the snow depth on the ice was minimal on the East side. That was of course before the dump of snow that hit the lake Friday night. LOL Dan.

Well lets just say the next time it HAILS in downtown Beaverton; this operator's equipment is under cover. Wouldn't want someones else's junk damaging his equipment. LOL After going through all the crap of getting the hut out on the ice; I had a great time. Hearing my 70 year old brother in-law, hollering "tip-up" and running like a teenager for his line; it was like being kids again. Monday & Tuesday, I was out there by myself and I couldn't believe how fast the time went; it had to be one of the most relaxing times I have ever had. Dan.

Just back from a few days on Lake Simcoe. The fishing was decent; not crazy one after another but steady. Three days fishing and I lost count of the perch brought in, along with a number of herring in the mix. I did keep a limit of perch, which gave me 11lbs of fillets; so they were all a good size. It was also an educational weekend for me and my trailer/hut building project. The way I built the trailer, too be strong enough to handle the roads, is just too heavy to pull through wet, heavy snow; at least it is for my 500 Ski doo. Only made it 2Klm out and all but smoked the belt on the machine. Couldn't do anything about it, so we set up there in 16 feet of water. The day wasn't a complete loss, we caught a few fish and I got to meet Sinker and his wife, when they stopped at the hut; on their way back to shore. ( Sinker. It was bad fuel that caused the running issue with my sled. Drained and refilled with fresh and that misfire disappeared ) The next morning I made arrangements with a guy too pull the hut out to the perch grounds. A big thank you to Justin at the bait shack and Brian with his side by side tracked machine. We set up a few hundred yards off of Tim Hale's tree line, close to a pack of other huts; in 30 some odd feet of water. Going back up Saturday, get a few more hours in fishing and then hopefully get Brain to drag the hut back in for me. Side note. I will never set foot into the hut operator's trailer or ever spend a dime at his operation; that is at the access point in Beaverton. Arrogant A hole!!! I went in with a hundred dollar bill in my hand, to ask if I could hire him to haul the hut out for me. this is the owner's response "I'm not hooking my equipment to someone else's F%#&ing junk" OK a simple NO would have sufficed???? Dan.

Very sad news. Don't know what else to say. You have my condolence. Dan.

Found a different vid, that explains the charger's operations. Dan.

Battery I would go with the highest amp-hour, in the group size you want; that you can afford. The charger that I have and use here in the shop is the Solar Pro-Logix PL2310. You can get one of these on-line or at some of the auto parts stores. They range in price from around $60-$100.00. The nice thing with these chargers is that you connect it, plug it in, tell it what you want it to do and forget about it. It will not hurt your battery and it'll keep it at its optimum charge. Dan.

Sounds like a good day to me. The first ling I caught, I jumped back from the hole; didn't know what that ugly thing was. LOL I'm hoping to get up there next week, during the week. I'll PM you the day(s) and time; if I can sneak out of the shop for a few days. It's a 6 man hut, so if you wanted to invite your friend Jim; I'd be good with that? I still need to call Tim and ask if (for a fee) I can use his access point & trail out to the perch grounds. Dan

Thanks The less paper, the less I have to loose or wonder where I safely put it away. Dan.

Being that I might leave my hut out on the ice, overnight this coming week; I went on-line and registered the hut with the MNR. I know about placing the numbers on the hut; but should I keep a copy of the registration confirmation in the hut? It has all my contact info on it and it would be proof that I didn't just make up the numbers? What do you people think? I would get the conformation letter laminated, if the consensus was to have it with me. Dan.

I understand what Dara is saying; an investigation to determine that there wasn't any form of negligence on the operators part. Things like possibly the operator new it was chancy to cross the crack there; but decided to trim off an extra 15-20 minute ride to where it was known to be "safe"? I have a good friend, that there's no way in the world I would get onto a sled if he were driving. The guy is nuts, taking way to many chances. Who knows, the driver of the bombardier might be related to my buddy and should not be driving anything with passengers? LOL Dan.

Great report!!!! Dan.

I'm thinking 800-1000 lbs; by adding up all the individual parts I put into it? I've been wanting to take it over to flying J to get it weighed; if/when I do I'll post the weight. My 500 Touring Ski doo pulled it last year with no issues and there were 3 guys in the hut. Dan.

Glad the day worked out well! Thanks for posting the report. I'll PM you when I'm back from my trip and see if we can hook up for a day out. Dan.

As long as the kids have a place to dry off and warm up; do you think it'll matter to them there's a bit of water on the ice? LOL Dan

When mine and my buddy's kids were young and got board of fishing; we had kites for them to fly. Costco used to (maybe still do?) sell kites in the shapes of sailing ships, race cars, by-planes you name it. Kids had a ball with them. When they got tired out, from all the running around, it was a bonus for us; they'd come back into the hut and peacefully fish. LOL Out on the ice is the best place to fly a kite, there's always some form of wind and no trees or hydro wires to get hung up on. We did tie off the tag end of the kite's string to the kid's wrist; there's no trees or hydro wires to get hung up on. LOL Dan.

Thanks Terry! I've seen some of your MacGyver builds/fixes and it's a complement coming from you. Dan.

Still playing with this hut/trailer; and I'm pretty much done; other then cleaning up some wiring that I burnt, welding the new frame to. LOL When I get back from my trip to the Dominican Rep: I hope there's enough ice to get out with it? Here's a few pics of it down on its frame. This was last weekend project; painted the frame/fenders and the complete underside. Dan.

Got home last night and the wife tells me that she found a last minute deal on a holiday trip to the Dominican Rep. So don't think I have forgotten Cliff; but it'll be Feb. by the time I get back and I'll get something arranged then. Now I need to find my telescopic pole and my travel gear; man I wish I put stuff away when I'm done with them. LOL Dan.

If I get permission; it'll be a done deal! Dan.

Family Ice Cabins, I think is ran by Dave, who lives about 3 or 4 houses from the end of Gilford road. I haven't rented his huts; but have used his pay for use parking, in front of his house. Very nice guy and his kids are great helping with everything. His little parking lot does fill up in a hurry; but I leave my keys with him, so he can jockey the truck around. Been doing it for years and never had any issues. If anyone wants his number, send a PM? Dan.

I think he might be talking about post #61? Dan.

I called Tim's today and asked (for a fee) if I could park my truck on his property and use his trails to haul my hut out. Don't trust blazing my own trail, this soon after ice up. The lady on the phone wants me to call back after 7 tonight and talk to Tim. She did say that the weekends would be no go for sure; because they're short on parking as it is. She doesn't see a problem weekdays; but I need to confirm this with Tim. If it works out Cliff; there's a ride and a spot in my hut; that you'd be more then welcome to join us? It won't be this week, need to squirt some paint on the drop down frame; but possibly next, if the ice holds over the weekend? It'll likely just be my brother in-law and myself going; so there's lots of room. I'd like to meet and wet a line with one of the most respected guys on the board. Dan.

http://www.timhalesfishhuts.com/index.php/our-rates His rates are very competitive. As for gear just pick up a combo at Crappy tire; then once you decide whether you like ice fishing or not you can expand on your equipment? Dan.

A few years back I bought one of the knock off systems, I found on Ebay. I was pretty impressed with it, in the shallow (10-15') waters of Long Point Bay. Went to lake Simcoe and ran it down to about 50'; it lasted about 10 minutes and the screen went dark. Brought the camera in to find it full of water and all the circuitry shorted out. I couldn't have lost that $200.00 any faster at the casino. Dan.

Good on you Lew! Its been almost 40 years since I've lived in the country and the older I get the more I miss it. Both my kids have both moved out to the country; I'm so envious when they tell me how many deer and other wildlife that they get to come visit. Oh well someday I may talk my wife into selling and moving?????? Please keep posting your encounters; I very much enjoy the pics. Dan.