Hi Julian
It really depends on where the Lakes are you want to IceFish.
Simcoe is one thing and Temagami another. Back Lakes or near well used access points?
Simcoe is unique as it has many many travel conditions.
Glare Ice, 2-6" new snow on Glare Ice, Drifts, Deep Snow,Slush,Cracks,Shore Conditions,travel to Lake from Parking,etc etc.
Ideally you need a Sled and a ATV.
However for one or the other for me its the ATV.
I can get out in most conditions, in some conditions its much better than the Sled.
I can plow my driveway and I can use it in the summer.
As for chains for deep snow. When I first got the Bike I thought I needed chains. However I quickly learned, for going thru deep snow, I did not like them. All they did was dig ya down deeper!
I changed them out, and put on some fairly aggressive Mud tires, not the huge lugs! This works the best in deep snow and you can still put the chains on for the glare ice conditions.
What Bike are ya looking at?
Rick