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akaShag

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Posts posted by akaShag

  11. Family Fly-In Recommendation

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Big Cliff said:

    Thanks for the information Bill. I did start looking into it but it seems most of the trips offered involve "floating the river and camping out". At my age walking down to the dock and getting into the boat is an adventure lol. As a younger man I might have been able to handle something like this but not now. I need a quiet, comfortable place where I can fish without too much effort, have afternoon naps, and just relax. I have caught my share of monsters and enjoy the fight of a 1 lb speck as much as anything else I have ever caught. 😊

    Hearst Air Service offers float trips and trips in to Hawley Lake, where Albert's cabins are located:  https://www.hearstair.com/sutton-river-specs/

    I agree, Cliff, a float trip once would have been just the ticket, but those kind of activities are in my rear view mirror.  But the HAS Sutton River prices are north of what the OP was looking for....

    Doug

    • Like 1

  15. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Terry said:

    and couldn’t use it in deep snow 

    I am sure this would be the case.  same for an Argo without tracks, they just high-centre, wheels turn but the Argo stays where it is.  A Wilcraft has slightly more ground clearance, but a much longer wheelbase and yes for sure would be SOL in deep snow.

    • Like 1

  16. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, Terry said:

    They are very expensive and very slow 

    Less money than an Argo, top speed according to my buddy 40 kph.  My Argo cannot do 40 kph.  Different machines, for sure, and I agree that it would be a lot of money for an ice fishing machine.  My buddy was saying, the Americans are pimping them out, with bow-mount electric motors, power pole electric anchor pylons, etc etc and using them as bass boats but in swampy stuff.  Who knows, that would not appeal to me!

    It was a very cool experience to be out in that rig.

    Doug

    • Like 3

  17. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    That rig is completely amphibious (like an Argo), all wheel drive (like an Argo), but the rear tires especially provide more power in water than an Argo's wheels do.  The chassis is all aluminum and can be raised and lowered by hydraulics.  There are four holes in the floor for fishing, a superstructure very much like a pull-over ice hut, and an after-market diesel heater that keeps things toasty inside.  (Way too toasty for my liking, but I was a guest.)  One can ice fish without stepping out of the rig for anything.  It is a VERY neat rig.

    Doug

    • Like 2

  18. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by akaShag

    7 hours ago, CrowMan said:

    I saw someone towing a Wilcraft yesterday on the highway. First time I've seen one. Looks like the ultimate transportation solution for treacherous ice conditions.

    I think I know whose it was.........and what a coincidence, I opened up this thread to talk about it.  I was out in it today, and YES it does pull itself back up on the ice when it breaks through.  We did that twice today. 😲  The ice was a bit sketchy........

    Doug

    WILCraft.jpg

    • Like 2

  19. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Terry said:

    So if  it’s a 6x6 and I’m sure there is more then a square foot of tire on the ground it is at most 200  pounds per square ft. A good sized man will have  as he steps will put around the same weight per square foot

    im not going anywhere with this , just thought I would mention it. lol

    "Track pressure" for an Argo is a lot less than a man walking, AFAIK.

    But still, with a LOT of experience driving Argos, I do not take them onto thin ice.  I DID try this a few times, and the results were not inspirational....not with tires, and not with tracks.

    Doug

    • Like 2

  21. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, CrowMan said:

    I guess this is how you do it. It would seem to me that screwing in a bunch of carbide studs into the treads would be helpful too.

    My buddy has an Argo....great for getting into the back country that's swampy and full of beaver ponds. 

     

    That looks like Colin, who owns Sills Argo that produced the video apparently.  Not many people have more experience in an Argo than he does.    The Argo in the video has a rear winch installation, which is an  option (and which I did get).  Moving the winch requires serious effort, and in real life would be much harder, for me at least, than is shown. 

    The one time I was bogged in my very first Argo, and I anchored my spud bar to use as a strong point for the winch, my spud bar BENT.

    As I said previously, it is hellish difficult to get an Argo back up on ice once you break through.  But you won't drown.

    Doug

    • Like 2

  22. Simcoe ice rescue

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    18 hours ago, misfish said:

    Plunged is a bit of a over reaction and as the norm,the news relished the whole thing. It was an Argo that broke through. BROKE through the ice. It was floating there and unable to get out.

    Well said Terry and Lew. Crap happens.

    There was a report from an operator saying they were on a solid 6-8 inches of ice,but is warning that once you pass a crack in the area,it,s 2".

    I have driven Argos for years.  I bought the most recent one because they FLOAT, if I happen to go through the ice in it.  But from personal experience, it is VERY difficult to get an Argo (with wheels, or tracks, I have tried both), back onto ice if it has gone through.  As I have said a number of times, I won't drown but might die of hypothermia....

    And so far this year the Argo has sat in my garage.  We do not have enough ice that I feel safe taking it out.

    Doug

  24. Anybody else getting cabin fever?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Finally got out last Saturday,  The ice was sketchy where we wanted to go, like 2 to 2.5 inches, so we stayed on better ice (about 5 inches of white ice) and caught one dandy perch and a pike about 4 pounds.  Been out twice since, on better ice, and put a couple feeds of perch in the bucket.  Fresh perch, yum yum!

    Now we are having rain and plus temperatures............😟

    Doug

    • Like 3
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