limeyangler

Wow...youguys are getting more winter than us. Yup...slushy start for sure...only hope is that not much snow interest long term forecast here...but we all know how reliable the longterm forecast is We might check some smaller walleye or brookie lakes next weekend.....where and what you starting with? As for boots.....I have a 3 year old pair of Sorels...never had cold feet...like yours awkward to walk in...but standing by your line for a few hours andthey are wicked warm. There is a silver lining in getting some snow here.....I get my new snowmachines on Thursday....Test ride Friday on the lawn!

Wow...youguys are getting more winter than us. Yup...slushy start for sure...only hope is that not much snow interest long term forecast here...but we all know how reliable the longterm forecast is We might check some smaller walleye or brookie lakes next weekend.....where and what you starting with? As for boots.....I have a 3 year old pair of Sorels...never had cold feet...like yours awkward to walk in...but standing by your line for a few hours andthey are wicked warm. There is a silver lining in getting some snow here.....I get my new snowmachines on Thursday....Test ride Friday on the lawn!

Awesome post! Those boots look really good. We got snow last night....same night the lake locked up Oh well.....looking forward to your reports Chad.

Great intro....welcome to the site Chris.....where do you ice fish?

LOL Rick.......at this rate i will have to dewinterize the lawn tractor and give the yard another buzz cut! Hard to believe there is not a single flake on the ground yet eh?

almost peed watching....funny as hell

"hey boys....we're gonna need a bigger auger" :thumbsup_anim:

Great video! FREEKIN PIGGY WALLEYE!

I wish i could be more confident of the 600ACE.....but i dont want to buy what will be the last sled purchase for a long ...long time and end up underpowered. The E-techs do seem nice and really rip as you say....even though they are good on gas i think the market is heading in the 4 stroke direction. 19mpg on a 1200 is good enough for me. Thanks. I checked the stats.....its actually the E-tech that needs premium. Thanks a million Paul....same track W/L as the 2013.....the 4 Tech 1200 is 35lbs heavier than yours. Fantastic to get your input....actual rider reviews...cant get better than that. It really looks like a great sled....will call some dealers on Monday morning...see what they can do. We dont get much bare ice here, plenty of snow right up till a couple weeks before ice out. All i know is that i am getting a lot of feedback sugesting the 600ACE may be a little underpowered...maybe fine by myself not towing anything...but with a 3 man flip up with 200lbs+ of gear and a passenger...not so sure. Like i said my old XLT (600lb) could power through some insanely deep slush with a passenger and my flip up.....only ever got stuck once...that was from a standing start.....as long as you pinned 'it as soon as you felt the slush...you were good....so i'm more confident and practised at avoiding slush hazards the horsepower way.....the 4 Tech 1200 has plenty of HP and some awesome flotation with the 20"x156" track...not to mention the articulating rear suspension for backing up in deep snow (slush?). I dont want to get too obsessed with the 'slush' factor in my decision making process....but since i dont 'trail ride' and ice fishing is what its for it high on the list of essential capabilities. It does not harm that it is reprted to ride almost as nicely as a touring model, my wife and jack will appreciate that. I'll be fine then.....the wife hardly ever comes out with me and i dont think i even have as many as 3 friends....lol

A real man would have matching pink gloves! Oh yeah....awesome fishes too as usual...great post.

I hear ya Sinker...but I think it's a trade off between more likely to bog down in slush on the tundra but relatively easier to get out as opposed to less likely to get stuck but harder to get out when you do with the Expedition. Hey Paul, what are the specs on your sled...track length...weight....hp?

Nice I'm guessing 3 weeks till we can get out here....bring it on!

Ok. I think i'm done. After a lots of thought and advice i think i think i have my sled. I thought i was going to get an Skidoo Expedition Sport with a 600ACE engine (4 stroke). However, I noticed while doing some research that the ACE600 might be a bit underpowered at 60hp. This was confirmed to me by a good fishing buddy from Kenora, he has info that the performance of that engine...while outstanding for its class, performed more like a 400. 60hp is not feeble by any means....but i just fear SLUSH! I want to have the power to get through with my hefty Otter 3 man shelter and a passenger. Anyway.....I kinda ended up back looking at the utility sleds.....heavy but powerful with lots of flotation. I'm kinda leaning towards the Expedition LE Rotax 4-Tec 1200 Not much heavier than my old XLT (67lbs heavier to be exact) but it has 130HP (40 hp more than the XLT). Granted it is geared differently and I wont be hitting 90mph......but i'm thinking the xtra HP and the 20" x 154" track and wide skis will deal with heavy slush as good as if not better than my old XLT (15"x133.5"). Advice here would be good....i need edumacating on the horsepower thing....is more HP even with less speed capability going to mean better possibilities of 'POWERING' through slush? What I have realised is that to get my 'perfect' sled that will do everything i want it to i.e.Lightweight, 2-up, on/off trail/breaking trail capable, fuel efficient, good stability and slush friendly, I can Have just about all that except the 'lightweight' aspect. To offset the weight go for power is my train of thought.

Maybe ...maybe not...its fun guessing though....and i cant help my optimism...i live to fish! Either way...its rare not to be on the ice by the end of the first week in December

Bah! Humbug! Cool Jd...looking forward to getting on the ice! Where you at Joey? I,my thinking we will be on the ice by first week in December....secretly holding out for a week earlier than that. Awesome Dana..a convert! Yeah...dumb as hecan be is is a very handsome beast.

Lololol...come and get the dumb mutt...he's all yours! Just kidding (only just)

Believe it or not Gord....I too look at the long range forecast Like I said...wind will get rid of what we have probably....but first cold snap we get now and the lake is done....she,so cold and it won't take much..and the temps in the near future will not be warming the lake.....that's for sure.

Hey...dont hate on me....hate that Dave dude from Yellowknife...he's already fishing on the ice.....gimme a break!

To be honest its not that cold here last niight was the first time its been -10C since last spring. we have had a long autumn this year...turned cold in september and never really recovered so the water has been close to freezing point now for about a month....did not take much to skim the lake.

Hi all, Woke this morning to see the lake froze over coast to coast so to speak. Was a thin crust, but it means the lakes are ready to go as soon as we get a cold snap. Wind forecast for tonite might undo some of this....but hopefully we will have a nice early start to the icefishing season....earliest i have seen since i moved here 6 years ago was November 23rd.....actually on the ice fishing on that day. Jack had a blast throwing rocks and it was good to see our new pup...stoopid as he can sometimes be....was smart enough not to chase rocks and such onto thin ice....and responded to my commands to stay off when he seemed determined to try his luck! Kicked a hole in the ice and a little minnow like fish popped out on the ice...I have included a picture...any thoughts what it is? Anyhoo.....BRING ON THE ICE....cant fricken hardly wait already! <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WzrQ5GkrEAQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Fired the Auger today...fired up good without much effort. Good to go. Here's wishing everyone a successful icefishing season....LET THE GAMES BEGIN (soon)

Way to go Mike....looks like a dream come true! Awesome pics.

Not great news...man that sucks. Sure helps put my 'stresses' in perspective though. best wishes to you all.

Surely something like this to get it to the lake http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/VehicleRacksCarriers/RoofRacks/PRD~0401076P/SportRack+Complete+Roof+Rack+System+1.jsp?locale=en

Thanks lakerguy, I've been glued to dootalk for a good couple of weeks now...lol...even registered.

Ok , I have to admit i have no idea how those numbers translate into stability on the trail/lake etc. What i can say is that the criteria you list are exactly what i have been mulling over since the beginning of the 'sledquest'. I had a touring model before so am familiar with the stability of a wider ski stance machine. I also appreciated the comfort factors. I dont really travel too far but that could change so it has to be reasonably comfortable. I carry passengers regularly so 2 -up is a must. Weight of the sled is definitely a factor...so the lighter the better...i got my old touring model stuck a few times both on my own and with company.....not fun to get unstuck in either situation. As far as breaking trail goes...i dont. But thats only because i never had the sled to attempt that....I would love to have that option with any new sled i got....that is the main reason i am leaning (no pun intended) towards the Tundra LT I love the Yamaha's but dont want to go with the heavier touring models. I have always loved the venture Lite, and always thought that would be my sled if i ever found myself in a position of buying a new or newer sled. However, now i am in that position and i actually started to research whats available.....while i still like those models i am liking the ACE600 more than the 499CC of the yamahas. So.....why oh why cant the Tundra have a slightly wider ski stance!!!!! I am not at all worried about the 'tippy' factor if it was just me riding....i would learn to adapt and no doubt become a better and more confident rider when i mastered the technique. What worries me is having my wife or child riding with me on a tippy machine. So another option is the Expedition Sport...with a ACE600 thrown in, adjustable ski stance of 38.4" or 40.1" with a more conventional suspension and the same 16" x 156" track as the Tundra....its a 2-up touring utility crossover...and still pretty light at 537lbs (Tundra is 505lbs). Only thing is there does not appear to be anything for the passenger to hold onto...and no grips option for that model in accessories!!!! I'll tell you what though....gotta love this forum...so handy to have all this help and advice while trying to decide on my purchase...AWESOME....thanks