Ammondude and I did our second (annual?) overnight at Henry’s Lake in Island Park, ID, on Dec 19-20, 2016.
Preparation began shortly after last year’s trip (see the original post here:
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=325954.msg3440566#msg3440566). I had new wiring for the snowmobile trailer all year, but the week before the trip there I was on a creeper underneath the trailer rewiring it at 6 degrees F. Most of the other prep comprised buying new stuff. The hardest part was the second snowmobile. I thought I had my older sled running, but just before the trip it died and I didn’t have the time to get it going again. Long story short, I bought another snowmobile! The “new” one is a ’97 Polaris Indy Trail 500 with an X-Tra 10 and longer track with 2-inch paddles. I normally like 2-ups for ice fishing, but I was determined that nothing was going to mess up our trip.
If I was going to tow an extra sled (cargo sled behind my ice fishing sled, behind my snowmobile), my ice fishing sled needed a rear hitch. I found one with a large flat plate that attached nicely to the bottom of the sled:
After leaving a little later than planned, we arrived at our parking spot around 2:00 p.m. It was about 11 degrees F. Before long, the snowmobiles were unloaded and the sleds were packed up. I towed my fishing sled, with a covered Jet Sled XL behind it, and the Ammondude just a covered Jet Sled XL.
With our desired access road snowed in, we attempted to try a new route to get on the lake, based on advice from a friend. The road was way too plowed and we ended up pulling our new Jet Sleds over some nasty gravel. Yikes! And then we discovered we had made a wrong turn and we ended up on a private neighborhood road. With daylight waning, we gently trespassed onto the Lake. My apologies and thanks to the nice folks of that little subdivision. We pulled up to our exact, intended destination at about 3:00 p.m.
It was great to load up once, drive to camp, and set up—no shuttle runs. The Jet Sled XL cargo sleds with covers and HD hitches were terrific! Shappell says the covers can fit over a five gallon bucket, but they would not fit over a bunch of them. Even though the sides of the cover didn’t quite reach the sled when stretched over the load, they worked very, very well. The hitch I had installed on the back of my fishing sled also worked perfectly. The ice fishing sled can be a little tippy, but no problems.
After passing three fishermen on the way to camp, we saw and heard no-one the rest of the trip. Here is a look at our camp:
And a glance or two inside:
Camp was setup with about 30 minutes of light to spare. Quickfish 6, bunkbed cots, Big Buddy heater, etc. Time to fish! I almost instantly caught a smaller rainbow/cutthroat hybrid. Cool! I quickly released it to replace it with something bigger that never came. Darkness quickly set in and the fishing turned off.
We shortly plugged in our experiment for the trip, a Quarrow 90-LED submersible light, and jumped into the QuickFish 6 for some evening fishing. On the camera you could see the zooplankton migrating into the light. We saw a few fish but got no bites. With the light on, we could see our jigs without resorting to IR mode on the camera.
Did the light make a difference? We don’t know. For sure, it drew a cloud of zooplankton, but we’re not sure the rest of the food chain noticed.
For light inside the shelter, we tried out two Etekcity LED lanterns. At only 30 lumens I had my doubts, but the price was very good at Amazon, and the reviews were positive. They are great little units that reportedly go 10-12 hours on a set of 3 AA batteries. In the end, we agreed that two more of them, or something brighter, would be in order.
Time to warm up a bit and make supper. We cranked up the Big Buddy heater to high and turned on the fan and WOW! Where the Portable Buddy would take the edge off the cold, the Big Buddy made it simply warm in there. We’re talking strip off layers warm. As the ceiling defrosted, we wiped it with one of our beach towels, and with the heater fan on, the moving air kept the ceiling dry. Nice. The towel-the-ceiling thing turns out to be a once-per-warming-session deal. The beach towels were a good move. I went to put up the CO detector only to discover it was still in the bag with the other heater, at home. D’oh!
Instead of the Sterno stove we used a tiny propane/butane job that did amazingly well. Our traditional dinner of smoked brisket sandwiches on onion rolls was very nice. Once again we heated the brisket in a bag, in a pan of water, then used the hot water to make Tang. Aaaah.
After fishing a while longer, we stepped outside to brush our teeth, etc. It was clear and the stars were AMAZING. You could see the milky way so clearly.
We liked the floor panels so much last year that we took 12. But we only used 6. Four under the cot to keep it dry from below, and two on which to stand and change clothing.
With the heater on, we changed into clean dry everything, turned off the propane, and jumped into bed. When we had set up the bunkbeds we discovered that the new extensions to increase the space between them had never been added to the cot bags and had been left at home. D’oh! We used the exact same sleeping system as last year, and it is a lock for use in the future. So warm and comfy. Once again we found no need for the heater overnight.
I was awoken at 4:45 a.m. by a bell and turned on a light to see a pole bouncing slightly. When I got to it I had to break 1/4 inch of ice in the hole. By the time I freed the line well enough the fish was gone. It had taken the mealworm off my jig. I rebaited and went back to sleep. A single bite overnight seems to be our established pattern.
With no alarm set, I awoke again about 15 minutes before sunrise. Getting dressed with the heater on is still amazingly comfortable. Ammondude was so comfy that he slept another hour while I got setup and fishing.
The day was slow but produced a couple of cutts for me between 2 and 3 lbs.
The Ammondude got a 3.5 lb. cut and a 4.25 lb. hybrid. Very pretty.
Here is a video from the Ammondude of camp and our bed setup:
https://youtu.be/kSm9qjJrNgIFor at-camp restroom, we had opted for the Luggable Loo. It is not the most stable thing in the world when sitting on ice and snow, and the opening is uncomfortably small. But using it was better than a 4-mile round trip to the nearest outhouse. I used it once and I’m glad we had it. I’m also glad that nobody was around because I just used it outside! The Double Doodie bags you can buy for it work very well. It comes with some blue crystals in a small packet. Don’t put that packet in your pocket unless you want a blue pocket. Just sayin’.
The hole outside for the submersible light had been covered with a Cabela’s (ThermaSeat) ice hole cover. As we packed up we found that the hole was still not frozen.
Packed up and ready to head out at about 3:00 p.m., we elected not to head back through the little subdivision. I knew of a public access about a mile on the other side. It is not used nor plowed in the winter, but we were on snowmobiles, after all.
We found it, got up the bank OK to the parking area, and surveyed the route. It turned out to be a one-lane dirt road up the hillside. But hey, we were on snowmobiles. So off we go. Partway up the road I realize that the road has drifted in and I am climbing up the hill in about 3 feet of powder pulling two heavy sleds behind. The machine slows. I gun it and hang on for the wild ride. About 150 yards from the top, the snowmobile slows and stops. Stuck! Turning around I discover that the ice fishing sled has tipped over and is making a great anchor.
We got out of there, but it went something like this: Unhitch the sleds and break trail to the top. Turn around (take the snowmobile back down), unload the extra gear off the ice fishing sled and tow it to the top. Go back and tow the Jet Sled to the top. Go back and get the extra gear and carry that to the top. Go back and make sure the Ammondude makes it up the hill. Hook everything back up and continue the trip out. After managing my layers carefully for two days, I was by that time sweating up a storm. That new sled with the extra track and paddles had saved the day.
Here is a look at the caravan as we returned to the truck:
In all, a grand adventure and pinnacle experience for us.
Identified improvements from last year:Two snow machines: A must and the new sled saved our bacon.
More cargo space: Jet Sled XLs with covers and HD hitches are two thumbs up.
More cooler space: The second Igloo cooler was perfect.
More heat: We love the Big Buddy heater and the cute 11-lb cylinder to go with it. Total propane usage was only .75 gallons.
Bunk bed extensions: Well, they’re packed with the cots now.
Bigger wipe-the-wall towels: Two beach towels were great.
Two full-size action packers: This was just right for storing all layers but bibs and coats, overnight.
At-the-camp restroom option: The Luggable Loo did the job and it weighs nothing.
To do Better Next TimeGet the blasted extensions into the cot bags (done).
Get the CO detector into the right case (done).
Pack some paper towels in the kitchen bag.
Leave the spare propane tank at home.
Take fewer floor panels (like 6).
Cover the inside holes overnight.
More light (see above).
Get an earlier start to enable afternoon fishing on day 1.
If we return to Henry’s, use the easy access up the shore and ride the shoreline to our spot, rather than fight the more difficult (or private) access that is closer.
I still have my eye on an Eskimo Fatfish 9416i.
Our camp is still not mobile, but I think that is the best setup for us if we’re overnighting. And we’re still junior dudes compared to Drifter.
