ONEIDA LAKE DIEHARDS

[KingPerch]

Thinking of getting a snowmobile for just icefishing. Never owned a snowmobile before. Does anyone know the best one to use for icefishing?

I’ve always ran fan cooled sleds. Liquid cooled sleds need snow to help keep them from overheating. Lightly studded track and good carbides on the skis. On the trips where there is ice and no snow, chances of heating up the sliders in the suspension can happen. A squirt bottle of lube is carried to help the sliders from sticking to the metal clips on the track. Taking your time and running slower speeds always helps. The fish don’t care how fast you get there.😁

[DeadEyez]

Glad Mrs Filet is home and doing better Fred.

[BeenPerchin315]

Thinking of getting a snowmobile for just icefishing. Never owned a snowmobile before. Does anyone know the best one to use for icefishing?

I would have to agree with kingperch and and a good reason my opinion is a fan cooled sled is 80-100# lighter on average than the comparable liquid cooled.
Other than fan cooled a cheap one would be next to my list.
I believe the Polaris sport series (lxt) has the fan cooled sled not sure if the adventure series of the newer stuff offers it or not. Sport series is from back early/mid 2000s. Lxt/adventure is the modern. Not sure what they were labeled as in between. 550cc motor common
Skidoo used to have a good setup skandic, but  stopped putting their 550f motor in that. Not sure if they still have the fan motors but the skandic is a great sled if you can find one. The older sleds they had a 500f 380f others too. Not to sure on other models of skidoo.
Best luck
Perchin

[mbart]

F&R, wishing your wife a speedy recovery.

[reeleyz]

F&R, wishing your wife a speedy recovery.

X2

And I almost feel bad for the fish when your shoulder heals up Fred!

[reeleyz]

I would have to agree with kingperch and and a good reason my opinion is a fan cooled sled is 80-100# lighter on average than the comparable liquid cooled.
Other than fan cooled a cheap one would be next to my list.
I believe the Polaris sport series (lxt) has the fan cooled sled not sure if the adventure series of the newer stuff offers it or not. Sport series is from back early/mid 2000s. Lxt/adventure is the modern. Not sure what they were labeled as in between. 550cc motor common
Skidoo used to have a good setup skandic, but  stopped putting their 550f motor in that. Not sure if they still have the fan motors but the skandic is a great sled if you can find one. The older sleds they had a 500f 380f others too. Not to sure on other models of skidoo.
Best luck
Perchin

I have a 2015 Polaris Indy LXT 550 fan cooled with a 2 up seat. Perfect machine for the ice and it was one of the cheaper sleds with a 2 up seat and rack back then.

[Arkangel]

Icefishermanny...

Have you checked out a Snowdog?  Lots of vids on YouTube.

I am a lifetime family snowmobiler - I've owned single and touring - liquid and fan...and I loved every one of them. 

I "aged out" of the sport a few years back - and sold everything - lock stock and barrel and I dove headfirst into an old love of mine - ice fishing.

I quickly discovered I needed a machine as I tend to fish larger bodies of water.

At first - I lamented the fact that I sold my sled(s) and trailer...but I'm at a stage where I'm trying to simplify and de-clutter.

Then I discovered the Snowdog.

No insurance - No registration.  Bonus!

And because you can haul them around in a truck or minivan (or do what I do and use a receiver hitch hauler).  This also means - no trailer - no insurance and no inspection (or maintenance) on trailer either.  Double Bonus. 

Stores very easily in small spaces indoors or in a shed.  Very Compact and light.

They do a great job towing.  Want evidence?  Midwest guide services use them to haul multiple customers and all their gear out onto Large Lakes like Lake of the Woods in Minnesota.

They have smaller (compact) and larger models...10 HP or (like mine) 13.5 HP with 420 CC - fan cooled, low maintenance, easy (electric) start with throttle and brake assembly...they even have a headlight.

Last year - you could NOT find one - they sold out.  This year they have better availability.

They are overall 2/3 less (new) than a snowmobile and only weigh about 330#

Check them out...and if that doesn't work - contact me at end of season as we're retiring and moving south.

~Arkangel

[icefishermanny]

Arkangel I appreciate the post on the snow dog. I actually tried to buy one by me at a dealer and they gave me the run around so I was looking for a snowmobile now for fishing. Another closer dealer is far away and I wasn’t driving just to get the run around again. Appreciate the snowdog recommendation tho!

[Vinny1892]

I figured the ice wasnt good or sketchy at best . Ill wait some more. Thank u

[yankmyline]

They're fishing out of Sylvian Beach.

[filetandrelease]

 Thanks all for the well wishes everyone

[KingPerch]

I would have to agree with kingperch and and a good reason my opinion is a fan cooled sled is 80-100# lighter on average than the comparable liquid cooled.
Other than fan cooled a cheap one would be next to my list.
I believe the Polaris sport series (lxt) has the fan cooled sled not sure if the adventure series of the newer stuff offers it or not. Sport series is from back early/mid 2000s. Lxt/adventure is the modern. Not sure what they were labeled as in between. 550cc motor common
Skidoo used to have a good setup skandic, but  stopped putting their 550f motor in that. Not sure if they still have the fan motors but the skandic is a great sled if you can find one. The older sleds they had a 500f 380f others too. Not to sure on other models of skidoo.
Best luck
Perchin

I have the skidoo mxz 380f. Nice light machine that does a good job of towing.

Filetandrelease has the 550 tundra. Maybe he could chime in with some info on it.

[filetandrelease]

 I’m pleased with my old tundra 550 fan cool lots of power , I  bought it strictly for ice fishing , what ever brand or model, I suggest a long track sled , go easy and lube you clips , I got 10 years out of my first set of rails and I run bare ice
 Lots of guys are buying sno dogs , cheaper and no lube needed not fast but get you out and back 
 

[trapper2000]

Thinking of getting a snowmobile for just icefishing. Never owned a snowmobile before. Does anyone know the best one to use for icefishing?

   


yes your friends

[iceman260]

F& R glad the wife is home, hope for speedy recovery.

[redshanty]

Thinking of getting a snowmobile for just icefishing. Never owned a snowmobile before. Does anyone know the best one to use for icefishing?

.  Whatever you get i’d suggest it has reverse and if possible, electric start.   The reverse will save you back from lugging off the trailer, getting unstuck, and missing a trail and having to back up.   

[reeleyz]

.  Whatever you get i’d suggest it has reverse and if possible, electric start.   The reverse will save you back from lugging off the trailer, getting unstuck, and missing a trail and having to back up.

X2 on reverse, I love it!!!

[SeanP]

Got the wife home from a 2.5 week Stretch at the hospital , she’s on the mend , then I buggered my shoulder
 Now I’m grounded due to a GD cortisone shoulder flare for a couple more days , those fish better not have an appetite as I have a lot of fish to make up as my buds are killing me
Lmao
 For the guys out be careful and post pics

My best to your wife and your shoulder!!

SeanP

[XC 600]

Finally got home before dark, this is Lewis Point, decide for yourself. Hope things are going well F&R. I use a 03 ski Doo 550 fan. Studs, electric start and rev, great sled.

[filetandrelease]

 Looks rough

[KingPerch]

X2 on reverse, I love it!!!

x3….

[oneida1]

was starting to see some open water again today at sunset...ugh

[trapper2000]

it's green  outside .....i'm thinking about taking up golf

[filetandrelease]

it's green  outside .....i'm thinking about taking up golf

Shame on you
 

[hunts2long]

 

[2muchleft]

Extended forecast is looking better and better for last few days of January and start of Feb.

[Steeeeeeeeevee]

on the last few frames of the chapman cam does it look like the ice is moving to anybody else?
https://owc.enterprise.earthnetworks.com/OnlineWeatherCenter.aspx?aid=7300

[Rugburn]

It does appear to be moving! Yikes

[filetandrelease]

 There is a shack out there

[deerefishyfishy]

There is a shack out there

Crazy *****! There ain't a fish in that lake worth that much!!