IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Miscellaneous => Ice Fishing FAQ => Topic started by: dmm26 on Aug 27, 2014, 10:47 PM
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I'm assuming that with a larger sled, packed full of gear, your gonna wanna be pulling it with an atv or ski doo right?
Just wondering because I will more then likely have neither. I'm sure I could pull it myself, but really for how long? I'd rather not pull 100+ lbs of gear more than a mile or two by hand! I don't think anyway.
Advice?
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couple hundred feet if lucky.. how i do it is find some were that you can gain access threw either from road side parking or some other means close buy and hike in here is a Canadian lake map listing from a lot of the lake in Manitoba Canada . see link for maps they cost about $7.95 each ... that and if you got a gps and a maps to go with like programs for the gps. maybe study them and find close access to honey holes that may produce... crappie are going to be in the shallows 15-20 fow walleye deep and lake trout deeper walleye do hunt flats and weed lines or weedy edges for prey. like perch and minnows. you can set tip ups along weed edges. this is ware those books i suggested will help with studying these maps or any map and help figure out the lakes.. now would be a time to explore with canoe or boat to find weed edges etc ...on the lake that hold the fish you seek... if you got a gps then mark those locations best you can.
http://www.canadamapsales.com/en/catalogue/AnglingMaps/ManitobaLakes/ManitobaListing/index.html
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Solution Smitty sled..... http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=103927.0 this the main thread ...many other threads to explore happy building ....and yes they truly work ..important note you must have a 16 foot or so rope ...good waxed skis
other option is Hyfax installed on your sled I would still go with a Smitty sled first .I have a medium Otter sled ..very tough pulling loaded on its own ...now my Jet sled pulls much easier...add the Smitty and all equals out .
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yep, make a smitty sled. get a pair of ski's cheap, don't have to be anything special. One word to the wise, make it as wide as you can to keep from tipping over in rough terrain. The Smitty inspired sled I made tips over in deeper snow cuz it's too narrow.
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Also with the Smitty keep the weight towards the rear ...I made mine out of 2"x6"x12" for the risers and 2"x3" for the cross braces(saved a lil weight as opposed to 2x4) ..placed the back of the rear riser 1 foot from the end of the ski...with the cross brace's center approximately 14 or so inches from skis end ..the front riser placement is going to be based on ski length and preference ..but remember weight toward the rear ..not certain how high you can go with the riser ie: 2"x8" or 2"x 10" or 2"x12" before being top heavy gets to be a real concern ..I don't get that much snow (except this past season) to warrant a taller riser ...other location my differ...used mine on a 1/3 of a mile trek(very loaded w/gear) with such ease ...prior trips(no smitty) had to scale down quite a bit
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Well, if you have to pull it, get a harness.
I tried the Clam harness and broke it. Some guys use a deer drag harness. I was thinking about trying one from the fitness industry this season.
This one caught my eye...
http://www.fringesport.com/products/ofw-universal-sled-harness
Q
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Another vote for the Smitty sled here ..... i routinely walk a mile plus with a loaded up 2 man clam set up on my smitty sled.
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As for a harness I use an old golf bag strap nicely padded and strong, as for cheap ski's try a goodwill store or a resale shop. Good luck.
Ross
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When I had to pull out a Clam 5600, I used longer ropes and a climbing harness with carabiners.
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smitty sleds are the way to go. they pull like theres nothing behind you and are easy to make. also i got my skis for free by calling the local ski shops and asking if they had any they were throwing away. heres the link i posted picks on:
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=27007.msg2539541#msg2539541
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don't forget the snow shoes! smitty sled are one of those thing i just kind of step back looked at it and said "huh" to. i am sure they work but i just never made one. so don't know for sure my self. any how don't for get the snow shoes i think every one builds there smittys out of down hill skis ? not cross country? so not sure how easy it will be to find those for you?
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I like the wider downhill ski's because I figure they would "float" your gear up higher on top of the snow... know what I mean.... sort of. But I've seen pictures of guys on cross country sleds pulling pulk sleds. I figured cc skis would do just as good a job on a smitty sled but could be harder to fit in the back of the truck. heck, I cut a foot off the down hill ski's I used just to make them fit better for my use. I have snowshoes but wondered if using cc ski's might not be a better idea for traveling longer distances through the snow pulling a smitty sled. Anyone try it?
Using a drag harness is a good idea, I got an idea from a do it yourself pulk sled site I found last year. using 1" dia. pvc instead of rope and crossing it in the middle gives it extra control somehow and attaching it to a belt from an old alice pack( I'm attaching mine to my old hunting back pack). Goes around the middle instead of over your shoulders. Keeps you from straining your back by using your core and legs instead of shoulders and back.
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I think the downhill skis are what most if not all use...the narrower cross country skis wouldn't distribute the weight efficiently ...also the center arc/bow just adds to that inefficiently
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You definitely want downhill skis for the smitty sled ;) ..... and older downhill skis are a dime a dozen now so start looking and don't pay more than $5 or $10 for a pair.
Snowshoes are a must have also if the snow gets deep or crusty.
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C'mon guys! Pulling a sled is easy! When there is no snow... :-\
This last winter we had snow almost all season and it was deep. Not something that happens regularly in NE Indiana.
I remember a number of trips dragging and I had to stop every 100 feet to catch my friggin breath. Not to mention the sweat that ensues and then gets you cold.
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Looking like the smitty sled is the way to go, and A LOT cheaper!
I'll plan one out this week and build it :-)
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Smitty sled & an ALICE pack frame. Can't beat it.
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Heck I have to stop to catch my breath sled or no sled. Find some young guys and take them fishing. They pull better and longer than us older guys.
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First and last ice I drag about 80 lbs as much as a mile 1 way , the smitty is the way to go
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Heck I have to stop to catch my breath sled or no sled. Find some young guys and take them fishing. They pull better and longer than us older guys.
Ding, Ding, Ding. Ladies and Gentlemen, We have a winner :clap: :clap: :clap:. Best idea yet!
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Heck I have to stop to catch my breath sled or no sled. Find some young guys and take them fishing. They pull better and longer than us older guys.
"Take a kid fishing" ..."and let'em drag your gear"....so that's what that slogans true point is ..a buddys kid had to drag my "fully loaded" Otter sled (pre Smitty sled) up a long steep boat ramp once ...thank god for him otherwise I would have given my sled a Viking funeral right then and there ..Smitty Sleds Rock!!!! :flex: :flex: :flex:
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Your not kidding , these days I have lightened up the first and last ice load to 80 lbs , which helps a great deal , getting old , does have advantages and disadvantages , smittys Rule
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I pull my sled all the time furthest I'll go is 1 mile 1 way. I got some straps for free that are kinda like seatbelt strapsthey have a loop on each end I run the strap through the loop sling it across my right shoulder to my left arm pit then I do the other strap the same across my other side and attach the straps to the sleds string with carabeaner clip. This puts more space between me and the sled giving me leverage and puts no strain on my arms...used to feel like I was going to rip my arm off after a while. Using a thick strap say 3+ inches wide helps keep strain off the areas the strap crosses your body. I have been wanting to build a Smitty for years just haven't found the motivation to actually do it. Like others said a longer rope helps alot o harness of some kind helps a ton and a Smitty sled pulls like a dream. The things to consider is drag and leverage making a Smitty reduces drag greatly helps the sled float as apossed to plow and being able to use your upper body for leverage works great. In fact last year I pulled my father in law around the lake all day he's about 220lbs and can hardly walk anymore but loves to fish. It wasn't easy but wouldn't have been possible without the long straps.
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I use a fall protection harness from work which I modified a little......works great !
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I think the final solution is to combine the ideas below:
1. Don't take a lot of crap! Heavy sleds pull hard and load hard.
2. Build a Smitty! cuts the effort down by 5:1 at least
3. Wax your skis like a racer! Save another 25%
4. Get an old pack Frame and use the belt, or some other type of pulling harness
5. Put the above harness on a young guy and dangle a beer in front of his nose until you reach the fishing spot.
:tipup: