Ice fishing prep

[Vollmer]

Has anyone started prepping for ice? What are you changing/upgrading?

I added a Clam Denali to the collection. It will be nice for when I bring the kiddos. It came with a cover. I ordered a hitch and runners for it. Will probably add strip lights as well.

Also ordered hitch, cover, and runners for the frabill shack. Will install strip lights in that one too.

Ordered a 2nd big buddy for the denalli. And a set of bibs and frabill jacket.

Do you guys put runners on all your sled shacks?

What is everyone using for light setups in sled shacks? Im thinking strip lights and vex battery.

I'll also be putting auger rack and rear rack on the sled in a few weeks. Looking for cheap tilt trailer too. My trailer is fine but it sucks yanking the sled off of it.

 

[all4eyes]

I bought the waterproof strip lights from Amazon with a dimmer. Total cost was $20. I believe they were the 6930's I will be adding them to another hose as soon as I have had enough hunting. Runners ar a must and a hitch to pull a second is an added bonus. Thinking I may have to add an ice armor suit to the Arsenal also.

 

[Bfishn]

I have one last weekend of pheasant hunting and then i will start thinking about ice. Yes, runners and hitch on flip over shacks not only save on the sled but help it track much better while pulling. I'm also looking to replace my old led strip lights. People used to recommend "northern bright lights", but it looks like they are now out of business. I haven't seen anything else that catches my eye.

I finally broke down and bought an ATV last spring and decked it out with goodies. I only got to use it twice before the ice was gone, so i'm itching to get back out. I'm gonna add a humminbird helix 7 to it before season yet to complete the set-up.

 

[Vollmer]

I was thinking about using my elite 7 off the front of my boat for ice. Mount it on my sled. Has navionics chip so it would be handy. How well do these work when its sub zero temps?

 

[nxtgeneration]

I built a small battery box and mounted it in the sled. Put in switches for each set of lights, one up top and one in the sled, hard wired a small fan on the ceiling, and put usb/12v chargers on the battery box. Also put a battery level indicator in the box. So far so good. It is so much nicer than dealing with double a batteries always being dead.

 

[Duckslayer100]

All I want is to replace the tarp on my old Shappell 2000 suitcase house. You laugh, but that's a killer little shack for solo outings.

 

[Vollmer]

Someone told me the shappell flip overs are well built.

Im thinking about adding the ice fishing package to my elite 7. Make setup so i can easily put it on n off the sled for navigation but also to use in the shack. Extra unit for the kiddos or wife.

 

[Duckslayer100]

Someone told me the shappell flip overs are well built.

Im thinking about adding the ice fishing package to my elite 7. Make setup so i can easily put it on n off the sled for navigation but also to use in the shack. Extra unit for the kiddos or wife.

They are. I have the 2-man. Bought it because I hate fumbling with those stupid buttons on pole extensions. No extending the poles. They're a set height. Not perfect for those tall giants of the world, but I've yet to bump my noodle on the roof. I think they just came out with a thermal flip-over, too.

I don't know. They may not be a big player in the biz, but they make good gear that lasts. And for what I paid at Fleet Farm a couple years ago, it was a steal. I couldn't a bottom-shelf house from Clam for that price.

 

[remm]

Someone told me the shappell flip overs are well built.

Im thinking about adding the ice fishing package to my elite 7. Make setup so i can easily put it on n off the sled for navigation but also to use in the shack. Extra unit for the kiddos or wife.

I turned my elite 7 from the boat into an ice one last winter, use it for a spare, plus the GPS is nice. I bought the ice ducer and mounted it on a genz box, lowrance doesn't make an ice box/bag for the 7 like they have for the 5 I don't think. It seemed to work in the cold good for me, however I didn't have it outside for long periods of cold, mostly in the house or in the truck. I'm sure it'd work very well mounted to the sled. I was suspect of the battery life but it seemed to hold up for me. I didn't play around much with any of the settings other than changing it to ice mode.

 

[Bfishn]

I see humminbird does offer the helix 7 in an ice package now.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/fish..._SEQ_104588280?WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU

 

[3Roosters]

On my wish list for this upcoming ice fishing season is that the water will freeze better than last year! That is all.

 

[Lostlunker]

They had the 2 man Shappell FX200 on sale at the end of the season at Runnings here in Bismarck for like $280 I think the price was, I'm still kicking myself for not buying it I really like the big sled and the non extending poles. I wanted the Shappell insulated 2 man this year but I got a steal on the Frabill Recruit for $226 it's a real nice insulated oversized 1 man so I can't complain it has enough room for me and my 5 year old. I also grabbed a Humminbird Ice-35 for $180 new on Amazon for kids/backup. I don't use runners on any of my huts/sleds but use a smitty sled, if I ever get a snowmobile/quad I'll definitely throw some runners on my sleds.

 

[dakotaeye29]

I like the clam lights that you can build into the flip over frame, plenty of light. I use a digger auger rack, works great and stands up to lake Winnipeg. I would try to mount the auger on the front of the sled, and rack/storage in rear. My sled seems ass heavy with auger and rack on back of sled. I have a hds5 mounted on a ram mount on handle bars that works great for GPS. I have used it as a back up for fishing but, like my vex better. I will post a pic when I dig it out this fall.

 

[Traxion]

Buy some HDPE strips instead of the factory runners. They slide like crazy and are tougher than nails. I have pulled mine down asphalt for a couple miles (long story) and I can't hardly tell.

Lights, I need to find something. Any links? I did strip lights way back when that sucked.

Gotta get new line on everything. Other than that, not much for changes. I have thought about setting up my Helix for ice fishing too. ATV is good, I hope we can get enough ice to use it.

Am buying up a bunch more plastics this year. Last few years have basically been exclusive with plastics for panfish. Wondering if I can get it going for 'eyes. I also want to get the big flutterspoon and rattlebait thing going somewhere around here.

 

[all4eyes]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01339G2F6/?tag=nodakangler10-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHKCTLE/?tag=nodakangler10-20

This is what I used. Have had them on my camper for a few years with no issues. Also used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085ZX8EM/?tag=nodakangler10-20 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050H9A18/?tag=nodakangler10-20 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0133J930W/?tag=nodakangler10-20. Wish I had pics of it set up so all could see the final results. The dimmer really helped as they were almost to bright!

 

[Vollmer]

^ thanks


Screw it, I ordered the ice package for my elite. For $125 its worth having a spare unit. Plus driving around on ice without a gps screen to look at bugs me.


Bonus safety when headed to winnipeg, or ever being caught in a whiteout.

 

[Tikka280ai]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01339G2F6/?tag=nodakangler10-20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHKCTLE/?tag=nodakangler10-20

This is what I used. Have had them on my camper for a few years with no issues. Also used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085ZX8EM/?tag=nodakangler10-20 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050H9A18/?tag=nodakangler10-20 and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0133J930W/?tag=nodakangler10-20. Wish I had pics of it set up so all could see the final results. The dimmer really helped as they were almost to bright!

I installed a strip of those lights under each bed rail of my pickup box and 1 strip down the center of my topper. the strings under the bed rails are over 2 years old and still work good. handy for early mornings in the goose field and late nights on the ice or working in the field

 

[DirtyMike]

I need to get some of those connectors and redo my wiring.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

I have hyfax on my sleds. I like the clam light bar. Very good lighting. I cut the top off a Lapua 6BR box and mounted it in the corner bracket that the flip poles are mounted too for a vex battery. I have another mounted opposite for random storage.

 

[remm]

^ thanks


Screw it, I ordered the ice package for my elite. For $125 its worth having a spare unit. Plus driving around on ice without a gps screen to look at bugs me.


Bonus safety when headed to winnipeg, or ever being caught in a whiteout.

Did you find that ice package that fits an elite 7? When i was looking last year I thought I could only find one to fit an elite 5? I didn't look very hard though.