Was wondering if you guys had any tips or pointers on getting on the ice. I finally got a gas auger and a Frabill 3 man tent. With all the normal gear getting on the ice was a real chore. It seem like
because of the weight the sled was dragging on the snow. Was thinking about even attaching some old skis to the bottom ???
Not sure any pointers would be helpful.
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A real cheap way to start out is to wax the bottom of your sled, just regular parifin wax works pretty good. rub as much as you can on the bottom of your sled a use a hair dryer to heat it up and smooth everything out. Hope this helps.[cool]
FF462
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It can also depend alot on snow conditions. Deep soft snow is a pain in the back no matter what you do.
My sled, a mid size Schappell, can get very heavy when the shelter and all the stuff is on it, I figure at least 125 lbs, probably 150.
I coat the bottom with wax in the summer so it has heat and time to bond with the plastic. I also carry a can of spray "PAM". It can really be a help if the snow is wet and heavy.
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Just tie the sled to your wife and tell her there is a BIG SALE out at the ICE Jewelry Store located 400 yards around the next point - you should be there in less the 5 minutes....
And if you're still alive she should let you buy a used snowmobile for your next trip... and don't forget you'll need a trailer too...
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I feel your pain, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Usually a sled is no problem to pull, even when it's really heavy. My guess is you're feeling the pains of having slush and snow on top of the ice.
I went up to strawberry for the first time with my new setup (similar to yours) and was completely surprised by how big of a PITA it was to get the sled out and back. I've since gone to lakes without the snow and ice and it's a complete world of difference.
Some of the things we were thinking that would help when dealing with the slush and snow are: Wax the bottom of your sled, attach a "2-man" pull rope to the handle (this helps to distribute the load and makes it more comfortable), and evaluate all the stuff you have in your sled.
In the end, though, if there is no slush or heavy snow on top of the ice, pulling a really heavy sled is no big deal.
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When I fish with others, we split the weight between 2 sleds.
One caries the auger and the other the tent.
Keep things as light as you can.
I have seen sleds with skies under them. They look to pull better, but keep the sled low to the ground.
I may try skies myself.
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Just tie the sled to your wife and tell her there is a BIG SALE out at the ICE Jewelry Store located 400 yards around the next point - you should be there in less the 5 minutes....
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[laugh] That's hilarious
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cans rather than bottles ! [shocked][cool]
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I like to use my deer drag harness. You put in on like a backpack and the weight is distributed through the upper body and leaves your hands free. Of course I only do this when I can't use the 4-wheeler!!
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