First Ice Trip to Strawberry

[MrShane]

I used the shuttle service for the 1st time 2 Saturdays ago. The earliest appointment available is 8 am. I booked it for that time. I arrived 15 minutes early and there were at least 20 people already lined up that also had 8 am appointments. I put my stuff in line and then checked in at the store. At 8 am they started taking people out. I waited 45 minutes for my turn. You had to schedule a pickup time before 4 pm.

Pros: Didn't have to walk!  They take you anywhere you want to go on the Strawberry side including Renegade. I picked where, and they dropped me where I wanted.

Cons: Late start. I hit the end of the morning bite but it slowed after that. I still caught fish, but not as fast as that 1st hour. Bite started to pick up again when they showed up to take me back. I lost an hour just waiting for my turn to go out. 

Would I use it again?  Probably.  I don't have a snowmobile or snowdog and would not have been able to fish where I wanted. I only ice fish the Berry once a year and it was worth it to use. I would show up at least an hour early or more to get as close to the front of the line as possible. Weekdays probably are better with not as many people using the service. If I could I would go during the week.

They take you out in tracked Rangers or something? 
Small sled trailer behind or similar to put gear in?
I ask because I have a tracked Grizzly and never been stranded yet, and I don’t want it to be next week two miles out on the ice.