James, Are you strictly using ATV’s now?

James,

As an IDO viewer, I seem to recall you traveling mostly with snowmobiles. However this year it seems like you’ve turned into an ATV guy. Any particular reason?

Mark

I was wondering that also, guessing sponsorship.

Seems like he is only missing one thing … Tracks… snowmobiles you can use a month out of the year if there is enough snow.

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He probably didn’t want to start a forest fire running those dang polais sleds

Eelpoutguy wrote:

I was wondering that also, guessing sponsorship.

Doubtful. He still is running a polaris atv

I ordered two new Polaris Titan long tracks on 3/25/2021.

Those sleds will be built some time around April, 2022.

Parts availability…

Nothing has made our lives more difficult or limited our ability to move around out on the ice more this year than having to use ATVs instead of snowmobiles. The number of bites we’ve had to pass on because of the lack of availability of snowmobiles makes me sick to my stomach.

But hey, when they do arrive they’ll be in IDO brand colors. Or they’re supposed to.

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I wondered the same thing. I prefer my ATV so I use it until going gets tough. Then I use the SkiDoo Tundra.

Sponsorship???? IMO unlikely. Not everything is about $$$$.

The number of bites you have passed on vs the number of bites I have actually had this winter just made me throw up all over my boots.

James Holst wrote:

I ordered two new Polaris Titan long tracks on 3/25/2021.

Those sleds will be built some time around April, 2022.

Parts availability…

Nothing has made our lives more difficult or limited our ability to move around out on the ice more this year than having to use ATVs instead of snowmobiles. The number of bites we’ve had to pass on because of the lack of availability of snowmobiles makes me sick to my stomach.

But hey, when they do arrive they’ll be in IDO brand colors. Or they’re supposed to.

Why are snowmobiles so much better than UTV/ATV’s with tracks? Or don’t you use the ones with tracks?

usmarine0352 wrote:

Why are snowmobiles so much better than UTV/ATV’s with tracks? Or don’t you use the ones with tracks?

Ever had to dig out a 4 door UTV high centered on 24″ of slush?

tornadochaser wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>usmarine0352 wrote:</div>
Why are snowmobiles so much better than UTV/ATV’s with tracks? Or don’t you use the ones with tracks?

Ever had to dig out a 4 door UTV high centered on 24″ of slush?

No, I’ve never had enough money for either of those items.

😭😭😭

James Holst wrote:

I ordered two new Polaris Titan long tracks on 3/25/2021.

Those sleds will be built some time around April, 2022.

Parts availability…

What happened to you old sleds? You make the mistake of getting rid of them before the new ones came in? Or were you on some kind of a Memo Bill deal on them?

Meanwhile the rest of us are walking, pulling our sleds by hand. Wonder how many bites we missed? LOL

I guess that’s why you don’t sell a toy before buying a replacement. 9 times out of 10 that’ll bite you in the hinder. I only know this because I’m in a similar boat

I’d definitely ‘settle’ for an ATV. Or heck, even a fishing partner who will lip a laker for me when needed.

Sweet looking sled, though!

usmarine0352 wrote:

Why are snowmobiles so much better than UTV/ATV’s with tracks? Or don’t you use the ones with tracks?

At least where we run in NW Ontario, the portages are not wide enough for tracked rigs. They are typically cut open wide enough to allow a sled through – and that’s it. And the distances needed to be covered make a sled the only reasonable/comfortable option.

bigcrappie wrote:

Meanwhile the rest of us are walking, pulling our sleds by hand. Wonder how many bites we missed? LOL

Ain’t this the truth. I’ve been so exhausted from pulling a sled through the snow I’ve seen schools of crappies 25’ away on the livescope and said “eff it, I need them to come to me. I’m not moving or drilling another hole.”

i have both ATV and snowmobile. no tracks on ATV, cant justify the cost. i havent used the ATV since christmas on the lakes up north because of all the snow.

right now slush is the only enemy of a snowmobile!!!!!!!

slush is the enemy of any ice transportation! wheeled, tracked or two legged.

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
Meanwhile the rest of us are walking, pulling our sleds by hand. Wonder how many bites we missed? LOL

Ain’t this the truth. I’ve been so exhausted from pulling a sled through the snow I’ve seen schools of crappies 25’ away on the livescope and said “eff it, I need them to come to me. I’m not moving or drilling another hole.”

Same situation here. I often wonder why i buy all the warm clothes because I spend half my time trying to cool off after pulling the sled.

glenn57 wrote:

i have both ATV and snowmobile. no tracks on ATV, cant justify the cost. i havent used the ATV since christmas on the lakes up north because of all the snow.

right now slush is the only enemy of a snowmobile!!!!!!!

Ain’t that the truth. At least with a sled you can grab the throttle and pray. A tracked machine you don’t have a chance.

At least with an ATV you have a winch to get yourself unstuck. Never seen a sled with a winch?

John Timm wrote:

At least with an ATV you have a winch to get yourself unstuck. Never seen a sled with a winch?

I can a name a few guides that do. They usually running the big bear cat snowmobiles.

John Timm wrote:

At least with an ATV you have a winch to get yourself unstuck. Never seen a sled with a winch?

What are you going to winch to in the middle of a lake?

uninc4709 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>John Timm wrote:</div>
At least with an ATV you have a winch to get yourself unstuck. Never seen a sled with a winch?

What are you going to winch to in the middle of a lake?

Drill 2 holes and cable between them.

I’ve even winched to my auger once when I ran into a “situation” on the lake. A winch is a must on an ATV, unless you just use the wheeler on manicured lawns

What are you going to winch to in the middle of a lake?

Drill 2 holes and cable between them.
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^^^^yuppers
I also carry a hundred feet of strap so I can reach a Tree/Truck bumber when coming off a lake.

Or carry small chunk of pipe 2*4 etc and drop it in a hole. Has gotten me out of several sticky situations solo.

Charles wrote:

I can a name a few guides that do. They usually running the big bear cat snowmobiles.

Bearcats are absolute beasts. I have an older one and Id have to wait until spring for the snow to melt if it ever got stuck. With a 156″ x 20″ track though that would be a tremendous feat to get stuck. I have snow coming right over the windshield one time and it never skipped a beat. All powder must have been 4 feet deep. I wish Cat still made the good one, but they cut back on production so much. Hopefully they bring it back in the next few years.

CaptainMusky wrote:

I wish Cat still made the good one, but they cut back on production so much.

Which one is that? Doo has taken over the utility market the last 10 years.