Upcoming Upper Red trip – bringing ATV?

I have a trip planned over New Years, staying in in a sleeper on URL and am thinking about trailering up the ATV. I doubt there will be enough ice for a truck.

We are looking to arrive between 7AM and 8AM, we cant get into the sleeper until noon so with the ATV, we could go out and fish on our own that morning, plus having the ATV, we have mobility during the day throughout our 2 day stay

My question is, when having the ATV outside for the ride up (8+hrs) and then on the ice for 2 days, I’m thinking it may be a good idea to pull the battery when its not in use and keep it warm either in the truck on the ride or in the sleeper house overnight

What does anyone else do when there isn’t enough ice for a truck?

With the expected temps in Waskish for the next two weeks, you very well may be able to drive a truck on the ice by New Years. Last year I was up there the first weekend they allowed trucks out and brought one ATV and one Snowmobile. Ended up just driving out there instead, but they came in handy for hole hoping mid-day.

I always keep a jump pack in the house to ensure my machines will start.

I’ve made trips in much colder weather (sub -15F highs) and have never pulled the battery. I can either jump or pull start if needed which rarely happens.

I’d bring the ATV so you don’t have to rely on the outfitter to taxi you to and from shore. Also, if the water around the house is dead you can move to search for fish.

Bring with so you can be mobile even if the house is dead be able to go out and fish more water.

I was up on Red last new years and will again be up there this new years and I expect we will not be driving on the lake again this year. Last year we had 8-9″ of good ice, not near enough to drive full size pickups, so we had my buddy’s ranger side by side with a trailer for all the gear. Worked very well.

Today all the small to large lakes are still completely open. I would not count on driving on Red over New Years this year but you never know…..

For me it depends on the temps. I’ve been going up between Xmas and New Years since before walleye reopened, back in the crappie days.
If the temps are not supposed to get above zero, I leave the sled/atv at home. The times I’ve taken them on those cold trips, I either didnt use them at all, or used them so little it wasnt worth the trouble.

If the weather is conducive to moving around tho, then they can really up your success. URL is shallow, so getting away from others and being quiet is important. Just make sure your careful if you’re running around at night, it is a big lake and its easy to get “confused” out there, especially if the winds are up blowing snow around.

Just make sure your careful if you’re running around at night, it is a big lake and its easy to get “confused” out there, especially if the winds are up blowing snow around.

You can say that again. Last year buddy and I set up our portables few hundred yards out when his dog suddenly jumped out of his shack and ran off. This was just before dusk. Didn’t see my friend again for nearly 4 hours in sub zero weather and I was out hollering and flashing every light I had trying to signal for him. Nearly got lost myself. Everything looks the same out there at night

Thanks for the response guys

I am staying in a sleeper on shore December 17/18 and plan on being able to take a wheeler out. I had battery issues one time up at LOTW when it was -20 where our jumper pack wouldn’t even get it started and our wheeler only had electric start. It obviously won’t be that cold but just make sure to bring a jumper pack and if it isn’t to much hassle it wouldn’t hurt to take it out on the drive up and at night.

Ok, I havent had any issues starting it in the past and it stays in an unheated garage all winter. It will sit during the week and start no problem on the weekends. I will look for a jumper pack just to take with as a backup

Thanks again

IMHO – Bring it, its fun to ride around and if for some reason it doesn’t start you figure it out. It’s all pert of the experience.

I have been out with my Can Am Commander SxS in -22 temps and started fine.
I run a full synthetic oil and use a battery tender when not in use to keep the battery in tip top shape.

I too am going up to red lake for the new years weekend in a sleeper house. I cant wait. Hopefully I’ll run into some fellow IDO followers.