I ordered the large ice bundle with GT10 transducer yesterday to start using mine through the ice. I’ve been using the old trusty fl-18 for probably 20 years now so will be interesting to see how I like the graph. I’m sure I’ll probably still use the FL-18 when I’m hole hopping outside, but will bring the Garmin when I know I’m just gonna set up the house and sit.

I am certainly looking forward to not having to listen to the vex in the house anymore, kind of like switching from a sunflower heater to a buddy. I’m going to be sitting in peace now while I ice camp.

I’ve been to Lahaina twice in the last 10 years. Both times rented VRBO’s on the beach within walking distance to Front street. Its crazy looking at some of the helicopter flyovers, just complete devastation. It does look like one of the places we stayed at was somehow spared but the other is gone along with about 95% of Old Lahaina. It will eventually be rebuilt but I cant imagine it will ever be the same.

Modine and Reznor seem to be the most common. I have a Reznor, I had one issue with the fan motor after like the 2nd year and it was replaced under warranty. Since then its been about 10 years now without issue.

There is no better winter luxury than a heated garage. I keep mine at 45 and then turn it up to 55 or so if I’m going to be working out there. Its so nice just jumping into a warm snow free car every morning, drying out ice fishing gear, cleaning fish and game in the winter etc. Just do it, you wont regret it.

As a side note, bigger isn’t always better for these garage heaters. If too big, they can cycle on and off too much and cause premature wear and tear and are also inefficient that way.

Interesting, I’ve never had an issue and use p-line flouroclear on everything I don’t have braid on for ice and open water. I have never bought the ice stuff, just use the regular year around without issue.

After the big buddy went out, he should have just put it on low to see if anything registered. I only run mine on low while I’m sleeping with all vents open and doors cracked about 1/4 open with a portable fan by one to help suck in some fresh air.

If you have a work bench in the garage, build it so your flip over can just slide right underneath it and out of the way, that’s where mine spends the entire year.

I do wish the Otter fit under a tonneau cover, but I guess that’s really my only complaint. I only pull mine by hand once or twice a year first ice when there is usually no snow, other than that its always ATV. One tip is to just keep the seats out early ice when you are pulling by hand. Seems to cut the weight in half, especially taking the big bench out of the XT.

In the wind and cold of ND I pretty much always find insulated tip ups the best choice for outside lines. I do use my IFP’s as my night time set up in my hub when I’m ice camping, as the noise of them going off along with a bell will surely get your attention. I do have a couple FF on order, and wouldn’t be surprised if those become my new nighttime choice as they just look simpler to use and less bulky to carry.

Jake D wrote:

Don’t know how they can go out of business when every farmer in NE SD has one

Don’t forget the “struggling” ND farmers that are also buying these things like crazy. I was on a random slough in South Central ND a couple weeks ago and there were 3 out there, I’ve seen at least a half dozen this year.

I usually start thinking of changing mine once the computer gets below 10%. I think below 5% is when it really starts reminding you, so I don’t go below that. It ends up usually being around 7,500 miles with mobile one synthetic. I figure the computers were calibrated when GM was still using a semisynthetic oil, so I’m more than good going by it while using a better fully synthetic oil.

I’ve generally read the following

Conventional – 5k
Semi-synthetic – 7.5k
Full Synthetic – 10k

Thankfully Costco is only $2.85 here in gods country ND. Everywhere else is $3.25 though.

I would never have an ice fishing atv without one. Yes you can fit a 20# tank on its side and a big buddy heater but those will take up most of the space. Much better off with an 11# tank and portable buddy. Along with those I have a vexilar, smaller cooler, small tool box, tackle tray, tow strap, jumper pack, bucket chisel, and other odds and ends. Can really get a lot in them.

I have the older rod box attachment and then made myself a double bucket holder out of milk crates for the other side. I have nothing in my house when I’m pulling it. Really saves on all your gear having them on atv rather then sled. I guy learns a few things after a few trips to Winnipeg haha.

I just leave the bench out of my otter cabin and sit on my own foldable chair. Leaves the whole sled open to hold things and keep them out of the way while fishing. Also makes it weight like 5O% less for pulling by hand and loading.

Portable buddy, if low is to warm a guy can open all vents and unzip door, or just run the pilot for a while. I’d say if that’s still too warm, your at the point of not needing a heater.

The portable buddy on low is basically the same as the round little buddy. 4,000 vs 3,800 BTU, But you have the option to crank it up to 9,000 and also connect to a bulk tank. Portable buddy with 11 lbs tank is ideal setup IMO.

For some reason people get a romantic idea about trains, but as others have said if we’re talking Amtrak your going to be sorely disappointed, its straight ghetto. I’ve taken it to Whitefish a few times to ski, it can be fun with a few buddies sitting in the lounge car drinking and playing cards, but just know what your getting yourself into. No way would I want to do it with a family or be on it any longer amount of time than the 12 hour trip I’ve been on. Also, yes most of the trip through the mountains is after dark so good luck with sightseeing.

I don’t religiously take a multi-vitamin year around, but I do get better and take one about 4-5 times a week in the winter months. However if I wake up with even the slightest hint of a scratchy throat I start pumping them twice a day, It’s amazing how often I fend of getting sick. In fact I’ve been at my current job for 7 years and haven’t taken a sick day.

45 here as well, by the time the heater shuts off and fan quits blowing my garage gets to 48.

Even with an insulated garage there is no way mine would stay above freezing in cold and windy ND as my split level house has a completely exposed garage. My parents garage is completely tucked under the house and mostly underground on two of the sides and pretty much always stays above freezing.

Mark Uidenich wrote:

Buy a Toro mine has never broken a shear pin.

The newer Toro’s don’t even have shear pins, its one of their selling points and part of the reason I bought mine. Funny thing is I was looking at the Cub Cadet 3 stage a few years ago and all the reviews about constant shear pin replacements turned me away. Ended up finding a couple that was moving south in the spring and got a Toro 1028 that had been used 3 times that winter for half price

I’ve owned a 93 Angler II with 40hp Johnson for over 20 years that I bought when I was 16 years old. Got a job the day I turned 15 with the single goal of buying a boat, stuck money away and in the spring of 2000 paid $5500 for it, half down and parents cosigned a 1 year loan for the other half haha.

Anyways its been a great little boat that is primarily used as a riverboat on the Missouri in ND and then the occasional small lake. I don’t think id consider it a “big water” boat, at least not windy ND big water like Sakakawea, Oahe, Devils Lake. It is the perfect river boat though, trolls down to pull cranks in the spring and mine will do over 30mph with just me in it. Put a Garmin 93UHD on it last year and might upgrade the trolling motor to a 24v terrova soon, since my current one is about 15 years old.

Overall its been the best purchase I have ever made as far as recreation. Put an untold amount of hours on it, countless fish in it, hardly stuck any money into it and could sell it today for what I paid in 2000.

Just use any 7” hand auger. Been using an Eskimo 7” hand auger on my Milwaukee for the past three years, works great.

I think people are misunderstanding that the 40mpg thing is the total fleet not every vehicle produced. As companies produce more and more electric that will easily trend their total fleet over the 40 mpg. Look how Toyota got away with the Tundra being such terrible mileage for so long compared to other manufacturers. Its because the rest of their fleet made up for it.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bfishn wrote:</div>
no smart investor just has millions sitting in cash in a bank

Do a search on what percentage Warren Buffett currently has sitting in cash. (I consider him a “smart investor”)

Nice how you conveniently left out the beginning of my quote “unless you are extremely wealthy” which would apply to Buffett. You would make a good CNN employee, I hear they are hiring.

Your net worth is assets minus debts. Claiming retirement accounts, property, investments etc. don’t count is a real head scratcher considering that’s how you build wealth in the first place. Unless you are extremely wealthy, no smart investor just has millions sitting in cash in a bank as some of you claim you need, your just losing money to inflation doing that.

I’ve used my Gen1 helix 7 for 5 years now with no issues. I ran wires under the plastics up into my otter box where I have a separate battery mounted so I don’t have to worry about atv battery. Also, I might be wrong but I thought I had heard that using the accessory plug your bird may reset every time you restart your machine because of voltage loss. Just something to think About if your running and gunning.

If your going to be pulling it with ATV/Sled most the time I would say Otter 100% because they are just the best built and best sled but they are heavy. If your always pulling by hand then I think lighter options from some of the other companies come into play.

Might as well just attach a drill to your hand auger and be done with it. I’ve had a 7″ Eskimo hand auger attached to my Milwaukee for the last few years. Haven’t started my Honda Strikemaster since.

Costco opened up here in Bismarck last year. I’m single so wasn’t sure it would be worth it for one person but with gas being .35 cheaper for regular and .50 for premium, I easily paid for my membership just this summer with truck and boat gas. Its the closest gas station to my house and right on the hwy heading north to lake Sakakawea so its super convenient for me.

I will say though that the gap for gas prices has gotten lower now, so I wonder if they don’t keep them low for about the first year to get a lot of people signed up and then reduce them to about a .10 difference.

It will be interesting to see if the new fancy schmancy Tundra can still be as reliable, with all the new electronics. Of course the current Tundra is reliable its been unchanged for 15 years, id hope they would have all the kinks worked out after that long.

I’m currently running a 15 Sierra with no issues after 80k (knock on wood), will probably be looking in about 4 years so that should give Toyota some time to figure out the kinks. They better offer a split bench seat option though otherwise its just a grocery getter.

suzuki wrote:

Why is there not more focus on treating the virus? Its obvious the vax is not that great. All they do is focus on blaming the unvaxed and promoting division.

The best treatment is prevention.