JasonP wrote:

If you feed an eagle and it gets sick, does it become an illegal?

Get it!!!!

ree handouts

Ha Ha, More likely the eagle would become a democrat and join the F$A.
Free Handouts.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

I wonder how they would/could determine “feeding”?

It would be one thing if the eagle just swiped your fish while you were turned away. Different if the DEC watched you purposely toss a fish enticing the bird to grab it. I honestly don’t know if I broke a law when I tossed the fish to get the video but I am sure the first fish he swiped was not my fault.

AK Guy wrote:

Ummmm, I think it’s illegal to feed bald eagles. Not sure you’ll want to share the evidence….

I suspect there are laws against feeding eagles in some states but I have never heard of this being the law here in NY. I know our DEC sometimes take road kill deer carcases out on the ice in remote areas for the eagles to feed on.

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Too bad we can’t post short videos here. Fishing a lake in Sullivan County, NY on Monday and I had a 20″ pickerel flopping on the ice when another flag popped. I didn’t know pickerel could fly but with the help of an Aerial Thief that pickerel was gone in a flash. I could see 3 eagles perched in a tree about 300 yards away watching my every move. I caught a smaller pickerel that was hooked real bad and would have died anyway so I got my phone set on video and tossed the fish about 20 feet away. Got it all on video as he flew over and swooped down and grabbed the fish. My buddy turned to me and made a famous Clint Eastwood quote, “Buzzards have to eat too”. You never really know just how large these eagles are until you watch them work from 20 feet away.
I will be happy to post the video if anyone knows a way to do it.

Gamalot

I ordered the wall adapter from Acme to run the fan in my garage. The first thing I did was plug it to the wall and check the output voltage. As another mentioned above, this is claimed to have an output voltage of 6V but on my meter it reads 10.5 Volts. It is going right back to Acme as Defective. I did have one here that does put out 6.2 volts so I just found the correct pin plug and spliced it onto that adapter. 10.5 volts is close to twice what these fans are rated for and I bet once you fry the fan there will be no fixing it.

I was able to discuss the wall adapter voltage question with my electrical buddy. If the adapter is actually putting out over 9 volts that is a 50% increase for what the fan calls for, 6 volts, and this is too high. As I suspected, fan motors are pretty forgiving of over or under voltage inputs but 50% is pushing it.
I have a box full of old wall adapters and measured all the ones that claim 6V output. WOW are they all different. I found one that registers 6.2V and I had the right size pin plug and it works fine so I don’t expect any overpower issues. I suggest you find an adapter that is closer to the 6V output and splice the right end onto it if you get the fan motor replaced or fixed.

Fishbonker wrote:

The fan on my Big Buddy bit the dust this year. Can’t get a replacement until next August. Not having the fan running in the garage made a big difference so I put a small fan behind the unit to try and circulate the heat better. Still not as good as the built in fan.

I tested the components to be sure the fan was toast and it wasn’t a bad switch or wire. What I found was the wall adapter that was labeled 6 volts was putting out 10 volts. I assume that is the reason for the death of the fan.

I used to have trouble starting the Big Buddy and my smaller Buddy Heater as well. I reread the directions and once I followed them they both started much better.

I am NOT the electrical wizard here by any stretch. 4 D cell batteries do equal 6 volts or so we would think. When the batteries are fresh they could actually register up to 7.5 volts and as they drain the voltage could reduce to below 4 volts. At some point the fan will quit running when the battery voltage gets too low. I suspect, but I will be discussing this with an electrical wizard buddy who knows this stuff, motors such as fans are fairly versatile and can run on a range of voltages with more volts running the fan faster and less slower. Whether or not 10 volts from the wall adapter is too much will be my question to my buddy. I will take a wild guess and assume that low voltage from the batteries is more detrimental to the fan than a steady higher voltage but that is just my guess. I did just order the wall adapter and I will check the output voltage when it arrives. Those wall adapters convert 120 AC volts and reduce it down to 6 or more DC volts so any fault in that conversion process could be problematic for the fan.

The correct hose with the quick connect and the external regulator is part number F271803. They list it at $54 but I just saw it at ACME tools for $30. https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/mr-heater-f271803
They also sell the wall electric adapter for the fan if you have the fan model. https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/mr-heater-f276127
I know some here think the fan is useless but I disagree, it works fine and does help to circulate the heat around my garage and shanty. The fan was discontinued and from what I can find the reason is because the parts come from China and the tariffs made that option too expensive.

I just bought an older but near new Big buddy with the fan and love it. It came with the extra hose for 20 pound tanks and heats my garage very nice. I can’t see where any plastic or the screws are or will break but I guess with rough usage on the ice and while bouncing around in travel the plastic could be brittle. I really like the click to start igniter over the battery powered pizio ones they now have.

After all of this I still can’t decide. Is it Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota.
I have inherently cold feet all the time so my Go To ice boot is Lacross Ice Kings 1.5 sizes larger for thick wool socks over a pair of poly wick away ones. My feet do stay warm as long as they don’t get sweaty and wet inside. The drawback to these boots are they are big, heavy and not great if you are in deep slush.
I had the Mickey’s, also big, heavy and warm but too warm making my feet sweat and get wet inside and then freeze. I tried Sorel packs and liked them but very similar to the ice kings. I tried the Mucks and great for waterproof and in deep slush but not as warm as I needed.
This will be an ongoing discussion for as long as we are here but one thing I did find that helps me a bunch is a foot antiperspirant called Odaban. You spray it on at night before bed and it keeps your feet from sweating during the day while fishing. Dry socks equals warm or at least warmer feet. Inside my boots my feet require some free room to wiggle my toes so buying a size or two larger or wider is a good plan but that too has its drawbacks if you do a lot of walking. I absolutely hate those Mycoal toe warmer stick on heat packs that end up bunched up like rocks under or over my toes. My Mr.Heater buddy is the best ice invention since sliced bread IMO after the flip over shanty.

That simply won’t work! The tent and frame are designed along the height of the sled tub. The Smitty sled would have to be the same height plus it would have to be enclosed on 3 sides to keep the wind and snow out and allow the flip to touch the ground out front. It would end up being much heavier and probably cost more to build than the price of a new tub. With the optional runners Otter sells for the sled tub I have no worries of it ever wearing through and the sled itself is pretty thick and heavy duty to begin with. Lets face it, big flips like the XT Resort pro are not meant to be pulled by man power especially if you load them up with all your other gear. It could be done on glare ice but never ever on 6 or more inches of snow. I pull mine with a Snowdog machine and it pulls real easy no matter how loaded I get it as long as I am not going through deep slush.

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Eelpoutguy wrote:

Just got back Scheels.
Got to compare all SxS
Otter is head and shoulders above the rest.
Now I just need to find a resort.

I have the Otter Pro XT Resort 3 man with 3 seats and all the bells and whistles, hitch, cover, runners and could not imagine a better flip out there. The one and only drawback I have with this large flip is it is pretty hard to set up and take down by myself. With a friend on either side it goes up and down simple. I left the middle seat out and there is plenty of room for 2 in the sled seats and 2 others in folding chairs. The thermal cover is great and with just a small buddy heater it gets warm inside quick. It is large and it is heavy but you sure get what you pay for with the Otter line.

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I agree with Jeff and the use of a suction pump. Briggs&Stratton sells 2 nice pumps specifically designed for this purpose.

Briggs & Stratton 5431K 4.0 L Oil Removal Pump (DIY Packaged)

I am sure there are other companies offering similar extractors that might be cheaper. Some years back I had a very simple one that worked off of an electric drill.
One thing I have found no matter which method you use is you can never get all the oil out unless you tip the entire machine on its nose and tail. Snowdog sure did not make oil changes an easy process.

I guess the real question is, What other machines are going to do much better in crap like that?
Last year when I first got my Snowdog and went to the lake I watched 3 snowmobiles right out about 100 yards from the ramp all stuck in deep slush. They worked to get one unstuck only for it to get stuck again. They all three finally got out after about 2 hours of hard work. I left the dog on the trailer. A guy on a Polaris Ranger with the tracks saved their day but he also got stuck a couple times in the process.
I don’t think anything goes in knee high slush like that unless it is some kind of wide track, high track or very high wheel vehicle that can stay above the slush. You really do have to know the limitations of your vehicle. The ski resort here has a giant Snow Cat machine that would probably do fine in that slush but it probably weighs 10,000 or more pounds and would want way more than the 8 inches of ice we had when the slush occurred. Some days you just can’t even fish let alone go out with a machine.

Downriggers equal trolling and trolling equals a motor running, Kicker or main motor, and recharging as you go if it is an electric charging type motor. Big AGM would be my advice if the kicker does not charge the single battery. I had 4 Big Jons on my rig and they do draw a lot of juice if you are fishing deep and catching or changing lures often. Do set that low voltage alarm and make sure you fire up and run the big motor long before the juice to start it is gone.

From what Jeff has mentioned and what I assume, I never have done an oil change on mine yet, it appears the oil sump is a split case affair. The engine has 2 drain plugs and 2 fill plugs. The owners manual is pretty vague regarding the oil change procedure. Refilling after draining is an affair where you must fill one side first to overflowing and then do the other side and not overfill it. Nothing mentions draining oil from both drain plugs so that has me confused a bit.
I have had short seasons here the two seasons I have owned my Snowdog and probably don’t have a grand total of 5 miles on it yet.
It will get the oil changed at the end of this season and just from looking at what I can see with the camo cover on it sure does look like a real PITA to change the oil. I will go with full synthetic for sure and I will remove the camo covers just to get at all the plugs and drains.
My lakes here are tiny mud puddles compared to some of the big lakes up north and out west, a mile across is a big lake down here not to mention most of my lakes don’t allow any motorized machines on them. I’m fishing tomorrow and my Brittany dog can come but my Snowdog can’t.
I was hoping and praying I would be installing the new version of the reversing gear at the same time I do the first oil change but it does not appear this will ever happen. Snowdog is letting us down on that deal.

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gary Lothrop wrote:</div>
I do wish some of you guys would post a few pictures to show the others here what these breakers and ridges really look like.

Here you go. They can be tough to cross with an ATV as well.

I missed this when you first posted it but saw it today. Nothing like that ever happens here and I am pretty sure I would stay real far away from it no matter what machine I had. I read the stories on the Ice Shanty every year where guys up on Erie and Michigan go out and get stranded because the ice broke away from shore and started drifting out in open water. I have small iceballs!

Jeff@CaudillsLawnEquipment wrote:

(reference your experience with the oil change…)

Hi Gary, this is from Jeff. I am a dealer for SnowDogs, and we are having our first experience with changing the oil. What did you learn? (In our first attempt, we have failed to drain all the old oil, overfilled the thing, and still don’t know whether we have the job done.) Much of the problem lies with the two dipstick openings. (I would have thought they led to the same reservoir, and filling one side meant the other was also full.)

Sorry I can’t be of much help Jeff. My Snow dog does not have more than 3 hours of total operating time and I have not changed oil yet but plan to after this season. Briggs & Straton sells 2 different oil change suction pump systems rather inexpensive so there is no need to drop the drain plug and get oil all over. I use such a pump on my motorcycles and some other small engines.
Once you guys get this done and the pitfalls learned please come back and post your finding for us.

If you look at the front end of the machine with it’s cover in place you will see there is no place to grab and lift the front end. I installed a pair of heavy duty grab handles up front so I can move the front around in my shed or trailer and also if it ever does lay over on the trail the handles help with getting it back upright. I also installed Kold Kutter ice screws in the designated spots of the track in either 3/8 or 1/2 inch lengths. I don’t ever use E-10 gas because I can buy non ethanol here in 91 octane and I treat every tank with a dose of Sea Foam. I also installed a battery tender pig tail so my battery is always up to snuff on a maintaining trickle charge.

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Looks like a cool machine but when you ride in or on a motorized unit it becomes a motor vehicle and subject to all those rules and regulations. Looks like a fun machine and probably would be a great tow machine with the bare weight coupled with your weight on it.
I suppose we will have to wait and see how the different states react to all of these new machines and the many more to come. Lots of my lakes here forbid the use of gas motors both summer and winter but do allow electric motors. Others forbid any mechanical or electrical devices to propel you. Lots of very gray areas in all of these regulations like you can’t use a gas or electric auger but many guys do bring fish finders, phones, radios and propane heaters. Depending upon the authority figure who visits you things could go south real quick or in some cases be overlooked. Here in NY in my area your ATV must be registered even if you only use it on your own property. You can also use it on private property if you have written permission but then you must have insurance on it. There are very few places they can be used on state owned lands but again must be registered, insured and operated with helmets and only machines listed as 2 up my be ridden 2 up. All of this is a complete Can-O-Worms.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gary Lothrop wrote:</div>
My Yamaha Big Wheel 350…

Thanks a lot, Gary. I had to Google this, and now, I want one.

I don’t know where Monteca is but this is a smoking deal I would be on if on this coast.
https://stockton.craigslist.org/mcy/d/manteca-1987-yamaha-bw350/6816554889.html

I should live where you are. Great fishing all year around plus great hunting and you guys tend to like the same toys I have. My Yamaha Big Wheel 350 is a very popular off road bike out by you and most of the parts I have found come from either Idaho or Montana.
Tell me if you know, how well do snowmobiles go when there is 2-3 feet of fresh snow and no trail has been broken yet? Up in the NY north country where they do have designated Snowmobile trails they spend a lot of time grooming the trails for the machines to ride on.

Ice Cap wrote:

Thanks kz3 it’s great to get real world input from owners like Gary and yourself especially when your up front about problems or drawbacks instead of just telling us how great of a purchase you made. I’ve decided I’m not doing anything this year anymore but will think things over this off season and see which way I want to go.

I know if I was to buy a Snow Dog or snowmobile this year we will get a total of 6 inches of snow all of next year!

YUP! I don’t know where you live but that is my exact reason for NOT buying another snowmobile. Some years we don’t have enough snow to even use them except on the ice and some years we don’t even have enough ice to fish on. Lots of times even with my Snowdog if there is little or no snow on the ice I don’t even bother taking the dog out of the trailer because pulling the sled and shanty is so easy. I have lakes here I love to fish but no motorized anything are allowed on them. I am in the southern part of the NY Catskills and close to the borders of NY, PA and NJ.

I have run it on my lawn and through the woods without snow on the ground. The only place I think I would not run it is on pavement although I have crossed my road a few times. It does fine in just about all terrains.

Not a video Al, just a picture of me and my Brittany pulling a very heavy load on the Snowdog web site under Experience.
https://snowdog.com/#testimonials

GAry

My best fish catching days come on weekdays when it is just me and my GF a 12 year old Brittany who goes when ever and where ever I go. I have a Clam 2 man Guide pop up for just the 2 of us and her seat is a dog bed. On the weekends when my buddies come I have the Otter XT Pro Resort that is twice the size plus my pals all have their own sleds with their gear. My Snowdog pulls the entire train and you can view me on the Snowdog web site doing it in the testimonials. I have a pond way out back with a single track path I take the kids to fish in and it does great in tight quarters as long as you have the room to turn around at the pond.

I have never seen one of these breakers over here but what we do have are shorelines that get torn up real bad by the power company raising and lowering the water level in our reservoirs. YUP, I have had a hard time climbing over that garbage but so do the snowmobiles and ATV/UTVs.
One day the ice is flat from the shore out and just 2 days later they dropped the water level by 3 feet and the ice out from shore drops with the water but it leaves very steep ice slopes on the shore line and at the boat launch ramps. I see the snowmobiles take a running start to hit it with some momentum and all the gear in their towed sleds flies out.
I do it different. The Snowdog with the single sled goes right up and over but I leave the other sleds at the bottom before the slope. Once I get the machine and it’s sled up and on the ramp I have a long rope I tie to my truck and pull the other sleds up with it. Out on the ice if I ran across say a 12 inch difference at a crack I think I could make it over because down pressure on the steering bars lifts the track like popping a wheelie. I would not like doing it but pretty sure the dog would climb right up. Guys up in the north part of NY talk about pressure ridges and I suspect this is what you are calling Breakers. Sometimes the snowmobiles have to follow the ridge until they find a spot they can hop over. I do wish some of you guys would post a few pictures to show the others here what these breakers and ridges really look like. I don’t think these small lakes and reservoirs experience these conditions.

An ATV or UTV that will easily cruise along at 50 MPH will have a real hard time reaching 30 with the tracks and they are a real PITA to steer. I drove a Polaris Sportsman 500 with tracks and it would go just about anywhere but it was a major workout and slowed it down substantially.
There is no such thing as the perfect machine for all conditions so I do my fishing in the conditions I can get through. At almost 67 the get up and go in my legs got up and went but it left me here with the desire to go ice fishing while I am retired and have all the latest and greatest gear I can’t pull unless my younger pals are off work.

If I already had a nice UTV and the trailer to haul it on but had issues when the snow gets deep on the lake, I would take a different path and spend the money on a set of UTV tracks.
I watched last year when we had about 8 inches of fresh snow and under the snow was about 6+ inches of sloppy slush. Every machine that ventured out ended up stuck. I did not matter if it was a snowmobile, ATV/UTV and even the ones with full chains all around were having trouble or just stuck like glue. Along comes a guy with a Polaris RZR with the tracks on it. He had no trouble at all and spent the first hour on the ice dragging the other machines off. I talked with him and he said the only thing that gave him any trouble in the slush was turning. He had to make very wide loop type turns or he could also get it stuck. I would consider the Tracked UTV to be the ultimate machine in deep snow and crappy slush below it. I did not even take my Snowdog off the trailer that day and fished right close to shore because of such lousy conditions.
Last year there was a guy selling a set of near new tracks for a Polaris and maybe other machines for $3,000 which is about the cost of a new Snowdog. He had them on but hated how they slowed him down and robbed all of his power but heck, you don’t want to go fast when towing all sorts of gear on the ice anyway, you just want to be able to go.

All valid points Keith but comparing a Snowdog to a snowmobile is apples to oranges. Similar in some ways and different in others and they each have their own purpose, advantages and disadvantages. Multiple sleds towed behind are pretty much the same for both. The front end of a snowmobile will float on top of snow while the dog machines dig in. This is good in some ways and not so good in others. I don’t know how well a snowmobile goes in 2 feet of fresh, heavy snow where no trail has been broken and I am not all that sure how a dog would do in the same conditions. Storing the dog in a 2 foot by 5 foot corner of my shed is a major plus and the same goes for getting to and from my fishing lakes. Not having to insure and register on a yearly basis is yet another major plus. Out on the ice with a foot of fresh snow the dog does great but it is tippy if you get tilted in ruts. Yes it is made in Russia but the engines are standard Briggs & Stratton motors so those parts and repairs should be quite easy. The dealer network is growing every day so I suspect parts should be available.
Snowdog’s certainly are not for everyone nor are snowmobiles or ATV/UTVs. I let guys out on the ice take a few laps with mine all the time and they all seem to like it just fine but they do understand it is not a go fast toy and more of a towing mule. I don’t know if it can out pull a snowmobile but for sure it will out pull any wheeled vehicle that does not have chains all around. I have pulled some wild loads behind mine and have been very impressed with the raw power and traction it does have. I just don’t compare it to other capable machines and figure what ever floats your boat is fine with me. Insurance a registration around here is close to $400 per year and tickets for not having it are way more.