Has Ohio figured out how to tax and regulate these machines yet or are they still running under the radar?

So far we are still good unless you ride on State forest recreation lands then a trail ORV sticker is required.

Gary you are so right because I had mulled over my choice to buy for almost 3 years & honestly looked for actual owners complaints – the most common issue/problem I found were first generation owners upset over not getting reverse option or the parts to do the mod themselves. I did find unofficial snowdog owners groups on facebook – it seems the old chain guards were not well built & people whacking into things bent them causing chains to pop – this was a hassle to repair on the trail but users are finding ways to remedy this. Like you’ve said before this is a fantastic tool that is not the be all end all but I sure think it’s close enough for me & am a happy owner.

Believe it or not all I do is put them in a deep Styrofoam cup and put fresh pine shavings on them and keep them in the refrigerator sealed & they lasted almost 9 months but like stated above I also never put any back in after I take them out for use.

We have the same problem here in Ohio- makes me so mad to see our natural resources abused.

Attachments:

1. 

   Screenshot_20181209-075013_Instagram.jpg
   

I feel you brother and know exactly what you mean because I often fish vertical jigs under slip and you would be surprised how much more consistent my action is versus partners fishing a horizontal jig head even in the same color and bait. A few years ago I found a country store & bait shop that had tons of old inventory that were hand-painted odd colors that never sold – so have been sitting on a small horde for quite some time

I plan on doing this mod to my track before my season begins but I’m struggling to figure out the best way to do this without any hoist or lift – I can’t figure out how to advance my track enough to put my studs in

I have the Eskimo & it has been a flawless tool..
-The fuel economy is so good that I never remember to keep track of number of holes I get per tank.
-It’s been reliable in 38 Below & fires up on the 2nd or 3rd pull every time.

-Only thing I can say I dislike is that it is heavy

And for the record our jiffy failed to start when left out in the truck cab overnight –

I have located 2 dealers in Ohio & am stuck spinning my wheels with indecision over cost vs reverse ..

At dealer #1 I can get
compact model for $2,550
standard for $2,750
or standard w/reverse for $3,799
None are in the snow camo that I truly want but feel I’m being petty over cosmetics..
Dealer #2 only has the standard model in the snow camo for $3,000 & slightly cheaper than MSRP on sleds seats ect

I also am scratching my head on hauling this tool – I just don’t have faith in hitch mount carriers vs a standard ATV trailer with the added cost of tags ..

This is a classic case of paralysis by over analysis..and me being tight with money

Justin Larmay wrote:

If you wanted to eliminate the extra sled, would you be able to just sit in your x300 on a seat behind the snowdog and just go like that? Also I was thinking a hitch rack like this to put the snowdog on. That way you still have the entire truck bed to put all your gear in.

Hey Justin where did you find this hitch carrier – I looked at Northern tool supply & it looks the same but don’t want to get screwed on shipping

404 ERROR wrote:

Do the new ones fix the tip breaking issue? They are well known to break at the transition under little to no load and zero abuse. I have broken one of mine and have seen multiple others broken. I love the one I have that isn’t broken and it works awesome, but the tips are unreasonably fragile.

I’ve heard of this problem & I must just be lucky not breaking any – I also use a nice rod case to keep my tools safe

Gary Lothrop wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Don Meier wrote:</div>
My cousin just sold his ,had about 6 hours on it. He said you really get a workout using it. He said it,s tippy in deep snow . Russian made? A snowmobile would have been my choice but it was not my money.

Well, the Snowdog is Not the end all do all for all of us. A snowmobile blasting through 3 foot snow drifts would certainly be my choice as well but out on the ice and for getting me, my gear and the gear from a couple buddies to and from the ramp to our spot the dog rules. Take the good with the bad and make your own decisions. I don’t need a license, registration and insurance for the dog so that is about a $400 savings every year. I do need a mule because a heart attack is about $60,000 and I sure do enjoy my ice fishing without all the pulling. I don’t have room to store a 10 foot long snowmobile 9 months of every year and I don’t need to go 90 MPH to get to my tiny lakes best spots. Actually, I see guys with snowmobiles out on the big lakes towing sleds behind them going way faster than I ever would these days. Like just about all the other things I own it is a tool and if I use it right it gets the job done and saves me time, money and a bunch of energy I just don’t have these days. I have had snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs 4X4 trucks and they all had their good points and bad. I am keeping my Snowdog because it does what I need it to do and I never have had any machine that didn’t need some tweaking to get it just right for my needs. One of my buddies built a gorgeous Jeep Rubicon for deep woods trecking and spent a small fortune on all the fancy wheels, tires and suspension modifications and flipped it on it’s roof his first time out. I laid my dog on it’s side my first time out and it sure is tippy but no damage and I got it upright quick and kept right on going. Yup, it is Russian made but think about this, it could easily have been Jewish and there will be haters.
Just go vote next week for which ever asshole you like best. MAGA.

Gary

SO MUCH YES IN WHAT YOU SAY ..MAGA!

I love everything about my Jason Mitchell meat stick rods – versatile enough for most applications & the price is right to hand to friends as a loaner. I should be getting a kick-back from Clam for the amount of people I’ve sold on these.

Gunflint Trail wrote:

Also, I added carbide studs to the track of my sled (very cheap) and that this was very helpful on the hardpack and ice, especially on the ramps. I put in KoldKutters with an electric drill:
Kold Kutter Carbide Studs

This looks exactly like what I am looking for but what size did you use ?

My Wife brought up a good question – What is the best way to tow a passenger ? as in should the driver stand to drive in the front sled with a passenger sitting on a seat in a 2nd sled with our flip over towed behind the 2nd sled

I’m in love with the compact model & plan on meeting with my dealer in a few weeks but had a few questions I’d like to ask owners opinions before buying.

How long are the tow sleds & if the sled skates are needed as a way to preserve the bottom ?
also is the addition of a drive sprocket guard a good idea because I’ve heard a sales rep say not so much because it can trap twigs debris or ice chunks against the drive sprocket.

I replaced the Eskimo factory webbed seats for the best boat seat Cabelas offered (around $100) and actually lost weight by scrapping the bulky steal frame. Though it is comfy it changed the profile of my shack when folded down making my travel in a compact suv a pain when my Brother comes along with his shack.

I’ve had a few seasons in my Hardwater set now & still say it’s the best tool I have EVER bought for ANY sport.
That being said I think my Hardwater bibs are perfect & only slight I can say about the jacket is a bit heavy but never really noticed it till hanging it up after the season.
I have noticed when pulling my flip for long hulls I’ll get hot & have to open the vents to regulate my core temp perfectly

Looks like a great time – Going up this weekend

Just to share the opposite side of the coin about LOTW – My Brother & I traveled from Ohio to Zipple Bay Resort to fish sleeper shacks/day houses to only have harsh sub zero weather kill the bite to only catch dinky 12″ Sauger & Eyes..
being mobile & flexible to what you get into will be an asset

Strikerice Hardwater suite…simply the best investment I have EVER made..

I wear a 13 EEE & bought a pair of Korkers in the close out section of Cabelas & they have been fantastic in every way. I have a pair of Baffins that are great but run are my 2nd choice.

I still have not caught on a Perch pattern lure ..

Though I have no experience with them on ice you can’t go wronge with Okuma Avengers. They take all the abuse Roughfish can offer & have excellent drag systems that with little care have given me years of service.

Attachments:

1. 

   20160823_152141-1.jpg
   

Sorry I have nothing to offer the subject but had to say Dang!… Jeremy that is a monster Channel through the ice Brother..

I bought my suit from Reeds when on sale & without a doubt the best garment I have ever bought

What a tank!

Let’s talk both ..

Was just an insulated round 13 gallon tank (Blue Wave brand) tank that I would keep big Shad alive for over 48 hours with a dash of Shad keep & ice.

I have kept Shiners to Gizzard Shad alive with my original unite in well insulated tanks and have had a great run – Sorry to hear your not experiencing the same luck

Now that you’ve had time to fish the pearl..thoughts?