Just in time for Christmas!

I don’t think it has an on-off sensor, but I’ll take a better look tonight.

Pulled several 25-26″ eyes last season with my BW. I like using it for neutral-negative walleye presentations (small swimming jigs).
If you’re purely looking at it as a deadstick option, there are other options that are cheaper and purpose-built as a deadstick that you should consider IMO. If you want a TUCR, then get their deadstick rod (featured on the IDO Leech Lake wheelhouse episode). Otherwise, get a cheapy at Joes/FF/etc.
MANY areas to better invest $120+ in ice fishing that will increase your catch % than a BW as a deadstick.
Just my 2 cents

Had my FL20 given a good once over/cleaned up at Vexilar last off-season (which they did at no charge!!). They told me to just leave the charger plugged in year round when I’m not using the unit. They said the charger is digital and won’t cause any harm being on but will prevent any draw-down and maximize battery life…..I’m just the messenger here and not smart enough to provide nor argue the point.

I dreamt I was ice fishing my favorite spot on ML last night….I should probably check myself into a clinic

Thanks everyone. Got in touch with Pete Rich via Jeff Evans. Talked fishing for an hour, Pete was knowledgeable and very personable and excited to use him. Will let you know but I’m sure he’ll be terrific.

Dryer sheets are key in my experience. Besides making sure it’s dry and can “breathe” to avoid mildew wherever you store it (mine too is in a covered trailer), put dryer sheets in the bottom, on the seats/bench and in the folds of the cover.
I’ve never had mouse or insect issues over the last 10 years no matter where it’s been stored.

Any reports from anyone up there this last weekend (3/4-3/5)? Buddy and I are heading up this Friday and would appreciate any intel!

McCord Stowater wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>michaelcfi79 wrote:</div>
For me, if I was going steel, I’d look at Firebrand and for aluminum, I’d look at Yetti’s. Just my humble opinion though.
Oh, and get a rubber floor!

Uh, Firebrand is aluminum, not steel.

Whoops! Even better!

I think you’re doing the right thing really thinking things through Tyler. As you stated, I don’t think you can make a bad decision, as long as you’ve educated yourself in the facts.
Full disclosure, I personally have a 5 year old 8×16 IC toy hauler. I used to put my sled in back when I had a little Polaris 340. I upgraded to an AC Bearcat two-up and that’ll no longer fit.
That being said, I LOVE the beaver tail for loading/unloading/drilling holes/etc. and even if I wasn’t going to be hauling “toys”, I’d get the beaver tail again.
If I did it all over, I would not buy an IC most likely. The pro is they’re affordable, but you have to be willing to accept the fact that you’ll need to do A LOT of investing in your time and money to maintain/replace parts.
Given your desire to use it as a toy hauler, I’d encourage you to think about getting a tandem axle. I know they’re more money, but they pull (empty or with a “toy” in the back) FAR better than single axles.
My friend just built a custom Firebrand 21′ tandem and that things pulls better behind a half ton than my single axle 16′. He can also fit his two-up Bearcat in it.
For me, if I was going steel, I’d look at Firebrand and for aluminum, I’d look at Yetti’s. Just my humble opinion though.
Oh, and get a rubber floor!

Did you try the shallow morning bite?

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>michaelcfi79 wrote:</div>

But you don’t need to book anything for that. Just show up, pay your $10 access fee and out ya go. Unless I’m missing something, whatever you might book or make reservation for would be a sleeper or day house? I’d be shocked if Kevin will be pulling those out by next Thursday!

They may need somewhere to sleep whether that’s a room or a sleeper shack on the shore OR optimistically, the sleeper on the ice. They’ll pull their smaller houses out with 8″ with light jeeps/wheelers, I believe.

Have you seen what a 24 hour period like they’re forecasting for next Tuesday, the 14th, can do for ice-making? Especially when there’s little to no snow on the ice.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
I just booked at Macs twin bay for next Thursday. x my fingers

Say what?? What did you book at Mac’s for next Thursday? A reservation at “Da Boathouse” restaurant? What could you possibly book for next Thursday there?

The 15th? Take a look at the forecast. Bet sleds and wheelers are getting out then.

Yes (probably Friday for a couple hrs and Sunday for several hours).

No, you will get discounts on most things there as it is a highly competitive environment for the retailers (since there are about 4 within a few hundred feet of each other all selling very similar/the same inventory) and most would prefer not to load said inventory back onto the trucks.

Yes, great opportunity to compare/buy a rod!

It’s a great show. Enjoy and say hello to the IDO boys too!

Looks like we’ll finally get a cold snap around 12/7-12/8 that should really lock things up with a quickness and allow the ice season to (finally) hit full throttle. Have to settle for boat episodes of IDO, the St Paul Ice Show and prepping gear until then!

Appledoorn’s Sunset Bay also has some bigger houses (that are also very nice). I think they may actually have the biggest one on the lake. It sleeps something like 16 and is HUGE.

Thanks Nick. Was wondering how you modified the install since the boxes are made to go on the back of ATV’s (not sleds). Totally makes sense how you described it.
At this point, I’m leaning towards going a different direction that is detachable as I’m uncertain how the box on the back would fit in my enclosed trailer. Will update when I make a decision.
If you can, it’d be much appreciated if you can take a few pics or even make an install video when you get the new sleds!
-Michael

Nick Cox wrote:

As for the Gear Storage to the rear rack, have you seen the Otter/Rhino Box we use on our sleds during the show season? Those are awesome, if you can get it to mount properly on a Bearcat. We mount this on our sleds:
http://www.rhinomade.com/rhino-atv-boxes.html

Good luck! Let us know what you come up with.

@nickcox – Could you possibly take some pics/provide a description of how you attached the Rhino box to the back of the IDO sleds please?

I’ve solved the GPS mount and the Ice Auger cradle since writing this but still on the fence as to a storage solution on the back of my sled.

Thanks

Welcome to MN Bobby. Living so close to the Cabela’s in Owatana, you’ll need lots of excuses to run out and grab a few things!
I have a Thorne Bros Perch Sweetheart and last year I picked up a TUCR Bullwhip. Both are excellent walleye/perch/crappie rods. IMO, straight “walleye” rods are too stiff for 75% of the time/presentations.
If you’re a multi-species fisherman and fish eyes predominantly south of LOTW, do yourself a favor and go a little lighter. Whatever you lose in “backbone” is more than made up in finesse/feel ability (again IMO).
Oh and I can say even the TUCR Bullwhip can stand up to a 15+ minute fight with an enormous sturgeon that I hooked while fishing crappies on the Croix (no it’s not ideal, but it didn’t break and more than held it’s own).
Now, if you put a gun to my head and forced me to choose, I’d go against the grain of the folks who have weighed in thus far and take the Bullwhip over the Perch Sweetheart. Main reasons are the tip has a little better sensitivity, rod feels slightly more balanced in my hand (completely unscientific, just a feel thing) and I got to customize it myself which meant choosing the colors, handle material and having length markers painted on from 10″ to 20″.
PM me if you like, I have a few friends that live down your way and we fish around Northfield + Faribault sometimes when we can’t get to the bigger water

Sort of building on what phoy and crappie said, it really is about what you’re after and when you’re going Alex. If you want simple-stupid, drop your wheelhouse out among the crowd in 8 fow, catch numbers of smaller (12-17″) walleye (I’ve noticed the average size of eyes has been decreasing the last 2 years, guessing due to harvest), have very little scenery and/or are fishing early ice, URL is your place.
If you’re less about numbers (although numbers can still happen but not a guarantee like Red), appreciate the thrill of the “hunt”, like being away from others and a good view of nature, V or Rainy would be better. (I’d probably lean Rainy for better chance at a big girl).

Sweet whip Dave. What’s a typical day of fishing like in that from an operations perspective? How thick is the ice you’re usually fishing on with that? What kind of gear do you have with you? Do you fish lakes and rivers in it? Will it float when you power down? How do you know the ice is safe to power down on? etc. Such a foreign but interesting approach to me (reminds me of the NWA episode from last year)

Thanks for the info and Links Nick, will definitely check those options out. Now that I think about it, I’ll have to go back and watch a few of your sled episodes to check out the setup.

@gonehunting – Great pics and interesting approach. Mine has the front receiver already and I have a digger holder that I had on my last sled (’98 Indy lite). I too had dreamed of owning a Bearcat and just decided to spend a little extra and pull the trigger when I found this one, too good to pass up.

Thanks everyone for the advice, more thoughts welcomed! Kind of a fun distraction since the water isn’t hard yet.

Mr. Derek wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>michaelcfi79 wrote:</div>

Which model bearcat did you go with?

Mr. Derek wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>michaelcfi79 wrote:</div>

Which model bearcat did you go with?

Went with the 2000 XT

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We’ll be there early January 2017!

Gunflint Lake is a very productive Laker destination as well where you will not be skunked.

They’re brilliant and Manny’s Linder impersonations are priceless. James knows Aaron. I brought up doing a collaborative episode with Aaron, to James this winter at the St Paul ice show so you never know! I’d pay money to see my two favorite fishing innovators out together.

Bought Baffin Titans this year. They’re terrific (and cheap! $90 at Joe’s Sporting Goods in St Paul). The downside was I had to ditch my Frabill bibs and buy Striker bibs to fit over them.

Ryan’s guide service worth checking out too

Yep

Thanks again for a great time Ben. Scenery, company and fishing were all top notch! Happy New Year!