thanks guys!

thanks

fishinfool wrote:

check into Irish Setter , sold at Redwing Boots. I have a 1000mg hunting boot that I just bought it has a rubber tip on the toe for extra durability and is light as a feather even in my size 14 boot. I also have a 2000mg for icefishing as my feet get cold quick and they work great with the same rubber feature on the toe and heal.
Price was $170 for the 1000mg
and $215 for the 2000mg
Both are water proof and excellent .

FF need more info let me know.

thanks fishinfool, I was just looking at the irish setter. A 1000 mg typically works for me ice fishing. do you know what boot you have for the hunting?

i see they look more like a snowmobile boot. I am not sure I would want to wear them deer hunting. look warm though.

where are you ordering your kamik helinskis’s from?

Artic Armor is a joke! I had one of thier suits (bibs and jacket) The jacket started falling apart on me after my wife washed it once. I know the velcro from the bibs didn’t do it any good, but the rest of the jacket was coming apart at the threads. I called the customer support folks and was immediately met with hositlity and accusations that I was the reason for it falling apart. The guy that I talked to stated he was the VP of Service and he knew exactly what I must have done. After listening to him literally yell at me through the phone (guy in next cubicle could hear him) I laid into him regarding his attitude. After some more discussion, he put me on hold for a couple of minutes and when he came back he stated he would send me a new jacket on one set of terms, it went something like this: I will send you a new jacket as long as you NEVER call our customer service again. And I mean ever!!! I did in fact get a new jacket, the local bait shop tried to help with this issue as I had bought it from them and did like the coat (still have the bibs to be honest) and even the owner of the bait shop stated he was treated inappropriately by this guy from Arctic. Needless to say, the new coat didn’t stay in my hands long as a friend showed me the Striker Ice online. After talking to them, they were nice enough to come to the bait shop (who ended up picking up thier line) and demo thier product. I got one of thier coats that day and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I will NEVER buy an Arctic Armor product ever again. I hope I never meet that jerkoff I talked to on the phone. Thank-fully I have had a year to calm down incase I ever do meet him. My opinion, do yourself a favor, crap can the Artic (I know I know, people have them and love it,,, my buddies is still like brand new – our bibs are the same, but the jackets were different) and get yourself a STriker. You won’t be let down.

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I had to fix a window in my otter lodge. Found the vinyl at Joanne Fabrics in Rochester. They had several thicknesses of vinyl depending on how pliable you want your window and it was extremely cheap… I think it was like $5 for a 2 yard minimum. The only pain was sewing the window in.

here you go… Joanne fabrics

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Thanks!!

I heard that today at the local bait shop. Called the Crazy Minnow and they stated approx 5″ of ice!! Headed tommorow to Clear Lake. Thanks!

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I have never wore that brand. With that said, I had a horrible experience with ice amor (head customer service guy actually was yelling through the phone at me over an issue with my coat,,note: bibs were fine) I currently wear Striker Ice (float suit), love it extremely. One of the best suits out there in my opinion. I highly recommend as they have several options depending on weather you fish. I am sure some folks have great experiences with all of them. Just my two cents.

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Do you have the Striker Lite or the heavier model? I just bought the Lite. Also got the heavier one for my son for Christmas.

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I have the light and find it to be great for any of the times I have been out. Very comfortable. I also like the ventilation for warmer sunny days.

I have never wore that brand. With that said, I had a horrible experience with ice amor (head customer service guy actually was yelling through the phone at me over an issue with my coat,,note: bibs were fine) I currently wear Striker Ice (float suit), love it extremely. One of the best suits out there in my opinion. I highly recommend as they have several options depending on weather you fish. I am sure some folks have great experiences with all of them. Just my two cents.

I love mine. Just wish it was 5-8 lbs lighter!! I bought last year and had some issues. Between my local bait shop and Jiffy awesome service, I was taken care of getting a new power head and the later upgrades to the fuel lines. Have fun!!!

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I use northland northland bionic ice line clear, #3 pound for panfish, #6 for walleyes.

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Any memory retention as the winter ice season wears on?

nobody has posted yet regarding the otter tube. I am curious about it though.

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I have always been a fan of trilene micro ice 2lb for bluegill and 3lb for crappie. Clear steel color. Always been the best for me, and I’ve tried a few.

However, last year I spooled up some 3lb suffix ice line, but never had enough ice to use it. So this spring I grabbed the reel and threw it on a 5′ UL st. croix premier and went bluegill fishing with it. It worked awesome for throwing little micro plastics for big bull bluegills off the beds. So I dont know how it works in the cold, but in the warm weather it is a darn nice line. I’m going to try it this winter if we get ice and see if its better than my go-to trilene micro ice.

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I have heard a lot of good things about the Suffix line. I used some of it last year and worked good the 8 times I got out on good ice. Northern Iowa sucked for winter fishing. Kinda headed down the same road. Thanks for the feedback
Jason

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I’ve been happy with 2# Stren Hi-Vis yellow, no leader straight yellow right to the lure. Much easier to see against the ice and water in the hole. I see a lot of my bites on the line.

Duke

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What type of fish/size are you landing? Thanks for the info.

sounds fantastic, but a long drive for me to go solo, especially if hit bad weather. I will keep in mind if I can find a rider and you still have space. thanks for the information!!

i have the larger one

these universal for any auger I take it?

From what I know, spirit started to ice over in the bays and then was supposed to open up with the warmer weather we have. Clear Lake was supposed to be wide open, but I cant confirm. I am just north of waterloo/cedar falls, and their is only a skimming on the ponds that would have went away today.

thats pretty sweet. I get on 12-13 inch once in a while here in iowa. What is required for gear. Bring own? If I decided to do it, I would be by myself as my normal ice fishing partner is busy during your time frame.

well, that is a 5-6 hr drive from my location, never fished it before and unfortunately my normal fishing buddy is tied up between xmas and new years when I have the time to come that way, hoping to find something closer to the border
but will keep that in mind! thanks!

keeps my 2 man frabill warm on the coldest of days! i dont think you would ever regret it!!

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He wasn’t trying to eat the spoon. He was trying to get that bass hooked on the spoon so you’d pull it out of his mouth. Either that or the bass tasted so bad he wanted to end it.

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how big of crappies are we talking about? Here in Iowa, no ice, but its an 8 1/2 hr drive to Int. falls.

ok,so here is the deal, it is $1500 more for a 550 with fuel injection, larger carrying load, etc, etc, compared to a 500 HO carb unit. I am leaning towards the 500 because 1500 is a lot of $$$ to add Fuel injection and some extra capacity. Thoughts???? also, i thought Polaris had $1000 rebate on these units, turns out, only $500, can anyone confirm??? Thanks guys (and gals) stay safe

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I have a 01 and a 03 Honda 450 Foreman since new, both carburated. Had trouble with cold starts at first. One day as I was cursing my nephew asked if I had primed it. I said WTH, a primer? It took a while to find it but once I learned that neither unit has never failed to start. If cold weather starting is the priority, in that price range I would look for a 2-stroke Polaris ATV.

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X2 on the primer makes a huge differance when it,s 20 below!!!!

Ajs

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Not sure how much extreme cold fishing I am going to do, but when it sits out all night on the ice at -10 to 0 F, I want that puppy to start!!!

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I had a 1999 Polaris Sportsman 500 that had 13,000 miles on it and about 1600 hours when I sold it. Carbureted, no problems starting and running. A comfortable ride with good suspension. I currently have a 2005 Bombardier Traxter Max 2 up with about 11,000 miles on it. A not too powerful cold starter and suspension is solid in back so a stiffer ride. The long wheel base offsets that some. I like it for training my dogs but would not choose it for back country use ice fishing. I have a 2003 Honda Rincon with 16,000 miles on it. Great suspension, great starter. The type of transmission it has requires a several minute warmup to function properly. It needs a carburetor kit now but has been and easy starter. I have a 2006 Honda Rubicon with 8,000 miles on it. A great starter and dependable in every way but poor suspension makes for a bumpy, uncomfortable ride. We use our machines to train sled dogs in the early season and even now with only about 3 inches of snow here in the UP where I am at. Today I ran a team 23 miles and took the rest of the day off to watch the Vikings. (Now watching Green Bay vs. Detroit.) These were all carbureted and no real problems other than the rebuild due on the Honda Rincon
I would recommend any machine with good suspension. Lots of low mileage, good machines out there too.
Saying all of that my own opinion is that a snowmachine is easier on the back when it has good suspension. I know that my ATV’s get stuck in lots of snow, especially when towing something. If you plan on getting off plowed roads an ATV will limit you severely. If you go where the plows go you will be fine. By the way, don’t buy your used ATV from a dog musher. Too many miles and the could be speckled with dog [censored]. That is not a unique camo pattern.

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Thanks for the info, couldnt agree more about the musher comment!!!

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The Polaris X2 550 EFI is a super machine…
I am with you on the herniated disc deal, selling my 94′ vmax 600 ice fishing machine due to that deal.

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sorry to hear about your back. That is why I am in the market for an ATV. Thanks for the info.

do you find that the newer carburetor models cause any issues? Or as SmokinBobo stated, go fuel injected?

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I run a honda rancher 400. More than enough power for ice fishing. When I have a group of 4 or more, I usually pull my aluma trailer behind it with everyone on the trailer, with our gear. Never found snow deep enough not to get threw. Set a chains on the back tires is a must though. I fish Mille lacs most of the time so drifts can get deep. Have never had an issue with it sitting out over night in below freezing temps on the ice.
Wallster ><((((>

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Is your 400 fuel injected or carb?