Safety First: On-Ice Transportation

Since In-Fisherman headquarters is located in the heart of the ice belt, we're used to drilling holes and battling Mother Nature’s worst to survive the annual four-month deep freeze otherwise known as winter. It’s just a part of the regular routine of life in these parts.

Thing is, we love it! The memories made while ice fishing with family and friends are worth the time investment and endurance. But safety must be your No. 1 concern.

As a rule, I don’t even walk on the hard water until there’s a minimum of 4 inches – that’s me and a sled full of gear. From there, 5 to 6 inches can support you and a buddy with a portable shelter; 7 to 10 inches are the marks I adhere to when traveling by snowmobile or ATV. If you use a side-by-side/UTV, I’d suggest waiting until the thickness reaches double digits.

To drive a pickup or SUV on a lake, make sure you’ve got at least 12 to 15 inches of ice beneath the tires.

Don’t compromise on safety – nearly all on-ice accidents can be avoided if the necessary precautions are observed and the well-being of everyone around you is the top priority.

When the time comes to pull your wheelhouse out to the weed edge or main-lake basin, whether using an ATV/UTV or pickup, you need to be confident in the ice consistency shoreline to shoreline. At this point in the season, winter is generally in full swing and snow is a factor. Some of the lakes we most often fish receive ice-road maintenance via local resorts who plow paths to make access easier. But the fishing is usually better on lakes that don’t get as much attention or pressure.

Larger ATVs and UTVS are the ticket when pulling a small- to medium-size wheelhouse through snow as the horsepower matches better to the load when compared to a snowmobile. We like a snowmobile when heading deeper into the wilderness while hauling a two-person portable shelter and the necessary gear.

In any situation where snow is a factor, Camso UTV 4S1 Track System takes snow and ice mobility to new levels. Simply put, nothing will stop you. By improving traction, flotation and stability, the track kits add year-round application to hunters and anglers alike through deep snow, swamps, marshes and mud.

The company’s exclusive Flex-Track design features front-mounted tracks with flexible sides and a slight curve toward the inside to improve the ride on any surface. The tracks are stable, provide a more comfortable ride than traditional flat tracks and offer precise steering for pleasant long-distance riding and long working hours.

In other words, getting there will now be quick and easy – all while enjoying the ride thanks to maximized shock absorption without increased friction and wear.

The Camso track systems are engineered to retain maximum ATV horsepower and increase the torque required to effectively pull portable shelters full of ice-fishing gear and small- to mid-size wheelhouses onto the ice. With this system, the optimal traction created will take you further on frozen, snow-covered lakes where the best fishing is typically found. The added traction, stability, mobility, and flotation create the confidence in the level of performance that all ice anglers demand from their gear.

It’s hard to put a price on trouble-free operation.

Ice fishing isn’t just a hobby or a pastime, it’s a rugged lifestyle that requires the gear be not only as tough as the conditions, but also just as tough as the anglers themselves. In the North, we don’t fight Mother Nature, rather we embrace it and find rejuvenation in the wintertime experience that we look forward to each and every year.

Invest in quality gear from top to bottom and your gear will take care of you.

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