I finally bit the bullet and bought a sled. Now I can't wait for the snow. I figure I would get alot more use out of a sled than a quad. Plus my old man just bought a new one ( quad ) so I can use his.

 

Alaska's suicide rate should start climbing soon. I personally dont mind snow, I say bring it! However, if I lived in Seattle or Rhode Island, where it almost constantly rained. . . then I'd shut the garage door while IROC's running. . .

 

Congrats!
Snowmobiling is a hoot, especially on the trail systems.

I think I'd get more use out of an ATV (I like the side x side UTV), but I'd love to have a snowmachine too. For deep slush snowmachines smoke ATV's. ATV's usually get stuck, whereas the snowmachine can just up and glide across the top.

About 15 miles north from the spot where my sig pic was takem, but on the same lake, I really put the 4x4 to use. There was at least a foot of water and slush on top of the ice. ATV's were having trouble. Once I got the momentum, I didn't lay off. I hit pockets like this every now and again. These are my tire tracks:

 

My managed environment at work doesn't allow me to view pics from photobucket but I know all too well what they look like. The lake I usually frequent in the winter has lots of that where springs run into the lake. Nothing like driving on the ice when it's -25 and bogging in slush! My Expy plows right thru it.

 

I hear you man. I hate the shorter days also and wish they wouldn't push clocks back. Im a tropical animal and for now I move back and forth between VA, FL and CA when it gets cold.
One day I will live in the south east between May and November and somewhere in the FL Keys or the Caribbean during the cold months I hate the cold so much.

It's nice to visit snow once in a blue moon dressed correctly but to live in it is depressing.

That hole in the ice looks interesting. What month did you take that photo?

 

I don't have dates on my pics. I need to put some dates on before I really get old and forget. I know it was in 2007 so I think it was late January because we had a late season in 07 where the temperature really didnt drop until late Dec - beginning of Jan.

Last season we were on the ice before Christmas.

 

I was thinking it took most of the winter...Im cold with a headache just looking at the photos.
Where I live it's unusual to see the lakes with any ice...they preach to kids to stay away...it's crazy to think of driving the truck on it. Must be a blast.
Many people or vehicles go thru going out too early?

 

A little further north the municipalities use 8 ton plows to clean roads off on the ice in some areas.
Yes, every season there are a few vehicles, ATV's, and snowmachines that go through. It's always for the same reasons though. These boneheads are either out too early, out too late, or just don't know where they're going.

Acouple of more pics:

 

what do you use to cut the hole in the ice? I know absolutely nothing about ice fishing, like i said we get an average of no snow per year

 

but I'm sure someone has put an engine of some sort on them now. . .

 

I have a 3hp gas power auger, but the latest is electric augers, which really only broke the market last season. Reviews are good so far.
This pic was taken on a nice mild day, so not worth setting up the shelter.

I also still had my crappy stock factory tires then.

 

i'd just sit there with a blow dryer

looks fun, i'd like to try it someday, what kind of fish do you catch?

 

It is a good time, even if you're not catching anything. It's good ole social time

We get walleye, perch, lake trout, white fish, and pike. That's all on the same lake those pics were taken, but it just depends on where you fish on that lake.

Notice the sunflower heater on top of the propane tank? That thing works good inside or outside the shelter, and lasts forever on a 20lb tank..