Group: Members
Posts: 387
Member No.: 12632
Joined: December 20, 2016
Hi Guys, I am getting excited for the hard water season. That being said, I am building a sled to pull my gear out (shelter, heater, chairs, rods, etc.) onto the lake. I am planning on using 2x4's and some SS sheet metal for the shoes of the sled.
I'd love to see/hear about your ice fishing sleds to give me ideas as to how I should design and build mine.
Group: Members
Posts: 387
Member No.: 12632
Joined: December 20, 2016
Thanks guys!
I really like yours Speo. I have plastic sled like your's there, but its just too small. I like how you incorporated it with your custom sled. I think I will do the same!
Group: Members
Posts: 165
Member No.: 2985
Joined: January 17, 2013
I built one i really liked this past winter that has been just awesome. I already had a smitty, but wanted something that could easily hold all my gear as well. I always walk out and with chairs heater rods etc it can be a pain to get everything tied down and not have things slide around and fall off sometimes.
Anyway, I ended uo building a 'box', with a hinged lid so sort of like a storage chest really. It has permanent smitty type skies attached to bottom and also removeable wheels for pulling along bare roads or from a parking lot etc. It holds my heater, tackle boxes, minnows (the worst thing for sliding around etc), food, thermos, extra mitts for my son (if you have kids you know why), scoop, etc etc. It can also hold my auger. On the end I made rod holders that can hold 6-8 ice fishing rods all set up and ready to go. When loaded up and lid is folded down, my 6 man hut is strapped down on top. It pulls like a dream. i also built it so three people (typically my wife and son) can sit on it as a seat, removing the need to bring extra chairs. Of course in reality it fits two guys perfectly but the three of us on there are just fine. In front of each seat station, I built in a spot to mount a rod holder so you can rest your rod there while rigging another set up or just take a break from jigging. Alot of perch are caught dead sticking like that. Drink holders can also be put in the rod holder mounts, (to stop the hot chocolate from getting kicked over, as often happens).
The best thing is that at the end of the day, I can throw everything in there be packed up and gone in minutes as opposed to the meticulous packing I had to do before.
I will post a pic but will need to find a new hosting service since photobucket pulled their cash grab.
Group: Members
Posts: 165
Member No.: 2985
Joined: January 17, 2013
Just tried first attempt using google photos...not sucecessful. Will try again.
front by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/137671548@N05/]
Okay, here it is. In this pic you can see teh permanantly attached skis and the front rod holders, which would be centred between your legs when jigging.
Group: Members
Posts: 165
Member No.: 2985
Joined: January 17, 2013
wheels - Copy by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/137671548@N05/]
This shows the wheels. I wanted to build an elegant wheel solution, that allowed me to easily swing down and lock wheels in place, but I coudn't come up with anything cheap and easy. I ended up with this solution, which is basically driving in a long cariage bolt through the supporting 2 x 4 of the smitty skis (yes I know shoud have used 2x6 etc but will change later), the carriage bolt is driven from the inside out, and extends maybe 2.5" past (outside of) the 2x4. I attach the wheels (which were 2.99 I think at Princess Auto) with wing nuts. The whole process takes about a minute or so, so still pretty fast. When I know I will be parking in a ot that make me walk along a road etc, I do it at home before loading in the car. Should also note that the sled/box is made from 3/8" thick exterior ply.
DIY Ice Fishing Sled, Building My Own
