What Are Ice Fishing Sleds Used For
Ice fishing sleds are used to carry all of your gear across the ice. Rather than making multiple trips to carry heavy equipment like ice augers, rods, tackle, and more, anglers can store all their gear in a sled. Sleds are easy to pull across the ice, making for efficient travel across the ice. If you’re drilling multiple holes during an ice fishing trip, you’ll want a sled to quickly move from hole to hole.
In case of emergency, a sled can also be useful for dragging an injured angler across the ice.
Fish307 offers the best sleds at competitive prices, from reputable brands like Shappell, Clam Outdoors, HT Enterprises, Otter, and more. We also offer sled accessories such as hitches, harnesses, and covers to keep your gear dry and safe.
How To Choose an Ice Sled
An ice fishing sled should be on every ice fishing gear list. If you’re not sure which sled to buy, however, there are a few factors to look for. Consider how you’ll use your ice sled, how much fishing gear you need to transport, and other features. Look for these features when choosing a sled for ice fishing:
Size
How much gear do you need to fit in your sled? Choose a sled based on how much gear you need to carry. If you prefer to travel light, a more compact sled will do well. If you’re carrrying all of your tackle, a shelter or tent, ice augers, and more, you may need extra space in your sled to prevent making multiple trips across the ice.
When you’re considering size, factor in not only the length and width, but the depth of your sled. Some sleds may be more compact, but are deeper so that they can hold more gear. Shape also comes into play here: if you have long pieces of gear to carry, a longer sled may be better. If you have a lot of smaller gear, then depth may be preferable.
Don’t forget to measure whether or not a sled will fit in your car. Sleds may be strapped to the top of a car, but if you plan on keeping it in your backseat or trunk, it will need to fit the dimensions of your vehicle.
Portability
If your sled is difficult to drag across the ice, then it isn’t doing its job. A sled should be easy to drag across snow and ice so that you can quickly transport your gear without struggling.
Good ice fishing sleds are designed for this purpose. They should use materials that are smooth and easy to pull, and many also feature designs along the bottom to improve portability. Many ice sleds use ribs or rails of sorts to make them easier to drag.
Also consider the tow rope on your ice sled of choice. The rope should be the right length so that it is comfortable to drag without bending over or losing gear along the way.
Weight
Ice fishing gear can be heavy, especially if you’re packing items like ice augers or tents. Sleds make it easier to carry that weight, but they still can become weighed down. That’s why the best ice sleds should be lightweight themselves. You don’t want a heavy sled to add to the weight you’re already pulling with all of your gear.
Durability
While your sled should be lightweight so that it’s easy to pull, it shouldn’t be flimsy. An ice fishing sled should be light enough to pull easily, but durable enough to effectively carry your gear without getting damaged. Try to find a balance in weight and durability - the best sleds will be both lightweight and strong.
Ice is often sharp, so an ice sled should be made with materials that can resist friction as it is dragged. A cheap plastic sled will break if it is dragged across ice too much. Look for sleds made with strong, durable materials that can withstand harsh ice fishing conditions.
Make Your Ice Fishing Sled Last
Pick from Fish307’s top-rated ice fishing sleds and you are sure to find the perfect product for your next fishing trip.
To keep your sled in good shape, be wise about how you use it. Put heavier gear on the bottom to weigh down the sled and to prevent damage to lighter gear that could be crushed. Try to distribute the weight evenly across the sled to prevent tipping.
On rainy or especially wet days, check out our ice sled accessories like covers to keep your gear dry and safe. We also offer assorted anchors, hitches, and harnesses to make it easy to drag your sled, whether attached to a car, ATV, snowmobile, or yourself.
Get all of your ice fishing needs here on Fish307!
