Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Retrieving A Sunken Snowmobile

SkunkedAgain
 Share

Recommended Posts

SkunkedAgain Grand Master

SkunkedAgain

Posted
Posted

Hearing that some areas have weak ice and seeing that snow is possibly coming next week, I started thinking about it being a bad winter for ice on the smaller bays. That led to thinking about snowmobiles sinking. So how does one recover a snowmobile that's gone through the ice in 10ft of water in the middle of a bay? Do you have to hire someone to get it out? How can you get it above the ice and pull it to safety if you go the DIY route? I did a web search but didn't find much info.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
leech~~ Grand Master

leech~~

Posted
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

By Law you have to remove it. Most hire a recovery company and if the ice is to thin they mark the spot with a GPS or thin ice sign and come back once the ice is thicker and cut a hole to dive down and hook it up to a wench system put up over the hole.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cliff Wagenbach Grand Master

Cliff Wagenbach

Posted
Posted

10 ft. deep would not be to hard to retrieve yourself once the ice gets thick enough to put down planks on the ice and hook a 4 wheeler winch to the machine.

Deeper then that,you would need a diver to hook the machine for you!

Cliff

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Weathertite Proficient

Weathertite

Posted
Posted

The problem with that is I believe you only have a short period of time to get it out of the water. I think the fines are still pretty steep. Weathertite

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SkunkedAgain Grand Master

SkunkedAgain

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the concern guys! I haven't been up since mid-November so I assure you that my old, rusty-white Polaris is still waiting for her first run of the season.

In case something ever happened, I wanted to have an idea of how to do it before I was in a rush to get it out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DrJuice1980 Mentor

DrJuice1980

Posted
Posted

I believe its 45 days to get it out yourself, after which its considered an environmental hazard.  Then the DNR will step in and coordinate the removal, which will likely be MUCH greater than paying for recovery.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
smurfy Grand Master

smurfy

Posted
Posted

I had a good friend dump his wheeler in. man did he got his butt chewed from da missis!!!!!!! it wasn't all to far from shore but in 25-30 ft of water. he managed to get out. what he did was get a boat, used my underwater camera, a long rope and a big treble/gaffe hook and used another ATV to pull it to shore.

he eventually got it back up and running!!!!!!

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
CigarGuy Mentor

CigarGuy

Posted
Posted

Hey SkunkedAgain,  My neighbor talked to Gary and he's riding his wheeler out to his place in Black Bay.  Said 5-6" of ice.  We just got about 4" of heavy wet snow last night and it sounds like more is on the way.  Hope that doesn't screw things up. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SkunkedAgain Grand Master

SkunkedAgain

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yup, I get regular ice reports. I know that it's safe for me to get into the bay right now.

So it sounds like you need to hook the sled somehow (grapple hook, etc), and either find stable ice to pull it onto or use ice saws/chainsaws to cut a lane towards shore. Otherwise hire it out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fishingdad Community Regular

fishingdad

Posted
Posted

So has anybody walked out anywhere on vermilion since the snow fell on the ice that had formed? Is it a slushy mess or did the colder nights firm it up?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cliff Wagenbach Grand Master

Cliff Wagenbach

Posted
Posted

A friend and I plan to try to get out this afternoon somewhere on Vermilion.

I will post with our results this evening.

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Weathertite Proficient

Weathertite

Posted
Posted

Good luck Cliff , Hope you get into the mother load of fish. Please let us know how you did and what you found for ice conditions. Be smart and stay safe !!!!

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      water levels

      By jparrucci · Posted

      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      water levels

      By mbeyer · Posted

      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      Ice-Out 2024

      By SkunkedAgain · Posted

      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      Ice-Out 2024

      By mbeyer · Posted

      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      Ice-Out 2024

      By Brianf. · Posted

      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      Ice-Out 2024

      By CigarGuy · Posted

      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      Ice-Out 2024

      By Brianf. · Posted

      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      Ice-Out 2024

      By CigarGuy · Posted

      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Sturgeon Fishing is Hot

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Ice-Out 2024

      By Brianf. · Posted

      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept