How Far Are You Willing To Walk?

[JBMasterAngler]

Just curious how far some of you have walked across a lake to find a fishing spot? I don’t officially know myself, but assume I’ve done 3 or so miles round trip on Mille Lacs looking for tullibee. I’m probably going to try and double that (and more) in search of them again, late in the season. Has anyone traveled via bicycle across ice? I’m considering that too. Oh what we’re willing to do for a fish

[monstermoose78]

53 minutes ago, JBMasterAngler said:

Just curious how far some of you have walked across a lake to find a fishing spot? I don’t officially know myself, but assume I’ve done 3 or so miles round trip on Mille Lacs looking for tullibee. I’m probably going to try and double that (and more) in search of them again, late in the season. Has anyone traveled via bicycle across ice? I’m considering that too. Oh what we’re willing to do for a fish

In college I hiked into high lake by ely and the locals thought I was nuts. But I hiked into bass lake almost  daily round trip to the spot I fished was 2.2 miles

[Rick G]

lol... a few times, way way too far.   Like you, my furthest adventure was on Mille lacs.  Couple buddies and I hoofed it from the pubic at Indian point, to the far Nw tip of the Needle on roughly 4-5 inches.   Yep, what we will put our selfs through for a few fish..... sometimes has me questioning my own sanity

[eyeguy 54]

3 minutes ago, Rick G said:

lol... a few times, way way too far.   Like you, my furthest adventure was on Mille lacs.  Couple buddies and I hoofed it from the pubic at Indian point, to the far Nw tip of the Needle on roughly 4-5 inches.   Yep, what we will put our selfs through for a few fish..... sometimes has me questioning my own sanity

I question your sanity daily?

[Kettle]

On early season ice with no snow and cleats I've gone 3 miles one way. Just had a small snow sled.

Have gone several miles skiing into trout lakes in the dead of winter.

[smurfy]

At most maybe a mile. But it was uphill both ways.

[JBMasterAngler]

The biggest game changer this year, I bought a vest harness to pull my gear. That makes pulling a sled 10 times easier! So yeah, as long as there’s no snow or slush, I’m looking to trek out to some of the known tullibee flats. 

[leech~~]

The distanced I'll walk has to be proportionate to the prize. Walleye or Lakers maybe but I an't walken 3 miles for a tulli.

[eyeguy 54]

I have  a treadmill so I prefer to not walk so far on lakes. 

[leech~~]

1 hour ago, eyeguy 54 said:

I have  a treadmill so I prefer to not walk so far on lakes. 

Well I hear yeah. I have a snowmobile, but for thin early and late ice my sled or riding a treadmill might be to heavy?

[monstermoose78]

JB if you go out from the north end of the lake it’s not as far to walk to tullipee areas

[Hookmaster]

First "panties" now this: "Couple buddies and I hoofed it from the pubic at Indian point,".

 

What is happening to this site?  

[papadarv]

No longer walk. Built a riding SnoDog from a Polaris indi, 180#, 5HP motor, 25# lighter than me has reverse. Pull portable on Smitty sled, only early ice 5+ inches ice to 14" ice. After that pickup. By March, had enough and wait for open water.

[SkunkedAgain]

Up until this winter, I used to hike 5 miles each way to my cabin on Vermilion. After many years of doing that pulling a sled of gear, I had finally gotten into a pretty good routine. I used a relatively cheap, plastic sled from Gander with a rope attached to a chest harness. I walked with my snowshoe poles, switched from heavy boots to muklucks, and bought a pair of search & rescue pants from REI. They were great because they protected from the wind, but had air flow pockets. Last spring I picked up a 10yr old snowmobile and this year another. Now I'm 20lbs fatter!

[Wanderer]

I never clocked my ice travels but I’m guessing maybe 2 miles round trip in a straight line.  Take into account the hole hopping routinely done and tack on the yardage.

 

The drags that have killed me the most were through too much snow or getting into slush on below zero days where it freezes to the bottom of your sled and causes a ton of friction.

 

I haven’t used a tow vest but found putting the rope over the back of my neck, over the front of my shoulders and out under my arms does pretty well.  Pulling with my shoulders my hands are completely free, but higher point of pull than a vest.

 

I have back packed before instead of pulling.  That worked really well except the realization of how risky that is on thin ice.  I’d do it again for a long haul through poor pulling conditions though.

[mnjedman]

I have walked a number of lakes 1 - 2 miles pulling my clam.  Considering mounting old skis to the bottom to make it easier to pull through deep snow

[rundrave]

A smitty sled makes the world of difference. I regret not building one a long time ago. It’s amazing how much easier it makes pulling everything 

[JBMasterAngler]

If there’s snow and/or slush, I’m not walking anywhere never had that issue on Mille Lacs in March though (knock on wood).

[monstermoose78]

18 minutes ago, JBMasterAngler said:

If there’s snow and/or slush, I’m not walking anywhere never had that issue on Mille Lacs in March though (knock on wood).

I am thinking of doing a tullipee hunt or chase big gills on Mille lacs 

[JBMasterAngler]

I don’t know how many miles I walked today, but oh boy are my dogs barking tonight! Going back to Mille Lacs tomorrow, and planning on walking even farther. Long drive home gave me some time to think of some strategies to make my hike much easier. We’ll see what happens

[JBMasterAngler]

Walked a little farther out today. Dressed real light, including just wearing hiking shoes...made a HUGE difference! Was able to keep my feet dry too! Was a little tougher pulling sled back to shore though, as the surface of the ice was getting softer.

[slipperybob]

I did walk about an hour one way.  And it's not straight because I cannot walk in a perfect straight line.