Venturing further out?

[Mudcat21]

Is there anybody out there that has taken day trips further out on sleds? When I mean further out, like 20 miles or so. My friends and I just got back yesterday from fishing right inside four mile bay. (No Luck) So the conversation turned to a big trip further out. Just wondering if others have done it and how was the experience? Not necessarly talking the fishing but travel and that type of stuff. Thanks

[Lip RIPPER!]

We took sleds from Rocky Point up to Oak Island on Sat and Sunday. Going across the lake is really bumpy and slow going. Lots of broken stuff when we got there. Isn't that right dad? Once you hit the groomed trail, it's not that bad.

[Guest]

Whats your average speed on the groomed trail?

We are heading up in 2 weeks to Oak Island. Were taking sleds up from Sportsmans lodge and plan on fishing on the way up. Probably start fishing at Knights and Bridges.

[12lb8oz]

I am thinking about doing the same this weekend. How long did it take you? Was it worth the extra miles? And where did you hook up with the groomed trail? Did you head northeast or straight east from Rocky? Thanks for any info you want to share?

[Lip RIPPER!]

Average speed across the lake and off the trail was around 20-25 and the trail was anywhere from 40-60 mph. Off the trail is ROUGH! We hit the trail east of Stoney and jumped on the trail there. Took us a little over an hour to get there. Don't think my body will ever feel the same though.

[Kaz]

Mudcat or anyone else: If you are trying to get to Garden or Knight, why pound yourself across from Long Point?? It may be a longer ride from Wheelers, but the speed you can travel on Sportsman's trail is much smoother and faster. You can acccess the bomber trail in four mile bay and it runs all the way to OaK Island... It's clearly marked and they travel it all day long.... It's not for wheeled units, but sleds work fine.... Kaz

[MJCatfish]

Kaz is right. We took that trail up last year and it made things easy for us to get the reefs we wanted to fish.

MJ

[Mudcat21]

Thanks Kaz,

I was wondering how far the bomber trails went up. We would be heading off Wheeler's so it makes total sense to follow the trail. How long does it take to get up to Knights? Has anyone venture with 4 wheelers up to Garden or Knight? Some of our group don't have sleds.

[Kaz]

Mudcat: I don't think I'd try to run the bomber trail with a 4 wheeler. There may be places where you might get stuck.. You may be better off loading up the extra people in some type pull behind tub sled, rather than trying the wheels. I've seen some snowmobile trailers with skis under the wheels which worked very well for gear and people too.. Knight is about 9/10 miles out, Garden almost 20 from the gap. The bomber drivers get a little testy when you dig up the trail too. And also the wheelers are quite a bit slower too.. If you can go 50mph on the trail, it may be worth thinking about shuttling the extra persons back and forth... Kaz

[Mudcat21]

I heard the bombers can get a little testy with their trail. Thanks for the good info. I'll be passing it along to the other guy's in the group. Not like the fishing could any better by going way out but it just would be nice to get away from the hoards of people.

[lureman]

The trail from Wheelers Point to the Angle is a groomed SNOWMOBILE TRAIL, ATV's should ride off to the side. The wheelers rut the trail and make travel dangerous for snowmobiles. I'm not sure if the trail has been groomed yet. Driving an ATV or pickup on a groomed snowmobile trail may be a violation. I recall some discusion on this topic last year but can not recall the final outcome. If someone in the know has the answer please share.

[Mudcat21]

ATV's are not suppose to ride on disignated snowmobile trails and is a violation. So is the trail that the bombers use a sled trail or there own trail?

[LABS4ME]

The bombers have their own trail... We've run up to Knight and Bridges several times over the last few years... The marked and groomed trail brings you within a 1/4 mile or so of those reefs. The bomber trails in the past have been anywhere between 50 and 200 yrds off the side of the snowmobile trail. ATV's can be tagged if on a designated snowmobile trail, and you don't even want to see what will happen if you tear up a bomber trail with an ATV and get caught by a driver... You'd have your hands full taking an ATV up there if there is any amount of snow anyways. Snowmobiles are the only way, pulling a fish house up there is 30-40 minutes at around 40 miles an hour... That's off the access or Borderview reosrt. It's slowly getting busier up there. Last year we probably had a dozen or so houses around us on a Saturday. Fishing is usually decent up there... but we've also had our tough days. About 8 years ago when we had basically zero snow on the ice... an old brown Chevy 3/4 ton drove out there two days in a row... That was something to see...

Good Luck!

Ken