Ice fishing demands specialized gear, and keeping that gear organized and protected can be a challenge. Many anglers face the problem of damaged equipment due to items shifting within the sled during transport. Fortunately, with some simple modifications, you can protect your investments and enhance your overall ice fishing experience.
The mix of heavy and/or sharp equipment with fragile rods and electronics is simply a recipe for disaster. Most issues with gear damage stem from stuff jumping around in your sled. Even if you’re a passive ice angler, a quick trip to the hardware store and an afternoon in the garage will make a world of difference for the durability and longevity of your gear. So, one of the most important things you can do is to strap that stuff down.
Securing Your Gear with Bungee Cords
One effective method to secure your gear involves installing eye bolts along the sides of your sled. These bungees also allow you to secure a tarp on top of your gear to keep the sled from filling up with snow thrown off snow machine tracks. I added eye bolts at intervals along the sides of my sled in order to run bungee cords between them to hold gear in place.
Materials Needed:
- Eye bolts (8 with 1 ½ inches of thread)
- Matching nyloc nuts
- Fender washers
- Bungee cords
Installation Steps:
- Measure the length of the sled and divide by four to find your spacing.
- Drill holes at the desired interval with a bit the same width as your eye bolts.
- Push the bolt through, add a fender washer to keep the hardware from pulling through the relatively weak plastic, then screw the nyloc nut down tight.
- Install all your eye bolts then string bungee cords between them.
- Make sure the bungees are shorter than the width of the sled.
Creating Custom Rod Holders
It’s super handy to have several rigged rods ready to go at all times-and separated from each other to prevent the inevitable tangles. There are many ways to accomplish this task but there’s probably no better or cheaper material for rod holders than PVC.
Materials Needed:
- 6-foot section of PVC pipe
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- 4-inch bolts
- Washers
- Nyloc nuts
Construction and Installation:
- I took a 6-foot section of pipe and cut it into 1-foot segments with a jigsaw.
- I drilled holes 2 inches from the ends, then six holes across the stern of my sled.
- Then I ran 4-inch bolts through the PVC, through the back of the sled, added washers, then tightened down nyloc nuts down just tight enough that they didn’t compress the pipe.
Auger Mounting System
Your auger is arguably the most important piece of gear for hardwater angling. It’s also likely the most destructive when shit goes sideways. If you’re towing behind a vehicle, it’s also best to keep the auger down low in the sled and strapped down with your bungees. First of all, it’s always a good call to strap on the blade protector cup whenever you’re traveling in order to keep your blades sharp and prevent them from gashing up anything within reach.
Read also: Sled Pullers for Ice Fishing
However, when you’re in the zone, dragging your sled and prospecting around, you’ll want to have your auger handy to punch hole after hole. It isn’t a great practice to set it (and all the slush it’s collected) on top of all your other gear. To solve for this issue, I added brackets to the bow of my sled to hold my auger for easy access.
Materials Needed:
- Forked, coated brackets (for shovels or bikes)
- Drill
- Wood blocks (for backing plates)
- Screws
Installation Steps:
- At the hardware store I found these forked, coated brackets meant for hanging shovels or bikes on a garage wall.
- To attach I simply drilled holes on opposite sides of the sled down through into wood blocks that serve as backing plates.
- Screw the bracket into the hole, angle it correctly, then repeat on the other side.
Here's a summary table of the DIY modifications discussed:
| Modification | Materials | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Bungee Cord System | Eye bolts, nyloc nuts, fender washers, bungee cords | Securing gear and preventing movement during transport. |
| PVC Rod Holders | PVC pipe, jigsaw, drill, bolts, washers, nyloc nuts | Creating individual slots to store and protect fishing rods. |
| Auger Mount | Forked brackets, drill, wood blocks, screws | Easy access to auger. |
With these DIY modifications, your ice fishing sled will be well-equipped to handle the rigors of the ice, keeping your gear safe, organized, and readily accessible.
Do-it-yourself projects and creativity and are a huge part of ice fishing culture and success. Try these mods and five more in this article to take your hardwater angling up a notch this winter.
The "Sledski" Collapsible Smitty Sled
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