S9E1 - Season 9 Gear Check! Donkey or Dink?

Written By Hard Water Fishing Show

Season 9 kicks off with Gear Check: Donkey or Dink? — where we decide what ice-fishing gear stays in the sled and what gets tossed or sold. From shelters and augers to tip-ups, bait setups, and sonar tech, we go through it all with plenty of first-ice chatter, fountain-pop philosophy, and Minnesota-nice banter.

This episode also covers DIY track sleds, new gadgets to test this season, and why we’ll always keep the show ice fishing and ice-fishing-adjacent. Whether you’re gearing up for first ice or cleaning out last season’s clutter, this one’s your pre-season tune-up.

Episode Summary

We’re back! In our Season 9 opener, we lay out the ground rules for “Donkey or Dink”—the gear we’ll keep all season vs. what’s getting listed on Marketplace. We wander (as always) through first-ice plans, foam-cup fountain pop superiority, and why this show will always be politics-free and ice-fishing-adjacent. We thank supporters, talk about keeping sponsorships minimal to stay objective, and shout out listener questions (track sleds / “Snowdog” style rigs).

“Donkey gear is what stays in the sled. Dinks? Those get listed, traded, or tossed.”

Listen to this episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/68tu9tnPGw6YZlgWXMUTO7

Episode At-a-Glance

0:00 – Welcome back: Season 9 intro, how we run the show (maps we don’t look at)
0:18 – Tonight’s topic: Gear Check — Donkey or Dink (what we keep vs. what we ditch)
3:58 – The show’s vibe: Ice-fishing-adjacent, politics-free zone
5:33 – Audio note: Jason remote from a hotel
5:48 – What we’re drinking: Jason goes non-alcoholic; Jeff opens a MN oatmeal stout
7:13 – Foam cup fountain pop: Casey’s run, Diet Mountain Dew truths
12:49 – Patrons & support: Thanks and how to support
14:57 – Sponsorship philosophy: Why we stay sponsor-light
15:34 – Listener mail: Track sled / Snowdog practicality in WI
17:08 – DIY track sled notes: Where they shine vs. struggle
21:03 – Custom shack builds: North Metro show creativity
23:36 – Current events: Jiffy rebrand tease; HWS ranked #11 fishing podcast
25:23 – New on the blog: Ice show roundup, shelter guide, bait storage
26:33 – Electric knife blades: Meat vs. bone, sharpening realities
31:06 – Lure addiction: Starters/bench/cut list; bargain-bin truths
39:47 – Donkey or Dink — the lists: Shacks, storage, augers, tip-ups, electronics
1:10:36 – New gadget: Pocket sonar puck for hole-hopping
1:12:05 – Legends: Bring your legend to the St. Paul Ice Show

Donkey or Dink — Our Calls

Shacks & Shelter

Donkey

  • Clam Escape Ice Thermal (hub) — Big-top comfort, durable, great for family and ice-camping. https://bit.ly/43HPZhx

  • Otter Cabin Pro (hub) — Perfect 2-person size, packs small, insulated, great doors. https://amzn.to/48VMk3n

Wishlist Donkey

  • Eskimo Outbreak 450XDP — Lowered hub = smaller pack-down + bigger windows; multiple doors; HVAC ports. https://amzn.to/3WXwcXB

Dink or On the Bubble

  • Frabil Recon - One-man flip that’s too tight — Light but cramped; time to list. You can find a full tour of this shack on our Youtube channel here https://youtu.be/8NAdhO89JkI

  • Clam Kenai Thermal Stealth — Functional but tight for larger frames; one more season. Here is a video on our Youtube page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38O2l95mm1Q

  • Thermal floors — Great for camping but bulky for run-and-gun. Here is a link to the new otter floor, notice that is thicker https://bit.ly/3JpSGNY

Storage & Tackle

Donkey

  • Fish More Jig Cases — Stop chipped paint and tangled trebles. Check it out here https://bit.ly/3WrlrNa

  • Small sling or backpack — Piscifun Fishing Backpack - Keep tackle separate from rods for easy carry-in. I love this thing, its just the right size to fit all of my gear separate from my rod case https://amzn.to/47K7UXo

  • My current rod case made by 2B. I love this thing hods 4 rods and durable and goldilocks sized https://bit.ly/4hrJiWw

Dink

  • Oversized rod lockers — Too clunky; modular beats monolithic. I had the Eskimo rod locker and it was to big. https://amzn.to/48KDlSq

Tip-Ups

Donkey

Dink

  • $100+ tip ups

Augers

Donkey

  • Strikemaster 40V — Still the most cold-tolerant battery auger we’ve used. https://amzn.to/4np4oX2 There is a new one coming out. Should be lighter.

  • Eskimo Pistol Bit + 20V drill — Perfect early-ice combo; lightweight and efficient. https://amzn.to/43DPIMw

Dink

  • Heavy steel flighting on my ice auger — Too heavy; time to upgrade.

Bait

Donkey

Dink

  • Frabil Magnum13-qt insulated buckets — Great for the boat, overkill on the ice. https://amzn.to/4nwEQr9

Electronics

Donkey

Dink

  • Under-sized lithium shuttles — Cold + small capacity = short runtime.

New Gadget to Try

https://amzn.to/47ceC8p

Garmin Striker Cast-style sonar puck — Uses your phone as a screen, powers only when in the water, pocketable for hole-hopping or a second hole inside the shack. We’ll report back after testing.

Listener Question: Track Sled / “Snowdog” in Wisconsin

Short answer: Great for short walks and moderate snow with a small sled in tow. Watch glare ice (traction), very deep snow (limited power), and transport (hitch carriers/trailers can be messy). Don’t cheap out on engines for DIY builds. In Wisconsin they’re common; licensing usually not an issue—but always check local regs and access rules.

Show Business & Shout-Outs

Bring Us Your Legend (St. Paul Ice Show)

We’ll be roaming the St. Paul Ice Fishing Show! Stop us and tell your legend — we’ll record you for a future episode. Can’t make it? Record a voice memo and email it in; audio is gold.

Notable Quotes

  • “We always have a map—we just don’t always look at it.”

  • “Politics-free. Ice-fishing-adjacent. That’s our lane.”

  • “Fountain pop in a foam cup is elite performance hydration.”

Episode Links & Mentions

Fish More Jig Cases https://bit.ly/3WrlrNa
Clam Escape Ice Thermal
Otter Cabin Pro https://amzn.to/48VMk3n
Eskimo Outbreak 450XDP https://amzn.to/3WXwcXB
Beaver Dam Tip-Ups https://amzn.to/4ocoTHy
Engel 7.5-qt Bait Cooler (Lithium) https://amzn.to/47xxXQh
Strikemaster 40V https://amzn.to/4np4oX2
Eskimo Pistol Bit https://amzn.to/43DPIMw
Humminbird ICE 35/55 https://amzn.to/4nwEQr9 https://amzn.to/4qwQGnM
Humminbird Helix 7 Ice https://amzn.to/4qwQGnM
Garmin Striker Cast https://amzn.to/47ceC8p

Hard Water Fishing Show