Nebraskaland

62 Nebraskaland • December 2020 THE LAST STOP By Justin Haag HOME BASE It's too heavy, takes up too much space, but remains a signifi cant part of the mission. When I plunged into the ice-fi shing scene about 15 years ago, I decided I needed a sled to become a "real" ice angler. I had long admired the ingenuity in the various homemade sleds encountered on the ice, often being pulled by grizzled old-timers, and wanted one of my own. Before Clam and Frabill were constructing the modern sled-shanty combos that populate today's frozen waters, the homemade wooden sled served ice anglers well. A box situated on skis or sled runners not only provides storage, but also hole-side seating. From a sheet of half-inch plywood, a two-by-four and various pieces of scrap metal, I constructed what would become the home base for many winter days to come. I designed it with storage for poles and tip-ups, handles and, of course, a towrope. Later modifi cations would include rod holders and attachments for carrying the spud bar and gas auger. At just 15 years old, I guess calling this item an antique would be stretching the defi nition by quite a bit. Yet, while it may not be nearly as vintage as many of the sleds that provided the inspiration for its construction, I'm declaring that the "new red sled" has evolved to the "old red sled." My memory is fi lled with images of my son and daughter pulling it across the hard water — whether it be across a layer of slush on a 45-degree day or the rock-hard surface of a sub- zero outing. It started when each of them was about 3 years old, and, with each passing year, their feet have done a little less sliding while getting from place to place. Since the red sled's construction, our ice-fi shing arsenal has expanded to include many "necessities." Among them are a fl ip-style shanty, which is much lighter, provides cover from the wind and cold, and, admittedly, probably carries gear more eff ectively. The old red sled sometimes stays home on quick trips. On family outings, however, you can bet I'll be throwing it in (and maybe throwing out my back while doing so). Usually, we put it in the center of our seven-person hub-style shanty — a nice mix of old technology and new. It appropriately serves as seating, and even a table for preparing lunch. The hub of the hub. The feet of my once small children — now a high school senior and an eighth-grader — no longer dangle above the ice as they sit on the plywood structure. Unlike earlier years, they pull it without "spinning their wheels" as we arrive and depart. The sled's once shiny paint job is showing some scratches, but it is otherwise holding up well. Just as it cannot truly be called an a ntique, I fi gure I have a few years to go before I can claim to be one of those grizzled old-timers. When the day comes, however, you can bet "old red" will still be up to the task. We'll see if I can say the same about my back. PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG

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