Ice Fishing Forum!

I think the ice fishing forum is about to HEAT UP with all the cold air we are getting!! Bring on the ICE!

I dont want to burst your bubble but Illinois is gonna see temps into low 40s and high 30s next week. Pray the weatherman is wrong!

I know I just saw the extended weather forecast.

Hey guys as long as the night time temps are below freezing we should be ok
evryone just start getting ready, I think it's gonna happen this year.
Tim

Before I pass judgment and make a comment about the wisdom of ice-fishing since I've never participated, I want to know the rewards and why you guys do it? I've heard it's a lot of fun, but does the fun outweigh the risks? :confused:

To begin with, some years in the north country that is the only fishing we can do since everything has ice cover. First ice and last ice is allways the best ice for harvesting fish. The panfish tend to school more under the cover of ice. More mobility when walking on hard water. With todays electronics, finding fish is so much easier.
And with the clothing, tents, augers, rods and tackle, and some of the more gimmiky items out there, ice fishing is so much fun.

But you still need to use your head and or instincts when venturing onto hard water. Picks of life or a life preserver is a good idea and should be required gear on new ice. Taking along a friend and plenty of rope is also good. Just hope you never need it.

I love the filets. All fish are alot firmer in cold water. Another is comradity, fishing in groups of guys of 10 to 20 guys, can't do that in a boat. I can't explain it, but once you do it, it's just in your blood. Maybe we are crazy. At least that is what my wife thinks.
Tim

Stinky.....Until you have actually experienced the thrill of being out on a frozen lake up here in Minnesota,fishing with 20 good friends at night....circled around a tipped over 5 gallon bucket,with a green Coleman lantern lighting all the freshly scooped out drilled iceholes,sipping hot cinnamin apple cidar,catching crappies,and laughing...you will never truly understand....:D


You should really try it....so....in all fairness...I'll extend an invitation to you...IF you ever get up to Minnesota....I'll get you in touch with some of my friends that will take you out icefishing....but first you will have to get up here.I unfortunately can't go this year,according to Doc's orders...

Well I am not from the great freezing north country but I married an eskimo from Northern Michigan and her brother and father are quite the sportsmen. So I want ice fishing for the first time on our annual Christmas trip up there and now I cant wait to get up there and do it again. Im use to murkey water down here in north Carolina and the clear water up there lets you see right down the hole in the shanty so you can actually see the fish stalk and take the bait. Man is it addicting. If you dress for it and have the right equipment its great fun.

Let us not forget to mention using a 1 1/2- 2' noodle rod with a u/l reel fighting a fish through a 4-12" hole. Man what a blast.:D

Theres nothing like the smell of venison or hot wings cooking on the grill in 20 degree weather and sharing a bottle of Blackberry brandy with your friends.

If you have never been fishing in a spot like what we up here call shanty town you have not experienced the other side of fishing. In mid January shanties start popping up about 75 yards of shore on Higgins Lake in Roscommon county. This lake is loaded with smelt which can basically only be caught on a hook during the winter. By the time all the shanties have arrived there will be 100 or more packed into an area about the size of a football field. Yeah I know it sounds crazy, well you are right. But on a Saturday night in mid february in Northern Michigan it can be one of the funnest time you will ever experience fishing. If the fish are biting then you are going to be busy because a couple hundred per person in a couple hours is quite common. If they are not biting then just wander around a tell fishin tales with some of the other hundreds of people that might be doing the same. Or find one of the shanties that has a good card game going. Or even better yet find the shack with the generator and watch the game or a movie while you are waiting for the fish. Most smelt fishing is done at night so the glow of the lights under the ice just adds to the atmosphere. You have got to try this.