Ice Fishing ABC's
By Naomi K. Shapiro
 You can icefish anywhere in the world that water freezes
solid -- and where there are fish! The bad news is that the weather has to be
cold... but with the advent of warmer, drier clothing, and modern equipment and
shelters, men, women, and children are getting more chances to enjoy the
outdoors in winter by icefishing.
You can go simple -- and carry your gear in a big bucket;
you can pull a sled with a lightweight shelter, equipment, and electronics; or
you can fish from a warm, cozy ice shanty that may remain on the ice through the
whole season.
Wherever you are, no ice is EVER 100 per cent safe... so
exercise caution and good sense whenever you go out. Wear some type of
flotation gear and carry an ice pick/rope combo (inexpensive and available at
bait shops), so if you do go through the ice, you can pull yourself out.
 Layer your clothing, including thermal underwear, sweaters,
jacket, windbreaker, etc.— so you can take off if you get warm. Wear warm,
insulated, and possibly, waterproof, winter boots. Also, warm socks that wick
moisture. Wear a good, insulated winter jacket with a hood -- as well as a warm
cap with ear flaps. Keep a face mask handy. Wind chill on lakes and rivers can
freeze skin almost unnoticeably until it is too late. A 30-degree day on the
ice with a 10 mile-per-hour wind can be very cold and freeze exposed flesh
quickly. Wear warm, insulated snowpants -- preferably waterproof. Insulated
jumpsuits with hoods are great because they keep the wind from blowing up your
back, but not great for women because you have to take them nearly halfway off
if you have to go to the bathroom. (More about that later). A light pair of
gloves under insulated mittens is good. Wear sunglasses for brightness, and use
lotion or sunscreen to protect your face from windburn, dryness, and even
sunburn. If you fish from a heated ice shanty, you're going to be pretty warm,
and likely to peel off most of the protective layers you'd wear if you were
going to do most of your icefishing outdoors.
Depending on the ice conditions and circumstances, you may
get to your fishing spots by foot, snowmobile, ATV, truck, or snowcat. If you
walk, buy an inexpensive sled to pull behind you. On 'glassy' ice, wear metal
'shoe cleats' for traction. In snowy conditions, snowshoes or cross-country
skis help you go, and also help spread your weight over a wider area.
 Equipment includes ice auger, ice fishing rods, tip-ups,
ice scoop, bait, hooks and jigs. Miscellaneous includes bait bucket, tackle
box, fishing license, cellphone, flashlight or lantern, life preserver; and
maybe a big ice cream bucket to turn upside down to sit on and to put your fish
in to carry them home. Bring Water, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, bouillon -- and
snacks.
So where are the fish and how do you catch them?
Basic rule: If you aren't fishing where there are fish,
you aren't going to catch anything! Drill several holes in a zigzag pattern,
see which ones produce, and move if necessary until you find the fish.
Many ice anglers use a sonar device which you set right
next to the hole, drop a cord from the unit into the water, and passing fish
will trigger a 'flash' on the unit.
 You'll normally want to target weedy areas, in depths
ranging from 4 to 12 feet or so -- but that can vary by lake. Your electronics,
dropped into the hole you've drilled will show you whether there are fish around
and at what depth. Another good rule of thumb is to check out where the locals
have their ice shanties, or where you see other ice anglers congregating. Those
are areas that will usually produce all winter. Don't "crowd" the locals or
their areas. You'll get icy-steel glares if you do. Usually, folks are very
friendly and will try to help you.
Live bait is usually preferred. For the best chances of
success, bring a variety of live bait. For example, some smaller and larger
minnows, ranging in size from 1 to 4 inches; and pick up a few dozen waxworms
(small larva). Some anglers prefer artificial lures. It's a question of taste.
 For walleye and northern, use a tipup, and a large minnow
(usually a fathead or sucker minnow). Then wait for that red flag to "flip."
You pull up the line by hand (some use gloves, but most experienced anglers
prefer their bare hands – cold as it may be -- because you get a much better
"feel" for the fish), and then start licking your chops for the delicious fish
fry in the offing. Fish for walleye in early morning, or in later afternoon
into early evening. Northern will generally bite throughout the day.
If you want some beautiful, delicious, firm and healthy
panfish (perch, bluegills and crappie), take out your small ice fishing rod,
put on a small teardrop jig, and tip it with a small minnow or waxie. Jig the
line and you'll get some action. Size will vary greatly, but you can, and often
will, get some real good-sized jumbo perch, bull bluegills or slab crappies.
Miscellaneous notes re ice fishing:
-
If you aren't fishing where there are fish, you aren't
going to catch anything!
-
Drill several holes in a zigzag pattern, see which ones
produce, and move if necessary until you find the fish.
-
Fish move slowly in cold temperatures, so it may take a
while for a fish to find your bait, taste it, take it for a ride in their
mouth, and, hopefully, get hooked, or let you hook them.
-
What if you have to go to the bathroom? Here's some
expert advice from Jim Bishop of the Wisconsin DNR (Department of Natural
Resources), and an outdoor recreation expert.
Bishop says, "Any human waste disposal should be planned.
If you're fishing where there are many lakeshore homes, you
may want to bring along a small tent and a five gallon bucket. Or you can
walk to shore and drive to the nearest facility. On more remote sites, look for
a place along the shoreline where there are no homes and away from and out of
sight of other anglers. Use a zip-lock type plastic baggy and deposit the urine
in that, adding any toilet paper. Zip up the baggy and place that in another
baggy of similar or larger size. Carry it home and dispose of it. The zip lock
bag system works for men and women. Persons embarrassed about carrying a bag of
yellow waste back to the fishing area can also carry a brown paper or white
plastic grocery bag to carry the urine bag.
 Also, commercial bottles for men and women for such
situations are on the market at most outdoor recreation shops." I recently
discovered a device with a tube, that a woman can hold tight to her body, and
allows her to urinate standing up – one of the most empowering things that has
ever happened to me – and used by women trekkers to the North Pole and
Antarctica. It is the Freshette "4-2-P" which I found at REI, but you can call
1-800-542-5580 or go to www.freshette.com
for more information, or to order the product.
-
What if you bring children along? Here's more expert
advice from Jim Bishop: "We're seeing more and more young girls ice fishing,
but if you bring younger kids along, make sure they have at least one tip
up, and if their flag goes up, let them attend to it with your guidance.
Make sure that kids have games to play when on the ice. A Frisbee,
football, sled, ice skates, dog, etc. will keep them active and warm, but
keep their activities away from other people's tip ups. Have a way to brew
hot chocolate or sweet cider for them, and bring along some extra warm
clothes in case they get all sweated up or wet while playing too intensely
in the snow."
-
A few final points: Consult a local bait shop or guide
for the latest word about where the fish are, ice conditions, safety, etc.
Be courteous and considerate of others. Hire a guide (man or woman), so you
can relax and have a ball fishing, while someone else does all the work and
worrying. Don't worry if you don't catch much. That means, tomorrow is
another day to try again while you enjoy the wonders of nature and the
outdoors, in the winter.
Naomi K. Shapiro is a Madison, Wisconsin-based travel and
outdoor writer specializing in fishing, nature, and soft adventure. E-mail:
cre8vads@cheqnet.net
Here are a few Upper Midwest lakes for you to try:
Eagle River, Wisconsin (Northeastern Wisconsin)
 Try the Eagle River Chain of 28 lakes (the largest
freshwater chain of lakes in the world), particularly Catfish and Cranberry
Lakes. Maple Lake is a small clear lake that is hardly fished, about 9 miles
south of Eagle River on Hwy. 45. Easy access, lots of shanties for you to fish
next to, and great action for smaller panfish, with some nice northern and
walleye in the mix.
And... there are only about another 1,200 lakes in the area to try!!
For more information or Guide Services:
Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;
715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org;
web: www.eagleriver.org
George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guides Association,
715-479-8804. e-mail:
fishing@eaglesportscenter.com
Guide's Choice Pro Shop, 715-477-2248;
DoubleM@NewNorth.net
Rice Lake, Wisconsin (northwestern Wisconsin -- 100
miles east of the Twin Cities)
 A unique opportunity to fish the right-in-town Rice Lake
(don't be confused -- both the bustling town and its lake have the very same
name). Montanis Lake connects up to Rice Lake, so you can fish both -- right in
town! Good for panfish, walleye and northern.
There are also some great ice fishing venues near Rice
Lake. Red Cedar is known for plentiful jumbo perch. The six-lake Chetac Chain
of Lakes is great for crappie and bluegill. And, for a very special
opportunity, fish Long Lake (pencil shaped and very deep). Not only can you get
the "usual suspects," but Long Lake is one of the few inland waters in Wisconsin
that has a natural whitefish population. Fish 40 feet or deeper and use one
artificial lure: A blue and silver Swedish Pimple. The whitefish will go 20
inches or so, max.
For more information or Guide Services:
Rice Lake Tourism & Retail Development Commission:
800-523-6318; e-mail:
info@ricelaketourism.com; web:
www.ricelaketourism.com
J.C. Bear Paw Company: 715-236-7300; e-mail:
bearpaw@chibardun.net.
Wausau (northcentral Wisconsin)
 We've had some absolutely spectacular-beyond-words success
in this wonderful and yet almost unused fishing and hunting venue in
northcentral Wisconsin. For some reason, people unwittingly pass through Wausau
on their way further north. This can be a very big mistake.
The magnificent Wisconsin River system flows through the
area, with impoundments and off-shoots that provide some beyond-belief fishing.
Try Half Moon Lake in Mosinee (pronounced moe-zin-ee), where you'll see ice
shanties, right down from the Half Moon Bar in a medium sized bay. Great for
walleye, and huge plate-sized bluegills and slab crappies. "The River," as the
locals call it, is a panoply of fishing opportunities right through the entire
area. Lake Wausau (right in the middle of the city of Wausau), Lake duBay, the
Eau Pleine Reservoir, and most any spot on The River will produce fish in large
quantities and sizes -- and you'll see almost NO ONE on the ice, except a few
savvy locals. The other "plus" is that although you may be right in the middle
of a good sized community/city, once on the ice, you're instantly transformed
into total pristine wilderness -- and that's the absolute truth. The Wausau
area is one of the two fastest growing visitor destinations in Wisconsin – and
with good reason. People are finally starting to discover it. You'll love it,
too.
For more information or Guide Services:
Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau;
phone: 888-948-4748; 715-355-8788; e-mail: info@visitwausau.com; web:
www.visitwausau.com.
Fishing Info: Hooksetters Fishing Services (Phil Schweik,
John Sparbel, Pete Hilman, Craig Lemmer, Justin Gaiche); phone: 715-693-5843; e
-mail: info@hooksetters.biz; web: www.hooksetters.biz
Sportsman's Lodge and Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge on
the Rainy River and southern End of Lake of the Woods (Baudette, Minnesota).
 Lake of the Woods is one of the greatest fisheries in North
America – and its ice fishing is legendary. "Hard water" enthusiasts flock to
Sportsman's Lodge and Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge at Baudette, Minnesota to
limit out on walleye and sauger. The main Sportsman's Lodge is located at the
mouth of Lake of the Woods on the Rainy River. Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge is
located 40 miles out on Lake of the Woods -- like a remote Canadian fly-in
destination, but with all the amenities. Part of the Northwest Angle of
Minnesota, Oak Island is a "poster boy" for pristine, natural beauty that only
Lake of the Woods can provide.
A favorite for visitors is to enjoy the unmatched
snowmobiling and ice fishing at the very same time. Indeed, Sportsman's is
known for providing opportunities, with all needed facilities, rentals, guides,
accommodations, food (their walleye is not to be missed!), special events,
activities and entertainment throughout the whole year...
 Unusual opportunities for ice anglers at Sportsman's Lodge
include "Sleeping Out On The Lake", which provides heated fishing cabins, in a
"camping out on the water" experience; and a "Sun-Up-To-Sun-Down" two day ice
fishing adventure, where for two days running Sportsman's takes you out on
snowmobiles to the best open areas of the Lake of the Woods for walleye and
sauger, provides a hot lunch cooked right out on the ice, and then brings you
back for dinner, entertainment and lodging.
Owned and operated by two generations of the Hennum family,
Sportsman's Lodge(s) serve as the primary Mecca for winter activities in the
Lake of the Woods area.
For more information:
Gregg Hennum, Sportsman's Lodge and Sportsman's Oak Island
Lodge, 3244 Bur Oak Rd., NW, Baudette, MN 56623; phone: 800-862-8602, or
218-634-1342, ext. 438; e-mail:
hennumg@mncable.net; web:
www.sportsmanslodges.com
Naomi K. Shapiro is a Madison, Wisconsin-based travel and
outdoor writer specializing in fishing, nature, and soft adventure. E-mail:
cre8vads@cheqnet.net
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