Ice Fishing— Try It! You May Just Love It

Before You Go Ice Fishing

I have always been curious about Ice Fishing. However, going out on the ice, in the cold, always seemed to be a deterrent for me.  Now I am looking back over the years at how much time I lost, missing out on one of the most fun activities I have ever experienced.  

Before I get into our ice fishing adventure, I have two important suggestions before you get started:

1. Take a Class: Contact your local Department of Environmental Protection or Conservation Agency and find out if they offer an Introductory to Ice Fishing Class. There you will not only learn how to ice fish, but you will learn very important safety rules. This class is a MUST. 
2. Ice Fishing Field Trip-For your first time out on the ice, a great option is to attend a hosted ice fishing field trip or an Ice Fishing Day. You can also find organized Winter Festivals that offer ice-fishing along with other activities. These are usually hosted in conjunction with your local Environmental Agency and are a great way to ease into what can be an intimidating activity. Equipment will be available for your use, and you can feel comfortable knowing that the ice has been inspected and is of the correct thickness for safe fishing.

Safety

I knew this was something I had to try, and I suspected my family would also love it. So I took an Introductory Ice Fishing Class hosted by our local DEEP ( Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) to get started. I was able to see the equipment up close and learn the process of ice fishing. I knew I would be bringing my family on this new adventure, so I especially appreciated the safety part of the course. Anyone who knows me knows I took extensive notes.

A couple weeks later, I received an email from the DEEP that they were putting together a field trip to a local lake for anyone who took the course. They measured 7 inches of ice on the lake, and wanted to take advantage of the conditions. We had an usually mild winter, so I was not going out on the ice without an experienced guide.

This was a perfect opportunity for our first ice fishing outing. They would provide the equipment, bait, and even have pre-drilled holes in the ice. It made me feel at ease knowing there would be experts out on the ice with us. All we had to do was get our fishing licenses, which was a breeze online.

Ice Fishing is Slippery

I am not going to lie. Stepping out onto the ice for the first time and crossing the lake was both terrifying and exhilarating.

As with any first-time experience, you learn the hard way the things you need but don’t have. My focus was on making sure the kids were warm and waterproof. I forgot grippers for their boots.

Some people are naturally coordinated on slippery ice than others. My husband and oldest daughter were visions of gracefulness on their feet. My youngest daughter and I, however, were all over the place. Within moments she went down and took me with her. Thankfully, a friend of mine came with us who is experienced on the ice. He took my daughter’s hand and steadily lead her across the ice, while I shimmied my way precariously behind them.

Once we got to our spot, I wondered how I would stay standing upright for the next couple of hours. My husband went to get our fishing equipment and bait. He also returned with grippers for our boots, also provided by the DEEP. I was so thankful. Be sure to invest in a pair of these!

Another thing I forgot, which was also suggested in the class, was hand warmers. Thankfully my dear friend was so kind as to bring a set each for my girls. Going with someone experienced in ice fishing is absolutely key. My friend saved the day several times. These disposable hand warmers are inexpensive and will make the difference in your comfort, so stock up.

Setting Up on the Ice

We picked a spot and set up our folding camping chairs. We quickly learned anything not weighed down will blow away with the wind. Eventually, items will freeze to the ice, but until they did, we had to pile everything on the chairs to keep them from flying across the ice. We had brought a sled to pull the chairs and cooler bag on. While we were setting up the chairs, it ended up across the lake faster than we could catch it.

Holes were already drilled in the ice for this event, and it made me feel much safer seeing how thick the ice was. It was pretty cool looking down into the lake from the hole.

Staying Warm and Dry

The temperature outside was around 35 degrees and the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day for ice fishing. As nice as it was, it still gets very cold out on the ice, especially with the wind. It is important to dress in layers and be waterproof. We had on a couple of pairs of socks each and waterproof boots. The kids also wore their snowsuits, which was very important to keep them warm and dry.

Kids will surely be sliding around and laying on the ice. There is a layer of water and slush on top of the ice from the drilled holes. Getting wet would have been the end of our fun. Buying a new pair of waterproof boots for the family would have been quite costly. Instead, consider spraying the winter boots you already have with waterproofing spray. It worked great for us and saved us a lot of money.

Don’t Forget the Snacks (and Hot Chocolate)

We enjoyed several hours of fishing, relaxing, zoning out, and hoping for that great catch. Having lots of snacks and drinks packed in the cooler helped extend our time out on the ice. The kids were happy to take a snack break, and then get right back to fishing. Just keep in mind there are no bathrooms readily available when out on the ice, so we limited our liquid intake. Next time I will be bringing a thermos of hot chocolate though!

Ice Fishing Equipment

There are two types of fishing apparatus you can use for ice fishing. A jigging rod is a smaller version of a regular fishing rod used for ice fishing.

A Tip-up is the other option and is very popular since you set it up and leave it. The flag will go up when a fish bites. You can sit and drink your hot coffee, and be hands-free until the big catch. You can even choose to use both methods at the same time!

If you want to add a digital spin to your fishing experience, you can bring along a fish finder. Some might say this is cheating, but the kids got such a kick out of it! The sensor detects the fish location, size, and depth of your water, and connects to an app on your phone. I have to admit, it was pretty cool.

To drill your own holes in the ice, you will need an auger. There are many types ranging from manual to gas-powered. The least expensive will be the hand auger and is perfectly fine as long as you don’t mind a little bit of effort. Keep in mind the blades are extremely sharp, so keep them out of reach of children.

A small yet important item is the ice skimmer. Once the hole is drilled, you need to skim out the ice and slush before putting your line in. This is an easy task that you can give the kids to do.

There were many great catches all around us during the day. We had a little bit of excitement when my husband hooked something big. Just as it was coming up through the ice, he lost it.

Ice Fishing Success

Though we didn’t end up catching anything else, we had such a great time. This was one of my all-time favorite experiences, and one I cannot wait to do again. Now that we know our family loves it, we have no problem going ahead and investing in the equipment. We are so grateful to the CT DEEP for hosting this event so that we could safely try it out first. Again, I cannot stress enough to take a class and learn all of the important safety instructions and equipment for going out on the ice.

Here is another great article to get you started in your ice-fishing adventure: How to Get Started in Ice Fishing

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