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I love icefishing. For the past 25 years, I have spent New Year's weekend at Fishlake fishing the hard water for splake. I make numerous trips to the Boulder to fish one of the legal lakes during the winter months. I make trips to Navajo, and Minersville frequently during the winter.
From looking at the other threads on this board, it's obvious that many of you enjoy icefishing -- maybe even more so than other fishing. What makes icefishing (for you) so exciting? Why do you all look forward to the ice? Is it the simplicity? Or, is it the comradery? Or, something else altogether?
Just curious.
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[cool]Why NOT icefish? I think for me it's the simplicity and the comraderie. It's hard to explain, but there's something special about sitting in your chair (or on your bucket) with icerod on hand staring down that hole watching your strike indicator not know what you might land. Especially at Strawberry (not to mention the Gorge or Bear Lake) you never know what kind of MONSTER trout might be lurking under your hole and you have a good chance of hooking into something like that not being able to actually see it until it's RIGHT THERE! This, along with breathing in the fresh crisp mountain air while escaping the haze of the valley and hanging out with your buds at the same time is very enjoyable.
As I get more money (later down the road) I plan on making it more festive (and less simple, I'm afraid) by riding a snomo or atv out on the ice towing my little trailor/sled which will have a gas grill to cook up some brats, etc. to really make it even funner out there.
Ice fishing ROCKS!! Besides, I can only think of ONE thing funner to do in the winter, but that usually requires being indoors.[  ]
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Good post PBH!
ive enjoyed ice fishing the last several years and have always looked forward to it. but for some reason this year is different i didn't get the itch to go i still havent gotten my ice fishing stuff out yet. dont know why. maybe its the excitment of having a new boat and not being able to use it for a few months or going threw the ice last year.
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I like the seclusion; there's nothing like sitting in your ice tent, the sound of snow pelting against it while Mr. Heater hums in the background. In an otherwise black/white/gray winter world, the colors of the Vexilar fishfinder are a contrast of technology in an simplistic setting. The bite of a nice fish on the wire bobber is a thrill in itself. Pulling in the battling trout to release, or a fat perch for the dinner table is all rewarding.
I don't want to see spring come at all!
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I don't think I could handle an entire winter without fishing. A good portion of the waters in this state require you ice fish during the winter months. Like most of us, I simply enjoy being in the outdoors and especially fishing, so ice fishing seems like a natural fit. Besides, it helps keep the beer cold. I'm fairly certain Petty will get over his lack of enthusiasm once he ices his first fish.[  ][ ]
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Because it can be done. After flyfishing all summer and fall-- almost always alone-- it's nice to know that I can go sit on a frozen lake, tell stories, and interupt myself to pull up a fish every now and then. It is much more simple than most of my fishing (although I'm still pretty new to the ice). There is no hatch to match and it seems to me that if they are hungry, they'll bite. I just got back from buying my first auger (hand powered walmart special) and I plan to spend alot of time on the ice this year. It beats hunching over the tying vise and day dreaming about trout all winter.
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I enjoy all types of fishing. The things I enjoy about ice fishing are:
1) the opportunity to fish and visit with fellow anglers in a closer environment (no need to steer the boat while ice fishing).
2) something exciting about seeing my Spring Bobber moved by a fish and then trying to time the hook set
3) the ice provides a stable support for my AquaVu, so that I can easily watch fish bite my jig, if I choose to drop the camera down the hole
4) the ice provides a stable controlled environment for having my jig always be in the cone of my fishfinder, which allows me to either raise or lower my jig to a fish on the screen
A few dislikes:
1) dragging my sled or ice shack either through deep snow or slush
2) cold fingers (only a problem when the temperatures drop below zero)
3) ice fishing in strong winds
4) extremely icey roads to drive on
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If it wasn't for ice fishing, I would have never met good folks like Petty and Polokid. Petty gave me my first BFT sticker on the ice at Causey just before he took a step into someones ice hole. Good thing that I talked to him before, he may not have been as friendly after he got wet.[ ] I learned all that I know about ice fishing right here and of course at Hooked.
Gotta love them Boogers!!! Thanks James!!
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Lot's of "feel good" answers so far. From what I'm gathering from those that have responded:
Some of you could go set up an ice tent with an aquaview camera and a sonar at the local ice-skating rink with a bunch of buddies, and be perfectly content?
Others icefish because the lake is frozen -- an obviously good reason.
I guess maybe I should give you all some of my reasons for ice-fishing:
1. Because the lakes freeze.
2. Fish seem to be more vulnerable (ie: it's easier to target specific types of fish through the ice). It's kind of like cheating.
3. Simple fishing. My two-year-old can sit and watch a bobber. My wife can too!
4. It's still fishing. Fishing is better than not fishing.
5. Suntans. Yep. I gotta keep my tan in-tact throughout the winter. No girly ice-tent for me!
6. Meals. Which brings me back to #2. Splake and Brook trout are easy targets this time of year.
DKS -- come on dude! Everything you learned was from Hooked, or the internet? Your experiences, however limited, had to have given you something!! Hands-on experience is where you learn. I can tell you everything you need to know, plus some. But that won't do you any good without actually doing it. I garuntee you learned more by going out and actually doing it, than what you learned reading know-it-all bull$*** on the internet!!!
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Because I can get to places on the lake that are out of my reach when the water is soft. Also, it is the excitement, when you see that big fish a few inches away and you are worried about getting him through the hole.
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[black]"Some of you could go set up an ice tent with an aquaview camera and a sonar at the local ice-skating rink with a bunch of buddies, and be perfectly content?"[/black]
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[black]I haven't been on an ice-skating rink for several years, and the last time I was there (on ice skates) I don't recall there being many fish under that ice, so it wouldn't work for me. The primary purpose for me being out there has to be to catch fish or for the grandkids to catch them, if they are along for the trip. [/black]
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Fishing is a big part of my life and varity is the spice of life, besides, the alternative would be cabin feaver, don't like that.
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Why do I ice fish?---
a)Something to do in the winter other than cuss at the snow and cold. Nature is a whole 'nother animal in the winter.
b)I like the taste of 'em - well, at least most of them
c)Getting out with the family and other friends
d)It equals out the prospects - I don't own a boat, trolling equipment, fancy stuff. The vast majority of the other folks out ice fishing are in the same part of the equation. I can usually get out to wherever anyone else is on most lakes, either by walking or an available snowmobile. One person isn't that much better off than another.
That pretty much sums it up.
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Because they don't let me shoot people. And, I can take a nap and fish at the same time.
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I enjoy fishing year round, but I do particularly look forward to the ice season. here are my reasons.
1) The success can be phenomenal. I have had some staggeringly good fish counts while ice fishing. I do acceptably during the summer but for the time fished, my average catch rate is about 2x summertime fishing for species that are caught both summer and winter.
2) During the summer, I prefer solitude and the presence of a large number of "tanglers" in your vicinity in the summer is a detriment. During the ice season, it is more social, and having company is not usually a problem, and sometimes a help.
3) Better C&R.(trout only) During the summer, you are yanking a trout out of the thermocline, playing it, and releasing it into bathwater warm water. This is not a problem in the winter. Additionally, you are using jigs which hook up the fish in the snout, so deep hooking is rare, and C&R can be done to your hearts content. (assuming otherwise good releasing technique)
4) Conversely, if one is inclined to eat a few, there seems to be less "mossy" flavor, and the fish taste better. (mine and others opinion only, your tastebuds may differ.)
5) It is nice to get out of the inversion and catch a few rays up in the mountains.
6) It is in my blood, I guess.
It seems ice fishing is like NASCAR, ice hockey, and sushi. Some like it, some don't. If one likes it, it seems to be addicting.
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Reason's that I icefish...let me count the ways...
1. No water skiers
2. No jet skiers
3. No boat wakes
4. No party boats
5. No crowded boat launches
6. Commeraderie
7. Simplicity
8. No coolers needed
9. Exercise...pulling icesleds loaded with gear
and last but not least ...
10. The ability to walk on water
.
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[font "Impact"][#ff4040][size 3]Beacuse it is [#ff4040][size 5]FUN!!!!!![/size][/#ff4040][/size][/#ff4040][/font]
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Dunno any other way ta git the bait inta the water on a lake that's all frizz up. 'cides it's a whole buncha fun, long as yer butt don't git frizz off.
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[cool][#0000ff]I was part of the first few Utah tanglers to knock holes in the ice and hoist fish through them back in the 70's. Helped lobby to get Deer Creek opened to ice fishing, and then other trout waters. Of course, in those days, you couldn't keep trout caught during the winter at Deer Creek, because it was "out of season".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have chilled and drilled on most of Utah's ponds over the years. Don't enjoy it as much these days. Must be because (1) I am jaded (2) I lived too long in Arizona between Utah ice fishing seasons (3) Getting too old (4) I hate having to drill a hole big enough to float my tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I still enjoy ice fishing, but not when it is too far below zero and the wind is howling. I prefer bluebird days when I can shuck down to shirtsleeves by late morning. But, in the olden days, I was knowed to be drillin' and dunkin' in frozen whiteouts, mumbling things about "crazy golfers", and chanting "You can't beat fun...you can't beat fun."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]All this from a wierdo that float tubes 12 months a year...when there is no ice cap.[/#0000ff]
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[size 1] [#0000ff]Quote:[size 1][b][#0000ff](4) I hate having to drill a hole big enough to float my tube.[/#0000ff] [/size]
[/#0000ff][/b][/size][laugh][font "Impact"][#ff4040][size 3]LMAO!!!! That is great Pat. Funniest thing I have heard in a while.[/size][/#ff4040][/font]
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