Ice Fishing for the First Time!
By Steve McGrath
I’ve got an idea, let’s go fishing during the most inhospitable time of year and try to make some lethargic fish that we can’t see go after our hook. That was the thought that ran through my mind when I was told that we were going ice fishing. I guess I’m game to try everything at least once, so why not ice fishing?
The weather report the night before looked bleak but I figured that I would keep with my commitments and go anyway. The preparation the night before consisted of finding the warmest clothing possibly and even the consideration of bringing along a set of waders. Not that I feared falling in, or that the waders would even do me any good in the event of breaking through, but I wanted any extra warmth I could get.
I should have known that I could count on the weather man to be wrong, most of the time that makes me mad but not this morning. I was ready for the warmer weather while I braved the “hard top” on the lake. There was a family fun fishing festival going on that day at Mantua (try saying that five times fast). The image of a large, gaping crack opening on the ice kept running through my mind but the sight of an ambulance parked on the shore all day eased those worries.
The sharp augers were taken out and used to make 6 inch holes in the ice for us to send our frozen bait offerings down to the fish. Another strange thing about ice fishing, they use tiny 1-2 foot rods in their sport. I am a fly fisherman and am used to rods long enough to fend off an incoming bears or other frightening creatures. The plan to fish was simple, tie a little jig on then tip the hook with a grub/mealworm looking thing. Then sit impatiently waiting for that little nibble.
That was how the day went; bait the hook, drop it down the hole and wait. An occasional fish found its way to our hook but not enough to make an ice fishing convert out of me. As with other things in life though, it’s all about the experience and now I can finally say that I have tried it! |
