‘Tis the Season
For many folks, the season began several weeks ago… but for those of us who like a little more ice under our boots, January usually marks the start of our annual winter tradition – ice fishing… but be careful.
Early season ice can offer some great fishing, and also some inherent dangers… otherwise we would never have that sage old cliche… “be careful – you’re walking on thin ice”.
Several agencies & organizations regularly post guidelines for ice safety on clear hard ice… the trouble, however, is that the formation of ice and the arrival of heavy, insulating winter snow often coincides and can hinder the formation of clear, hard ice… and extra caution is necessary.
In that instance, greater care is required as the conditions often create more porous ice… and the weight of the snow can cause water to seep up to create heavy, slushy conditions on top of the ice. These conditions make it much more dangerous for inexperienced ice trekkers & snowmobilers alike.
The best advice is to proceed with caution; measure the ice thickness several times while trekking to your chosen location; avoid areas with known currents that will make the ice less stable; look for obvious, safe tracks that others are using without mishaps; and be particularly careful around pressure cracks & ridges. But always remember that, as weather changes, ice conditions can change rapidly too.
After you’ve checked everything out and are comfortable that the ice conditions are stable, it’s time to have some fun… there’s nothing greater than spending a winter’s day on the ice, in the fresh air, drilling some holes and catching some fish!!
Our lakes offer a plethora of fish species from under the ice… perch, walleye, northern pike, whitefish, herring, brook trout, lake trout… the list is immense and opportunities are endless.
Whether you’re sitting in the open air, or in a small portable ice fishing shelter, or even in a larger, more permanent heated ice hut… the fun and memories you’ll make will last a lifetime.
And, at the end of the day, is there anything better than a self-caught, fresh fish dinner and recounting the day’s special moments? I think not!!
So get out there and enjoy another one of our great winter activities… but be safe & smart.
