By Ben Romans

I’ve got a confession. I’m a fishing junkie. OK, well, that’s not the confession part. The confession is that as much as I love to fish, I’ve never plopped my bucket on a bucket in the middle of an iced-over piece of water, drilled a hole, and dunked jigs and bait in search of a mid-winter trophy.

In other words, I’ve never been ice fishing.

I hoped I would finally make it out for the first time this season, but weather patterns and schedule conflicts make the possibility of finding time on the ice more and more unlikely as the end of winter is rapidly approaching.

Watching Nate Dean's ice-fishing video made the fun I’m missing out on even more obvious. If you haven’t watched it, you need to. He’s got some good tips and explains how to use some basic gear—and proves that it works by catching a few fish. A few of those panfish and some perch like he caught towards the end, and you could have yourself a nice fish fry!

So my question to the Generation Wild world is this: Am I missing the boat here? Who else out there is an ice fisherman? Hit me with your take on the sport and see if you can make me jealous. —Ben

Comments (4)

from turkeyman wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

In my experience ice fishing is pretty much a flop. BUT that should not deter you from trying. For one thing I didn't have a flasher which is pretty much essential, and for another I didn't have an ice house which is darn nice when the wind is howling.

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from Alex Pernice wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Ben, its simple. I can catch a 6 plus pound bass on a super ultra light panfish rod and 2 pound test. Plus its something to do over the winter.

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from Thatkid wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Ben, I'm with you. I've never been ice fishing in my life either. After I got all the gear I needed for christmas, I was really looking forward to going out. I still haven't gotten a chance to go yet, but I really want to. If you got the opportunity to go, go.

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from Ben C. wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Ice fishing is awesome guys and if you havent tried you probably should. Yes it is cold and boring at times but me and my buddies solve this problem by clearing of a spot away from everybody and sooting a puck around. Jigging is fun especially when you are catching but even that is hard. Try it more than once if you are going to try it because you first time may suck but with experience comes a lot of good fish.

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from turkeyman wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

So yes, do take up ice fishing. Something to do when winter gets boring!

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from Thatkid wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

What's happening? I hate when the website is stagnant for so long.

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from huntnfishnut wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

Being in Wisconsin, we get plenty of time to ice fish if one wants to. I find that it usually is more about the time spent with your friends than the amazing fishing. You definitely get good days and get good fish, but it is just as much fun racing each other to the furthest tip-up when it trips...

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from MallardOutdoors wrote 2 years 9 weeks ago

I love ice fishing. I suggest a shanty and a heater if you dont want to get cold and boy do you get exicited when you have monster pike.

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from jmcctheboss23 wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

yes i fish more in the winter than i do in the summer

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from jerry1958 wrote 2 years 6 weeks ago

i have went twice and almost caught two lake trout the first time but i got hooked like the fish on that first bite

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from turkeyman wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

In my experience ice fishing is pretty much a flop. BUT that should not deter you from trying. For one thing I didn't have a flasher which is pretty much essential, and for another I didn't have an ice house which is darn nice when the wind is howling.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Alex Pernice wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Ben, its simple. I can catch a 6 plus pound bass on a super ultra light panfish rod and 2 pound test. Plus its something to do over the winter.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Thatkid wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Ben, I'm with you. I've never been ice fishing in my life either. After I got all the gear I needed for christmas, I was really looking forward to going out. I still haven't gotten a chance to go yet, but I really want to. If you got the opportunity to go, go.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ben C. wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

Ice fishing is awesome guys and if you havent tried you probably should. Yes it is cold and boring at times but me and my buddies solve this problem by clearing of a spot away from everybody and sooting a puck around. Jigging is fun especially when you are catching but even that is hard. Try it more than once if you are going to try it because you first time may suck but with experience comes a lot of good fish.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from turkeyman wrote 2 years 15 weeks ago

So yes, do take up ice fishing. Something to do when winter gets boring!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Thatkid wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

What's happening? I hate when the website is stagnant for so long.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from huntnfishnut wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

Being in Wisconsin, we get plenty of time to ice fish if one wants to. I find that it usually is more about the time spent with your friends than the amazing fishing. You definitely get good days and get good fish, but it is just as much fun racing each other to the furthest tip-up when it trips...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MallardOutdoors wrote 2 years 9 weeks ago

I love ice fishing. I suggest a shanty and a heater if you dont want to get cold and boy do you get exicited when you have monster pike.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jmcctheboss23 wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

yes i fish more in the winter than i do in the summer

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jerry1958 wrote 2 years 6 weeks ago

i have went twice and almost caught two lake trout the first time but i got hooked like the fish on that first bite

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.