Article of the Month
Ice Fishing 2002
There are times that you really have to sit back and question the sanity of outdoor enthusiasts. Especially ice fishermen, which of course includes men, woman and children of every age, shape and size. I have come to the conclusion that these people are certainly not simple minded fools or mindless victims of brain surgery, no, these folks are full fledged maniacs!!
What is it that makes these strange folks venture out on what was just three weeks ago, open water? This year especially! I had a friend call me on new years eve to say that he was heading out in the morning and that I was invited along for the "trip". He almost had me convinced. "Oh, there’s more than enough ice out there. I checked it four days ago and only went through once.", who did he plan to convince with this argument? I am over twice this guys size and feeling a little disgruntled with his stupidity at this point. Angry would be a better word to describe my feeling when I got on the lake with him and found that a quick two turns of the auger sent it plunging down the hole. The ice was solid alright. A solid three inches! To my horror there were even snowmobiles whipping by us as we wet a line, creating a wave effect in the water beneath us that we could feel through the ice. You really would think that I would have learned my lesson by now as he has done this repeatedly to me through the years, including calling me his ice "checker" at a seminar we did two years ago.
Speaking of the auger, this brings me to my next point. During the average winter, opening day will find you drilling through two feet of ice! I didn’t even have an auger when I first started ice fishing. My day out ice fishing started at five in the morning, chipping out a hole with a spud bar so that by dinner time I could drop a line into the darkness below. No one could convince me that I was sane and having fun! A hand auger is almost as bad, especially if you are taking some kids out and you are the only one strong enough to drill 12 holes. Look out Arnold! The convenience of the power auger has reintroduced some sanity back into the sport, until the motor doesn’t start. I am sure that the majority of popular profanity used today was started by an ice angler in the past, broken auger in hand.
What about those folks that hit the ice, knowingly I might add, without a hut or shelter of any kind. It doesn’t seem to matter that the temperatures may have plummeted below the freezing mark or that the windchill could freeze a polar bear in its tracks. Not to mention that most of them are weathering these storms with their jackets wide open and there hands splashing around in the minnow bucket. No worry this year of course. We have been spoiled this year with the warm temperatures and so little snow. This is driving the ice anglers crazy though. These are the folks praying every night for four feet of snow and -20 temperatures. Is there no rest for the wicked? Perhaps they have been convinced by the large supermarket chains that fish is truly better frozen rather than fresh.
The fishing buddy I mentioned earlier has assured me that the ice is solid and over six inches thick now. More than enough for even me. I don’t know if I want to join him though after taking some time to think over this whole ice fishing thing. Whatever it is that makes a person enjoy staring down a dark hole in the ice for hours on end, with dedication that is unequaled, seems to be different for everyone. Some like the feeling of frost bite, others like the thought of hypothermia. Regardless of who they are, the social part of ice fishing seems to be the highlight and most fondly talked about facet of the sport. These people are truly troubled and only the craziest admit to the sickness. I know because I am going next time I get "the call" and I can’t wait!
Chris Hockley
Published in the Uxbridge Star Feb. 5, 2002
Copyright © 2002 Chris Hockley
It is illegal to reproduce or distribute this work in any manner or medium without written permission of the author, Chris Hockley c/o Blitzcreek Pro Fishing 522 Muirfield St Oshawa Ont., 905 725 0957, chris@blitzcreek.com