Child’s Play

Is this the year you get your offspring on the ice? Each season I try and take youth on the ice who have either never been ice fishing, or don’t have an outlet to go. I don’t worry about broken lines or lost lures. I do however keep initial forays close to home and take along lots of extra gear in case they get wet feet by stepping into a hole. It happens, but what’s important is for them to know that winter fishing can be just as much fun, if not more fun than fishing in the summer.

First Ice is on the Way

The first winter storm of 2009-2010 is now beginning to abate. Water temps in the inland lakes have fallen sharply, and before week’s end, some of them will begin to form their first crust, eventually expanding to cover the entire body of water. Before you know it, the raspy-crunchy sound of augers will begin to be heard. I can hardly wait~

Somewhere right now, somebody is looking longingly at their ice fishing gear gathering dust in the garage or a spider-webbed basement, and that familiar itch is beginning. It’s the type of itch that calamine lotion and Benedryl won’t eradicate, quite the opposite in fact, only winter air with a sharp bite, accompanied by quickly reddening cheeks will satiate this winter malady.