The first and most important item you must be aware of is the thickness of the ice. No fish is worth a life. Do some research on what body of water you want to fish. Find out for sure how thick the ice is and how good it is. Remember throughout icing up that alternate freezing, thawing and refreezing does not make good ice. Check out the ice depth tables to see how much ice is needed for an individual to walk on or how much is needed to adequately support a vehicle.
You should have your ice fishing equipment ready by now. That means the small tackle boxes should be cleaned
out, hooks sharpened, reels strung with new line and lures all in their correct and easy-to-find places.
If you use electronic equipment, be sure it is all in good working order. Your ice auger should be tuned up and blades sharpened, if needed. The shack or shelter should be checked out, too.
If you don't hunt and haven't a warm outer outfit, take care of that situation now. Many of the hunting bibs, coveralls and parkas are perfect for ice fishing. If you don't hunt and need some clothing, snowmobile outerwear or hunting clothing is what you need. One word of caution-don't get too close to the propane heater in a fish shack. Many good winter jackets meet their Waterloo by accidentally melting.
Now get ready for the most fun item, ice fishing buddies. Planning the ice fishing excursions with good friends is half the fun. If you are having a good time with friends and the fish are not biting, it doesn't seem to be such a serious situation. You still have a good time.
I've got a special ice fishing buddy and am anxious for another year's action on the glacial lakes. Marilyn Miotke, Grenville, South Dakota, is a heck of an angler. Her ice fishing reputation precedes her. She knows where the fish are and other anglers know she knows. That's why wherever my friend sets up camp, it turns into a small community.
We had a great time fishing last year and we still talk about it. One of the episodes is still vivid in my mind. Marilyn had told me to meet her at her son's ice shack on our favorite lake. "It's not a long walk from your cabin. You'll see where we are. 'll be waiting for you."
I arrived at the lake, placed my buckets and equipment in my sled and set out for the group of ice shacks. It was a long walk involving sweating and panting. "How did everyone know to set up right here?" I breathlessly asked. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled. She proudly but softly said, "Me." She had good luck fishing in that spot a few days before and that's all it took. Wham! Enter all types of anglers, shacks, shelters and equipment.
Marilyn's son Scott was there and welcomed me to his shack. The first order of business was removing a fold-up kitchen table from the shack to outside. Marilyn's boys use the table for card playing while they "live" in the shack. Marilyn told Scott, "We women don't have time for such foolishness like card playing. We're here to catch fish." We didn't tell Scott that we really needed the table out of the way because when we catch fish, we somehow manage to throw the rods around the shack.
"Take those two holes over there," Marilyn directed. "It's been slow so try any lure you want to." In a matter of minutes the lines were in the water and it was time to visit.
Marilyn grew up near the lake. She is very knowledgeable about where fish are and how to catch them. I honestly believe she can smell them. Marilyn is a life-long angler and due to her interest, her children and grandchildren love to fish. She tells stories about taking her babies' high chair out to the fish shack. "The kids loved it," she recalled. "There was always entertaining action for them and I didn't have to miss any fishing time." Her children really did grow up on the ice.
Marilyn brought her two young grandsons out to the shack the second day we fished. The seven-year-old fished some, alternating with some "I'm starving" routines. The three-year-old had his rod in a fishing hole most of the time. He was especially excited when grandma caught a perch. He got to hold it and kiss it. He hugged it especially hard when his older brother threatened to throw it back down the hole. Most of our time was spent keeping the kids away from the propane heater in the shack. Things got very exciting when they discovered that the heater would quit every time they'd jump on the floor.
Marilyn's youngest son, Jamie, appeared and had a great suggestion. He took the boys outside for sled rides. Jamie was panting, but the boys yelled for more.
Fishing was slow and we finished up with only an hors d'oeuvre for the day. But, did we have fun? You bet. Being in the outdoors, sheltered from the wind while enjoying the challenge of ice fishing, sharing stories with a good friend, enjoying refreshments and having fun visiting with other anglers makes for great days on the ice.
So, have your equipment ready, have yourself ready and line up your fishing buddies. A lot of fun on the ice lies ahead.
Berdette Zastrow is the author of Woman's Guide to Hunting. To order call 1-605-396-2457.