As a Minnesotan, the winter is something that I am quite familiar with. With winter lasting for what seems to be forever, we have come up with numerous ways to entertain ourselves through the long season. Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and ice skating are a few of the most popular things to do during the winter. I’ve tried all of them and can say that they are all excellent ways to get outside and enjoy the cold weather. The activity that takes the cake for best, though, is ice fishing.
Ice fishing, or “hard water fishing”, is when an angler goes out onto the frozen lakes and drills a hole through the ice in order to fish. This process is done using an auger, which essentially is a giant drill with blades on the end, allowing it to carve through the ice. Once a hole is open, the fishing can start.
Fishermen use rods that vary in length from around 16–40 inches, allowing them to sit over the hole without restrictions from the rod. They drop the line down through the hole and work the bait differently depending on the lure that is rigged. Part of what makes ice fishing so fun is finding out what bait will work while you’re out there. It’s a trial and error process that keeps people coming back due to the satisfaction of catching fish. The fish also feel much bigger when caught through the ice because of the light line and rod needed for this style of fishing.
What’s also great about ice fishing is you can target multiple species of fish at the same time. If you decide that you want to jig for walleye, you can also target northern pike using a tip up. Tip ups are a technique that allows you to fish an area where you aren’t going to be sitting. This is because live bait is put on the end of the rig and dropped to the bottom, allowing the bait to swim around. The line is then attached to a rotating system that triggers a flag to “tip up” when a fish takes the bait.
The nicest part about ice fishing, that separates it from any other winter activity, is the ability to keep warm in the harsh Minnesota weather. This is done by using a shelter or an ice house, blocking the cold wind from hitting you when inside. Heaters make this even better, providing heat that stays trapped inside, so you won’t even need to wear a jacket if you take this route. The thrill of the catch and toasty warm shelter makes ice fishing the best thing to do this winter by far.