What I’ve at all times cherished about ice fishing — except for it being an amazing excuse to be outdoor getting contemporary air and train throughout winter — is that it’s the most inclusive fishing choice we have now.
Sure, like so many outside pursuits you’ll be able to take it to complicated ranges and have all the newest gear: electronics, snowmobiles, ATVs, and transportable ice shelters, however, at its core, ice fishing is angling’s nice equalizer in that anybody can take part, have entry to among the greatest water within the province, and catch limits of fish utilizing solely the fundamentals. Gather a pair of fine boots, some first rate gloves, a hand auger with questionably rusty-sharp blades, a pocket-sized field of jigs and spoons, and ice rod and reel, and also you’re off to the races.
It may even be easier than that. During hotter stretches of the season, I’ve seen anglers forgo an auger and simply run and gun, the ice-fishing model of trolling, utilizing holes drilled the day before today that didn’t freeze over or are solely coated by skinny, heel-stompable ice.
Keep ice fishing easy
In the keep-it-simple vein, I’ve seen some monster fish landed by anglers utilizing a willow department caught right into a snowpack, became a delicate strike indicator by attaching a set-line spool, tipped with a hook, minnow, and break up shot on the terminal finish. It doesn’t get a lot easier than that, particularly when you are able to do all of it inside a 100-yard stroll from the place you parked.
I’ve lived by means of the finesse-fishing craze and threaded my share of one-gram tungsten jigs onto four-pound take a look at line in howling winds and dimming mild. But I’ve additionally had plenty of enjoyable — regardless of chilly, moist toes — with household and pals having fun with the enjoyable present in conserving it easy. This winter, whether or not you go high-tech or preserve it easy, I hope you get pleasure from your time on the ice.
Ray Blades is the Editor of Ontario OUT of DOORS and a lover of untamed locations and the life-giving magic of scorching black espresso. Reach Ray at: ray.blades@oodmag.com; Twitter: @rayOODMAG; Instagram: @ray.blades