I’ve never fallen through the ice while ice fishing. I’ll no doubt regret saying that. Falling through thin ice is an unpleasant situation I assiduously strive to avoid, like heavy lifting. But despite the possibilities of thrashing around in life-threatening ice water, ice fishing is an endeavor enjoyed by throngs of hardy cold-weather anglers this time of year.
With that in mind, you’re signed up for the ice fishing event of the season, right? The Tommy Cod Ice Fishing Festival in Sainte-Anne de-la-Perade on the St. Anne River in Quebec, Canada is supposedly running through February and an intriguing venue because my paternal grandfather was born in nearby Trois-Rivieres. Add that to my bucket list.
I have never caught, nor even seen a Tommy cod, much less through a hole in the ice. I suspect most of us will not punch the Quebec ticket because of travel expense and distance, not to mention the Canadians may be somewhat cranky due to pesky U.S. tariffs, that “51st State thing and the Blue Jays losing The World Series.
“Safe” ice is considered to be at least 4 inches thick. I would add a few more inches to that before I’m shuffling my old, fat frame out there. I would really prefer to see a pickup truck parked next to an enclosed shanty on the ice to feel somewhat secure. The truck/hut deal, in my book, would require a minimum of eight inches of ice, preferably 12 inches.
That’s the way we saw it when snow-covered shoreline squatting on a Keystone State rural pond with the four “F’s” – friends, fire, food and flasks. We had a bunch of kids along and they would do the running, slip-sliding over the ice to flying flags. “Way to go kids,” now pass me the beef jerky and flask while I sit here by the fire and watch. My brother and a pal probably thought it was great fun when they were both lying flat on their bellies peering into holes they just drilled on Lake Colby in Saranac Lake, NY. “I caught a cold,” my brother said…but he did claim to see a large trout swim by his “hole.”
If you must go forth and plop yourself in front of a see-though opening in a lake or pond I would suggest you make some safety considerations. You do not want to utter the usual last words before an ambulance ride to the Emergency Room, which would be: “Watch this!” Thus, let someone, preferably family, know where you’re going to be fishing, with whom, take your (fully charged) cell phone and what time you expect to be back home.
If you’re going to be babysitting an open ice hole with old fashioned tip-ups, wrap a pair of ice grabbers around your neck in case you fall in. You really want to avoid that…it’s annoying and potentially deadly. You can buy ice grabbers/spike or make your own…a simple thick dowel with 10-penny nails inserted will work, while you’re making deals with whatever superior being you believe in to ensure your 911 call gets through.
That opening line at the top of this story? Notice I said I’ve never fallen in while “ice fishing.” True statement. However, I did splash and crash through what I thought was a solid frozen farm pond playing ice hockey, such as it was, when I was 13. Fallen tree limbs were used to mark “goals,” and we actually wore “hockey” skates. Figure skates we thought, usually white, were for sissies. In I went, cracking ice may have been a clue to the safety factor. But at that young age laughing was more likely than worrying. The pond was 2 feet deep at the goal end. Dumb kid in the water…just another “adventure” and story to add to the shoebox museum of memories.
Now, no farmer in his right mind would allow kids to skate on his pond in these litigious times. Be sure to check the “no” signs on the shoreline (i.e. no skating, swimming, ice fishing, etc.). And be sure to check the state fisheries regulations for number of tip-ups, size and catch limits and other rules for ice fishing for your destination spot. Most of the fish coming up from the ice, and sought after by winter anglers, are perch, bass, pickerel and walleye. The latter, in my opinion, the best tasting freshwater fish of them all.
Other than the usual targeted species like perch, pickerel, and walleye, smelt (some folks say “smelts”) were the goal on Lake Champlain. I had family in South Burlington, VT and my brother’s relatives on his wife’s side had a shanty. The little fish, wonderful breaded and fried, were best caught at night. If you absolutely positively want to give ice fishing a try…the comfy ice hut is the way to go.
Good luck, strive to avoid galloping pneumonia, hunchback or snow blindness. Be careful out there and remember the old adage, “Mother Nature bats last.” And she did, on a farm pond in Pennsylvania back in the winter of 1957.
