Imagine this. You bundle up and walk out onto a frozen lake
on a clear and crisp winter day with your sled full of fishing gear and the
fishing license in your pocket. Once you find the perfect fishing spot, you
drill a large hole completely through the ice until you can see open water.
Then, you get out the ice chisel to widen your hole. Now, you unpack your
sled and find your special lures, jigging rods or tip-ups to catch the fish.
You will probably want to get out your portable seat to sit on so that you
can look down the hole to see what's happening. Then, you grab the skimmer
to keep the hole clear of the ice and slush that forms during the day. Once
your line is set, you'll need to keep a close eye on it or watch for the flag
on the tip-up to see if you've caught a fish. When your hands get cold, you
grab for the thermos of hot chocolate you brought along, mmmm, just what you
need to warm up. You end up eating fish for lunch out on the ice, cooked on
the small stove you brought along. What a great day of fishing!
Believe it or not, winter fishing makes up nearly 1/4 the
annual catch in New York. People enjoy it for the solitude of being out on
a frozen lake and the challenge of the sport. Others like the friendship and
good times found in an ice shanty town atmosphere with friends and family.
Why not try ice fishing and open your senses to an exciting winter event.
