Campfire Discussions

Why On Earth Do People Go Ice Fishing?

by Outdoor Hub on January 3, 2012

Why On Earth Do People Go Ice Fishing?

Warm up around this week’s Campfire Discussion with your reasoning for one of the great outdoors’ most popular winter activities. It’s cold, windy and the ground is covered in snow. Some will seek snow-themed solace riding a snowboard or snowmobile, but the ice fishers layer up and go sit still against the winter wind. On a sheet of ice above a frozen lake they hover over a small hole hoping to lure whatever swims by.

Ice fishing enthusiasts: explain to us what the advantages of ice fishing are. Why do you do it? Is it all safe? We’d like to spark a little warmth on this topic with a campfire and hear your arguments for such a unique sport.

Photo courtesy of Canadian Tourism
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  • http://twitter.com/PeterWood PeterWood

    Maye this only applies to locations that experience a hard surface to fish from during blizzards and freezing cold. With today’s gear available like ATVs or snow sleds towing portable windproof pop up shelters with GPS and  flashers its easy to locate hot spots on featureless frozen lakes. Using custom rods and ice fishing tackle why would anyone want to sit on the couch?  Get the family or fishing buddies and head out before its too late!
    Just ensure the ice is thick enough and safe for travel before heading out.

  • Wayne Jones

    I am not much of a jigger but tip ups and spearing are hard to beat. If the weather is way nice i will jig but spearing on ice may just be the most fun of all. If you havent tried spearing pike or even sturgeon you are missing out for sure. It may not be deer hunting or duck hunting but it will cure the winter blue and your kids will love it too. Its even fun to take your wife out.

  • Kufahlb

    As they like to say “upnort”……..ain’t no better eatin’ than fresh walleye or perch caught through the ice !!
    A lot of people (mostly those who have never done any ice fishing) think that this is a cold, uncomfortable sport…….not so true…….with today’s clothing, footwear, and wide choice of pop-up shelters ice fishing can be downright comfortable under most conditions. And catching fish through the ice is every bit as much fun as fishing from a boat or off a pier.

    • Agnieszka Spieszny

      So you do it for the love of fishing? Wind, snow or sun? Think though, if you had to pick one or the other for the rest of your life… would you fish from a boat/pier in mild or warm weather or would you ice fish?

  • Marty Papke

    for over 20 plus years I guided ice fisherman on the waters of the Great Lakes as well midwestern lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan.
    WHY?  indeed lots of fun and enjoying the out-of-doors, the smell and taste of fresh caught fish being fried in a skillet on the ice.  What’s not to enjoy. ”living the dream!”