Ice Fishing Tips for Beginners

Posted Jan 6, 2024Updated Jan 6, 2024

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As I set my last trap, the sun begins to show, illuminating the vast sheet of creaking ice that lies beneath my feet. I can no longer hear the booming, echoing hoots from the barred owl that resides along the shore of the small cove. Its call has been replaced by the quiet chirps of songbirds and the distant quacks from high-flying ducks that, like me, are getting ready for a long winter day of ice fishing.

As I gaze into the sunrise, I begin to ponder why it is, exactly, that I’m attracted to frozen ponds in the dead of winter. Perhaps it’s moments like the one at hand, where I’m surrounded by nature’s silence and treated to a brilliant skyscape. Maybe it’s the same deep-rooted carnivorous instincts that put our ancestors at the top of the food chain that drive me to try to outwit small animals. Or possibly, I desire to be outdoors with good friends, having fun, and setting my mind at ease. Or perhaps, wait.

“I’ll bet it’s a big one! Race you to it!” I yell to my friend Joe. He is across the cove, having just finished setting up his five traps. I begin a steady, rumbling jog towards the trap that’s been hit. I try to remember the last time I ran; it’s been a while, but surprisingly, it feels good. The light is still low and as Joe starts running, I can tell that he still can’t see the flag; he’s just heading in the same general direction as me.

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Ice Fishing Tips for Beginners

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