I just created a ice fishing forum. http://www.theicefishingshack.com I included open water fishing, and hunting also. Check it out if you like. Bill
Man, do I miss ice fishin'. I used to live in MN and would go every winter. I loved going to Mille Lacs (sp?, it's been to long since I live in MN ) Here in Memphis, there ain't no ice fishin', just fishin when you either sweat to death or get carried away by the misquitos, or both!! Ryan
I was introduced to ice fishing in upper Michigan. I think it is one of man's most sincere forms of self torture. Damn, my feet got cold!!!
As much as I love to fish, I never thought I wanted to mix it with the activity of freezing to death. I really would love to catch a burbot though (you do icefish for those don't you?)
The whole ice fishing shack thing is an adventure esp on the bigger lakes. Cities of ice houses populate the lake with activity 24/7, some even elect a chief of police or mayor of sorts, usually a retired gent who will remain on the ice the entire season if the pay (booze) is generous enough to warrant keeping an eye on ice shacks for vandals and thieves. Towards the end of the season when the ice weakens, and with a good wind the bigger lakes are known to break up unexpectectly. The whole city is set adrift from the main land. It's a strange culture, even the local media like to do a five minute segment now and then about the ice house cities. Some guys have all the comforts of home with ovens cooking pizza and television in their shack. Here's some pic's couple of years ago of a pretty rough week I spent on vacation. At the end of the week I pulled my ice house off and honestly didn't think I was going to get it off. I hope to post more of the same for WildBill in his Ice Fishing Shack forum and tell a few tales.
I used to spend a lot of time in MN and I remember my amazement at the number of ice houses during my first winter there. It truly is a sight to behold inthe midst of winter to see these villages crop up. - And everyone knows everyone else. Small town USA
Blackjack, I plan on fishing Eelpout (burbot) this winter on Winniebigoshish. If you have a good ice fishing shack and a good heater maybe a little bottle of your favorite beverage. You should never get cold.LOL Bill
I remember Shanty Town on Houghton lake in Michigan. What a blast. I haven't seen a snowmobile in years...
There's a lake I DO remember. Stuck the boat trailer and pickup in gravel on the launch ramp at low water, ex ruined the prop on the rocks, nearly stove in the hull. Took two hours for someone to show up to haul the pickup and trailer out. (Saw it in winter, too. No need to repeat.)
With the goofy winter we've had in WI, I saw a icefisherman fishing from a canoe yesterday! Mid-January and less that two good inches of ice on the lake! Usually this time of year the fisherman are driving big trucks onto the ice.
I'm ignorant to ice fishing. How thick does the ice get - and how is it tested prior to driving one's vehicle on the lake?
12 inches and up for light trucks. 4 to 6 in. walking I think. 6+ in for ATV/snowmobile. Usually someone will walk out and auger a hole to check ice thickness. I wait until I see a few other trucks out there, or lots of truck tracks going across the lake.LOL Bill
We're not just about ice fishing anymore. I've added a few new topics since startup and I am always on the lookout for new topics. The main subject is still icefishing, but we have to have something to talk about the rest of the year. Bill