Why Do so Many People Love Ice Fishing? [Archive]

salmonslammer

12-02-2004, 10:15 PM

What?????? Sit out on a windswept lake?? Screw that noise.

Now, I'll go sit in my heated shanty, in my comfy chair, having some pops and munchys, staring down a hole all day long. I live in Michigan...I have to fish..I have no other choice. Adapt or perish!!! ( I hear you die if you don't fish, so I'm not taking any chances!!)

I guess that I love perch and they seem to like this side of the lake better in the winter, so....

I always meet some cool people out on the ice every year. :cool: Icefishing is a bizzare fraternity. Even though I sit in the shanty, I still make it a point to get out and do some hole hopping and chat with the other nuts out there. Word of advise, talk to the old guys. They know alot. Lots of great storys too. Weekends are fun for watching all the mullets out and about. There are times that fairhaven looks like a carnival....Seen some weird things out there..... :tdo12:

I guess the biggest reason is my daughter...she is almost 5 and loves to ice fish. She'll wake me up at 5am if she knows we are going fishing that day. I think she likes being pulled out on the sled the best. Too bad they don't stay that way forever. Making memories....

neil duffey

12-02-2004, 10:54 PM

i love it becouse out of all the fishing i do, its the most enteraigning and fast paced and productive of any method i use including on my salmon boat, on the river w/ my fly rod, or walleye in the channle's... id pick perch through the ice over all of em...(if it was possible in july) but my shanty and heater inda make me forget the cold thats out side... it truely is a rush to see a big ole school of 10 inch plus tigers commin through ur ice hole every few mins... the best part is u can see it all happen!

schaaed1

12-02-2004, 11:18 PM

What?????? Sit out on a windswept lake?? Screw that noise.

:yeahthat:

I fish mainly in the winter (unless I'm on WDGibby's boat)! I have met many new people out there on the ice. Sometimes you never see each other again, other times friendships are made. Last year I met two people from this site. WDGibby and I fished quite a bit together. And I think this year will be no different. Also met Fishfoote out on the ice. He got me into some fish, gave me some advice on fishing the lake we were on and kept me supplied with his special bait all day long (and then some)! ;) Hopefully, we will be able to meet up again this year and I can 'repay' his gratitude somehow.

It is also good, for those of us that have not figured out how to retire yet, to go out by yourself and 'vegitate' after a stress filled day/week at work. Sometimes it is kind of nice that the only things you have to think about are the colors of the lines on the Vex and the rod tip in your hand .... no boss, no employees, no kid(s), no wife (although she may not like it that you are there).

Ed

lookin for the gills

12-03-2004, 03:38 AM

It is a kind of Fraternity out there. I have never met a guy out on the ice that was mad that i was fishing within 15 feet of him. If that happened in a boat there would be fists flyin or words being thrown. Its about being out in the harshest elements that god can provide. To me its a test of manhood. Anyone can sit in a boat when its 75 degrees but it takes a special person to bare the frigid temps and wind to collect his meal for the next day.

Houghton laker

12-03-2004, 05:14 AM

Your right about the Fraternity!! What a special group of guys you can meet!! It's nice to be out trying to locate fish and have the radio go off...come over here I'm catching some......When your just as anxious to put someone else on fish....well thats a great group of men!! Ever since i was young...there was something about ice fishing that made it my favorite!! Maybe it was a combination of the amounts of fish you could catch and the types of people that do it??? I'm down to evenings and weekends now but in my prime working construction...during the winter when i was off...I would fish 5 days a week and take the weekends off....Ahhhhh the good old days :)

tubejig

12-03-2004, 05:40 AM

What else is there to do in the middle of winter besides going stir crazy??????

jimhx720

12-03-2004, 07:06 AM

Nothing like sitting there on your bucket just before sunrise. Watch the sun come up and hope that the perch start biting as soon as the light hits the lake. Awesome!

WALLEYE MIKE

12-03-2004, 07:18 AM

Because we can't use our boats. :lol: :lol:

dinoday

12-03-2004, 07:29 AM

Because I don't have a boat :lol: Plus.....there's nothing like fighting a good size fish on a pole that would get you laughed off the water any other time of year ;)

Steven Arend

12-03-2004, 07:40 AM

I would have to agree with the Fraternity of Icers. You meet people from every walk of life out on the ice, and you know that yu'all are just as crazy as the guy standing next to you. No matter who he/she is and does.

ih772

12-03-2004, 07:46 AM

It's all about getting out of the house in the winter and the fun of not knowing what you're going to pull through the hole next. The adrenaline rush of seeing a big pike eyeing up your minnow on 2lb test while crappie fishing. Eating fresh caught fish in February when everyone else is eating the stuff from the store. I enjoy the soft hiss of a Coleman lantern and the hum of a vexilar while the ice cracks and thumps on a clear crisp winter night. The excitement when my slip bobber makes that quick jump, falls on it's side, then it's slowly pulled down the hole.

For a lot of people who don't own a boat it presents the best opportunity to fish a lot of different lakes other than from the shoreline.

If your sitting over a hole and not catching anything it's time to move.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/5218fair_haven_perch_2_26.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/533/5218crappie2.jpg

Connor4501

12-03-2004, 07:47 AM

The jumbo perch put an awesome bend in a noddle rod thru the ice. And girth wise, thru the ice is the time to get a wallhanger or two... ;)

DaveW731

12-03-2004, 09:02 AM

I think everyone has hit all three of the big reasons....

Lots of fun: seems like ice fishing lends itself to "tinkering" and endless fine-tuning of tactics, even more than fishing in open water.......the anticipation of cutting a hole and dropping the bait down is as good as the bite......I don't use bobbers, but am a line watcher, and the moment between the line going slack and setting the hook is the best moment in fishing......

Fraternity: M-S Outings.... walking around and meeting people on the ice..... the constant friendly attitudes...... a day out with friends and/or family......OR a chance for solitude and peace, if needed.

Food: Is there ANY better fish dinner than a plate of fresh perch or 'eyes with a side of hash browns, a fresh salad and sourdough rolls?....(my wife doesn't like fishing, but actually ASKS me to go, so we can have fresh fish!)

The trick is to learn how to stay comfortable in the cold, regardless if that means using a shelter or having enough of the right kinds of clothing to stay warm and dry without one.That way, you can experience the unique beauty of a winter day, while having fun, enjoying the company of others and getting dinner!

GVSUKUSH

12-03-2004, 09:06 AM

It's kinda like asking 'why do men chase women'? Both are cold and unforgiving, but sometimes, sometimes, you might just score.

scottyhoover

12-03-2004, 09:09 AM

lets make a pledge guys.... say it with me
"I will not pump a dry hole this winter"

having said that, ice fishing is kinda cool :)

ih772

12-03-2004, 09:10 AM

:yeahthat: LMAO! at GVSU and Scotty

scottyhoover

12-03-2004, 09:17 AM

the only thing I be drillin' this winter is ice :)
Last icefishin season.....man....she was hot....

ih772

12-03-2004, 09:29 AM

C'mon Scotty..those U of M girls are giving you the cold shoulder? ;)

scottyhoover

12-03-2004, 09:32 AM

I'm gettin older but they stay the same age..........maaaaannnnn

Gonna be a long cold, lonely winter:
http://141.216.11.180:81/albums/icefishing/houghtonlake12-20-03010.jpg

Southend517

12-03-2004, 09:44 AM

1) I want to see my name on the Shiver on the River list
2) You can go everyday once there is ice
3) Bragging rights

Jacob Huffman

12-03-2004, 09:50 AM

WHY ASK WHY JUST DO IT !!!!! It's great!!!

Dasher

12-03-2004, 09:50 AM

I enjoy the solitude and the time to reflect back on life. The best part is catching a mess of perch in subzero degree weather. Kinda like man versus mother nature. Also, I believe that the fish tastes alot better through the ice due to colder water and less fat content on the fish. Bring on the Ice.
:fish:

Melon

12-03-2004, 09:52 AM

I love ice fishing for several reasons. For one, its kinda like camping in a way. You leave the comforts of home and pack everything you are going to need to survive in your car for the day. Then you get to your destination, search for a good spot to setup shop, set up the shanty, tinker with the radio, heater, chow some munchies, have a beverage O yeah, than start to fish.

Damn those fresh perch tasty mighty fine fried up golden brown.

Another reason I love ice fishing, is to try to get new people every year to join me and my friends. I love watching new peoples reaction as we set up shop, and start fishing. They are like, this isnt so bad, sitting on the ice, with no hat and gloves, in a heated shanty on a nice cushy seat while sipping their favorite drink and looking into a hole at fish.

The best part is when the new people hear the ice start to sing / crack / expand. :chillin: The looks on their face is priceless. :yikes: :help: Then you have to expalin to them that those are good noises, that means the ice is freezing more. Then they are really confused, good noises. :confused:

I also love telling ice fishing storys around people who have never gone, or who are just clueless about it. When they ask how can you sit on the ice all day? Then you tell them its not bad, you are in a shanty with a heater all nice and cozy. Then the question always comes " Aren't you afraid the heater is going to melt the ice and you are going to fall through?" :confused: That one always kills me. :lol:

As stated before, I also love meeting new people and hearing about their experiences.

I just read 2 of my new favorites quotes:

Weekends are fun for watching all the mullets out and about.

(Who do I like Ice Fishing ) It's kinda like asking 'why do men chase women'? Both are cold and unforgiving, but sometimes, sometimes, you might just score.

Bring on the ice! See you guys on the frozen pond. :)

Lunker

12-03-2004, 09:52 AM

If you gotta ask youlle never know. Get out and try it and see.

ih772

12-03-2004, 09:53 AM

I hear ya Scotty...:lol:

MGV

12-03-2004, 09:54 AM

Its the companionship with all your friends and that big pot of chili you eat all day. PLus a few pops of course.....

GVSUKUSH

12-03-2004, 10:03 AM

C'mon Scotty..those U of M girls are giving you the cold shoulder? ;)
Well hell yes they gave him the cold shoulder, they're all lesbians! ;) :lol:

scottyhoover

12-03-2004, 10:07 AM

UM-Flint not UMAA....70% all real chicks here.

Sometimes i feel bad about hijacking a thread and taking it downhill......but then i get over it.

silversides

12-03-2004, 10:16 AM

Man, you guys got it made with all your shanties, vexilars, and underwater cams. If you really want it to be you vs. mother nature, leave some of that stuff at home. To me there is nothing like movin around and finding a school of specs, as the guys with vex's just sit by their hole staring at their vex waiting for those bars to come up. Of course, i sure wouldn't mind having one of those things handy once in a while ;) . My "first love" is steelhead fishing, but ice fishing is a close second.

scottyhoover

12-03-2004, 10:23 AM

think I heard a challenge.....You've been served.

We need more ice fishing tourneys. And not the cheapy 'bring in your biggest fish whatever it is' tourneys.....we need more total weight bluegill and crappie tourneys.....trap attacks but on a smaller scale....anyone want to volunteer to set some up?

Wellston

12-03-2004, 11:08 AM

I started taking my son ice fishing almost as soon as he could walk. He is now a senior in high school. We seem to have more time to get out together and fish in the winter than summer. I can't even count the hours we’ve sat in the shanty talking and watching the bobber. Sometimes other friends come along but most of the time its only Josh and I.
We always pack the coleman stove and have a lunch of chili or soup and brats.
He will be going away to collage next year and I'm going to miss this time we have together.
Jim

Ed Stringer

12-03-2004, 11:19 AM

I like the work out !! I'm lieing, theres nothing like the sound of the first fish flopin in the box. I'm from Calif. and for me this hard water is GOD sent no better way to get to fish....... In some cases faster than ewith a boat. I've made some life time freinds and friends I only see during the hard water season. Lurepaintr was my mentor he showed me the basics and now 20 years later we still run together , man time goes by fast eh Mark. If you have a vex. and you sit waiting for the bar to rise, you need your head examned.

n.pike

12-03-2004, 11:44 AM

Solitude. Solitude.Solitude.

Find a lake way off the beaten path and have it to yourself.

THE BAIT SHOP GUY

12-03-2004, 12:18 PM

Why do I ice fish? Easy, I'm an addict and I've gotta get my fix! "Give me what I need, baby!"

Look at all the neat stuff you get to play with.

Ever drove your truck out on the ice with a southerner who's never been on the ice before? "We're drivinging where? :SHOCKED: We're over HOW many feet of water." :yikes: Man, that's worth it right there!

fishingrookie

12-03-2004, 01:11 PM

fishingrookie

12-03-2004, 01:20 PM

Add one more - Excercise. It is physically demanding to haul a shanty for miles on the ice. Not to mention to drill several dozens of holes using a hand auger.

I think everyone has hit all three of the big reasons....

Lots of fun: seems like ice fishing lends itself to "tinkering" and endless fine-tuning of tactics, even more than fishing in open water.......the anticipation of cutting a hole and dropping the bait down is as good as the bite......I don't use bobbers, but am a line watcher, and the moment between the line going slack and setting the hook is the best moment in fishing......

Fraternity: M-S Outings.... walking around and meeting people on the ice..... the constant friendly attitudes...... a day out with friends and/or family......OR a chance for solitude and peace, if needed.

Food: Is there ANY better fish dinner than a plate of fresh perch or 'eyes with a side of hash browns, a fresh salad and sourdough rolls?....(my wife doesn't like fishing, but actually ASKS me to go, so we can have fresh fish!)

The trick is to learn how to stay comfortable in the cold, regardless if that means using a shelter or having enough of the right kinds of clothing to stay warm and dry without one.That way, you can experience the unique beauty of a winter day, while having fun, enjoying the company of others and getting dinner!

RichP

12-03-2004, 01:22 PM

Ever drove your truck out on the ice with a southerner who's never been on the ice before? "We're drivinging where? :SHOCKED: We're over HOW many feet of water." :yikes: Man, that's worth it right there!

I've been ice fishing my whole life in Michigan and I would still have the same reaction as the southerner. I don't know how thick the ice gets up in Escanaba but wouldn't be thick enough for me to take my truck out on it. Then again, I've actually witnessed a truck go through before so maybe that's why I'm a little gun-shy about it. Best of luck with that. :)

-Rich

Burksee

12-03-2004, 02:14 PM

It's all about getting out of the house in the winter and the fun of not knowing what you're going to pull through the hole next. The adrenaline rush of seeing a big pike eyeing up your minnow on 2lb test while crappie fishing. Eating fresh caught fish in February when everyone else is eating the stuff from the store. I enjoy the soft hiss of a Coleman lantern and the hum of a vexilar while the ice cracks and thumps on a clear crisp winter night. The excitement when my slip bobber makes that quick jump, falls on it's side, then it's slowly pulled down the hole.

For a lot of people who don't own a boat it presents the best opportunity to fish a lot of different lakes other than from the shoreline.............. :yeahthat:........and my beer never gets warm! :woohoo1:

GVSUKUSH

12-03-2004, 02:31 PM

It's all about getting out of the house in the winter and the fun of not knowing what you're going to pull through the hole next. The adrenaline rush of seeing a big pike eyeing up your minnow on 2lb test while crappie fishing. Eating fresh caught fish in February when everyone else is eating the stuff from the store. I enjoy the soft hiss of a Coleman lantern and the hum of a vexilar while the ice cracks and thumps on a clear crisp winter night. The excitement when my slip bobber makes that quick jump, falls on it's side, then it's slowly pulled down the hole.

Man, that's like porn for the ice fisherman, half way through reading it I had to go put my parka on.

ih772

12-03-2004, 03:01 PM

To me there is nothing like movin around and finding a school of specs, as the guys with vex's just sit by their hole staring at their vex waiting for those bars to come up. Silversides, I think you may be a little confised on how most of us use a vexilar. If your not seeing anything on the vex it's time to move and find the fish. That's why having a flip-style shanty is so popular with those of us who run and gun when out on the ice. Just crank in your line, put your stuff in the bottom of the shanty, flip up the top and head out for another spot...right Scotty ;)

Arin

12-03-2004, 03:10 PM

Ice Fishing.

ih772

12-03-2004, 03:12 PM

We need more ice fishing tourneys. And not the cheapy 'bring in your biggest fish whatever it is' tourneys.....we need more total weight bluegill and crappie tourneys.....trap attacks but on a smaller scale....anyone want to volunteer to set some up? I think that's a great idea Scotty. Maybe they could be done at some of the meet and greets too.

Fishfoote

12-03-2004, 03:14 PM

I like the pace - slow slow slow. No casting, no watching trolling speed/fighting the breeze to run a break, etc. Just sit there and wait for that red bar to rise and break into two :) Plus it's a great excuse to buy even more fishing gear, atv, snowmobile :lol:

neil duffey

12-03-2004, 06:18 PM

and what other form of out doors sports can u get a hungrie howies guy to deliver to u right to ur shanty!?!?!?!? :evil:

ih772

12-03-2004, 06:36 PM

It would be hilarious to watch someone try and deliver a pizza out in front of fair haven..."Deliver it to the blue shanty" :lol:

Connor4501

12-03-2004, 06:38 PM

In adding to my earlier reply, another great part about ice fishing is that you don't have to carry a cooler to keep "pops" cold... :D

Also all of the good conversation that can take place on the ice is something that makes ice fishing special...If you try to get your within 30-40 feet of someone else in a boat, you're asking for trouble. 10 people in a 30-40 foot area of a frozen canal is very common...

Arin

12-03-2004, 08:02 PM

This question is like asking 'Why do you hunters wake up at 4am to go and sit outside in the cold all day long?'

patcheroo

12-03-2004, 08:34 PM

Because my wife won't go out there :lol: ...............Patch

WDGibby

12-03-2004, 08:36 PM

Just a different breed of fellows out there sitting on the ice. Most just enjoy being outdoors. Somtimes catching fish is just a added bonus. Found out last year even the five year old grandson could get the hang of catching fish with the Vex. what a hoot.

Schaaed1 you will get to retirement soon enough. Will catch up with you on White lake over bunch of gills, this year again.

WD Gibby:)

BIG TIM

12-03-2004, 09:52 PM

Why do I like to ice fish, Hmmm. Every fish L.S.C! Need I say more..

THE BAIT SHOP GUY

12-03-2004, 10:11 PM

RICHP, most years we get lots of ice. One of the advantages of living in the "bannana belt" is that we get the cold, but not the snow - resulting in good ice formation. Every 5 or 6 years, you need an extension for the auger so you could get thru it all. Use a little common sense and you'll be fine.

Come on up to the U.P. sometime and I'll take ya for a ride out there. ;)

Can't Touch This

12-04-2004, 06:02 PM

Fish taste VERY good outta cold water when sitting on ice all day. Plus, it is very relaxing and peaceful, espessially if you go to an un crowded lake. Or, if you like to party with people....there is no limit to how many people you can bring(unless the ice is thin, in that case, you may want to limit it ;) ) Plus, your pop(or beer) stays ice cold all day!!!!

I find that if you find a school, you can stay on them all day, and just have a blast....which is much more difficult in open water.