Ice fishing makes for great winter sport

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By Morgan Mitchener

This might not be an option in Louisiana, but if you ever get the opportunity during these winter months, give ice fishing a shot. And if your first thought is freezing extremities, you are halfway right. But if you forget the cold, ice fishing is a trophy sport that will give you much satisfaction along with a new experience.

But, before you pack up and head northward, there are a few things you need to know to prepare yourself before your fishing trip.

First, make sure you consult an expert that knows where to fish and how to get there: foot, ATV's or snowmobile. By taking this precaution, you will ensure that you are going to be fishing on thick ice and in an appropriate location, which will provide you with your ultimate goal: fish.

Second, when prepping your fishing hole, make sure it's clean and free of chunks of ice, which might cut or entangle your line. One of the biggest upsets when ice fishing is losing your line due to faulty preparations. If you take the time to strategize and position your fishing area correctly, it will definitely help to alleviate some of those minor stresses.

Thirdly, you should know what you are fishing for. The most commonly sought-after species for ice-fishers include: panfish, sunfish, bluegills, northern pike, walleye and trout. The easiest fish to catch out of the bunch, would be the panfish.

Why? It's because panfish are abundant and the equipment that is needed to catch them is minimal. Plus, they have a great taste. And with modern equipment like shelters, tackles and protective clothing, ice fishing has become an enjoyable adventure, versus a disaster of freezing temperatures with no luck of a catch.

Lastly, but probably most importantly, make sure people know where you are at all times, because ice fishing is a dangerous sport that does have its up's and down's. Pay close attention to your hands and feet, if they start feeling cold, then your core is probably cold too, which means you should break to get warm.

Hypothermia is very prevalent when ice fishing because drilling the hole can take away up to 90 percent of your body heat due to sweating and overheating, causing you to peel off layers. Make sure to bring along a portable heater and extra dry clothing just in case you do get wet. But, if you stay dry and prepared, you will be out of harms way and sure to have a great time fishing through the ice.

Originally Published: Issue 863 - February 3, 2010

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