Ice Fishing In Missouri

[Jack Jones]

As mentioned before, I am a misplaced New Englander. I kind of miss the days of ice fishing. There's something about being bundled up in the middle of a frozen lake. The peace. The solitude. Is that something that's even possible in Missouri? Maybe in the northern part of the state?

I'm not necessarily talking about driving on to the ice, power augering it. I used to just carry my manual auger. Drill through about 6-8 inches of ice and set up a few tip-ups.

If there are any ice fisherman here, I'd love to know how far one must drive to enjoy that hobby.

[aftersh0ck]

Yep just farm ponds though.

[Trevor K]

You can ice fish lakes in the northern part of the state most years. I've ice fished on Mozingo in the northwest part of the state and it is 1000 acres.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I think your best and probably safest bet would be north of the Missouri River.

[Trevor K]

Yeah, I don't think I would go south of the Missouri River. The lakes in the northern part of the state can be pretty good. I don't know if anything can beat a good farm pond though.

[ozark trout fisher]

As mentioned before, I am a misplaced New Englander. I kind of miss the days of ice fishing. There's something about being bundled up in the middle of a frozen lake. The peace. The solitude. Is that something that's even possible in Missouri? Maybe in the northern part of the state?

I'm not necessarily talking about driving on to the ice, power augering it. I used to just carry my manual auger. Drill through about 6-8 inches of ice and set up a few tip-ups.

If there are any ice fisherman here, I'd love to know how far one must drive to enjoy that hobby.

In hard winters it can be possible to do some ice fishing in my neck of the woods (I'm just north of the Missouri). But you have to be real careful, it doesn't take more than a couple days with highs above freezing to make things very dicy. Personally I don't do it...The winter trout pond here has a dock so I just break a hole off that so I don't have to go out on the ice. I am much more comfortable doing it that way, as I have very little interest in falling in and possibly drowning in freezing cold water. But others do ice fish, and are successful with it. But they are mostly locals who know the score and can tell when the ice is safe.

I also love winter time fishing. You're right, there is nothing like being out fishing a frozen lake in the snow, freezing cold, hands so numb they can hardly move and catching some fat trout for dinner. I have enjoyed that every winter for the past few years now and while it is a different kind of enjoyment than the fishing I normally do, it sure does have its own charm.