The Devil is in the details

[Mitch f]

Have a good ice fishing story, can't verify its accuracy but my buddy said it happened...

My buddy had a Labrador retriever that went with him ice fishing in his ice shack. The dog had a funny habit of snapping at the perch he would catch and reaching down to grab the fish as it was splashing down in the hole ready to be lifted out. One time the dog was ready to pounce on the perch and the perch became unhooked and fell back in the hole. The over enthusiastic dog jumped in after him and somehow fell through the hole. My buddy panicked and was thinking his dog was gone forever. Then about 30 seconds later he heard a scream. Apparently the dogs head  resurfaced into an old mans ice shack nearby. ???

I bet the old man had to clean out his shorts! 

[jdmidwest]

I have stared at an ice hole and wondered what I could do with it.  Lucky for me, she left and went on her way.

 

[Johnsfolly]

Native americans up north would catch bears on the ice in the winter. They would cut a hole in the ice and place peas around the hole. When the bears would come in to take a pea they would kick them in the ice hole.

[Johnsfolly]

Micropterus

Do you know any good burbot lakes?That is one of my bucket list fish. I never thought about splake before. Wouldn't mind catching those as well.

[Terrierman]

I've caught bluegill through the ice here in Missouri.  Without the benefit of an ice house or a heater or much other than a bucket to sit on.  Wax worms for bait.  No ice rod, just lightest spinning rig I had.  A good auger is a must.  Never drove on the ice but did fear falling through a few times.  Schnapps and beer, not whiskey.  No card games either.  Would do it the right way given the opportunity.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

Micropterus

Do you know any good burbot lakes?That is one of my bucket list fish. I never thought about splake before. Wouldn't mind catching those as well.

The only place I knew of around where I grew up that people caught Burbot in any numbers was Little Bay De Noc on Lake Michigan.  I heard of guys catching them at night while Walleye fishing.  I think they have a tendency to curl up around people's arms when they unhook them, which is kinda weird.  Supposed to be great to eat ("poor mans lobster").  I've never caught a Burbot though, but I've caught a bunch of Splake up there....

[Guest]

John, besides I think you need to catch a Burbot just so can write Lota lota on your species list.  That's my favorite scientific name. Lol.

[Johnsfolly]

2 hours ago, Micropterus said:

John, besides I think you need to catch a Burbot just so can write Lota lota on your species list.  That's my favorite scientific name. Lol.

I agree. If you catch more than four that's a lot of Lota lota. I see programs on the Eelpout festival in MN and hear that it's a good eating fish. So it's an interesting fish.

[Johnsfolly]

Another "poor man's lobster" is the monkfish. That would be a tough one to get off a hook without losing a finger.

[Quillback]

11 hours ago, Micropterus said:

C'mon, everyone needs to fish in below zero temperatures and drive a truck on a frozen lake at least once in their life!

When I lived in Massachusetts, while in high school and then going to college after getting out of the service, I would usually go ice fishing a few times a year.  Winters are long and cold, and if you're an outdoorsman you just have to get out and do something.  I was a minimalist as far as tackle, a steel pole with a chisel on the end for hacking a hole in the ice, one of those ice skimmer deals to clear the hole, and an ultralight set up.  No ice shack for me.

Pretty much caught panfish, - crappie, yellow perch, and bluegill on ice fishing jigs tipped with wax worms.  Sometimes I would being a few tip-ups with me, bait them with shiners, and watch for the flag to go up.  Almost all the fish I caught on tip-ups were runt pickerel.

Can't say that I miss ice fishing, but I did see an In-Fisherman show where they were somewhere in Wisconsin, fishing for steelhead through the ice - now that looked like fun.