Ice fishing is a fun time.

That’s not frost bite, its my toes having a great time. Now you may not think that ice fishing is a great way to relax because you are outside and exposed to the freezing cold elements. But you have to be a person who enjoys just relaxing and kicking back with a few beers, a few buddies, and no worries in the world.

If you live in a tropical climate, I pity your lack of ice fishing. Maybe you should live in Canada, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, Russia, or Germany. Those places are where the real action occurs. I personally live in Canada and unlike my fellow Canadians, I never complain about the cold, I revel in it. The only problem is global warming.

I have noticed that the earth is heating up. Now I’m not saying that it is due to cars or pollution, because I just don’t know, but one thing that I am sure of is the fact that my ice fishing expeditions are happening later and later each winter. Some times, I can only get out three or four times per year. It would seem as though I will just have to take up regular fishing, off the ice.

Now let me tell you about shelters. I personally don’t believe in them at all. My style, like many others is the purest form of ice fishing. Just bundle up with as many warm layers as possible. But some folks realise that they want to be comfortable while they sit on a frozen lake for hours on end. These wimps have little shacks that they can tow onto the ice and they can sit right in them and be warm. I suppose they are a good idea because they have no bottom and you can just fish through the floor of your shelter. I have heard of all different types of shelters. Some are as basic as possible and some are almost mansions on ice. I guess they can just have their servant fish for them while they eat their fish eggs and frog legs.

Make sure the ice is thick enough! I can not stress this fact enough! Usually you are a bizillion miles away from any thing and the last thing you need is a very long, very cold walk after you fell through the ice. You might even die. I guess that makes ice fishing an extreme sport. Ice is pretty strong, and usually three inches is good to walk on, five to six inches for sleds and snowmobiles, twelve for light cars, and sixteen inches is strong enough to support a full sized truck.

Now before you head out on your expedition, make sure you have all of the right gear. The first and most important thing that you need is beer. Don’t worry about the beer getting warm because you are surrounded by ice and snow, duh. And be sure to pack enough beer for the length of your trip. A good rule to live by is, twenty-four hours in a day, twenty-four beers in a case. I have always followed that rule and it has never failed me. But make sure that you have the right beer transportation with you as well. If you are just going out for a week or so, you can pull a sled of two-fours behind an ATV or snowmobile, but if you are staying a month or more then you are definitely going to have to bring a truck, or two. Also bring a saw
or auger, bait, rods, ass padding, and a gun. There is nothing like getting drunk and shooting at fish.

Now you know just how fun ice fishing can be and now you can try it and know the joys that this humble extreme sporting event has brought me. Have fun out there, and don’t forget the beer.

Justin G. is an extremely accomplished angler, who loves to go fishing as frequently as possible. He has put his expertise online at: icefishingpro.com