Back to the Ice

It’s getting to be that time of year again when the cold has been around long enough to make ice on lakes thick enough for me to feel comfortable. Some people don’t hesitate to jump on out there as soon as it’s “frozen”. I, on the other hand, like demonstrated proof that the ice can hold much more than my own weight. Reports of a car on a frozen lake work just fine. Otherwise, I’ll be waiting patiently in my recliner watching football.

Somewhere around 8,000 feet above sea level, the reports of acceptable ice thickness have made their way to my ears. The time has come to start coordinating schedules, asking wives for weekend passes, and making plans to bring a few rainbow trout out of their winter lethargy. What started out as an impromptu early January bachelor party has turned into a yearly event amongst a group of old college buddies. There are two critical facts here: bachelor party and college buddies. These two tiny little details always mean that there is more drinking than fishing and the hangovers are bigger than the fish caught.

As a fly fisherman at heart, the concept of sitting on a frozen lake waiting for fish to show up and take stationary bait has always baffled me. I went out ice fishing with my dad one time when I was very young. One time. I don’t particularly care for it but I get to hang out with good friends and be in the mountains for a few days.

Ice fishing is big business in this country and people who do it often take it very serious. I’m lucky enough to have these types of people in my life. I’m particularly lucky because they own the gear that can make an ice fishing trip comfortable and successful. The two pieces of gear that I’m particularly fond of is the ice hut and the fish finder.

If nothing else, the ice hut gives you somewhere to sit and keeps you out of the wind. We fish on lakes situated very near the Colorado/Wyoming border. If you know anything about Wyoming, you know it’s windy as hell. These lakes are no different and the ice hut is essential to more comfortable ice time.

I’ve always thought fish finders were kind of cheating. Then I came to the conclusion that if I’m going to sit and freeze my ass off for several hours I’ll use anything to increase my odds of catching fish. Initially it’s hard to wrap your head around the display on a fish finder. After all, it’s a two dimensional image trying to portray a 3 dimensional scenario. Thankfully I was sharing a hut with the owner of said electronic device so he walked me through it. And eventually, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. The one advantage I appreciated the most was knowing when to pay attention. Fish in water this cold move extremely slow. Having the rod in your hand, ready to set the hook, is critical.

It’s exciting to know that the wheels are in motion for this year’s trip. I’ve started a mental check list on the items I need to pack and have been checking the fishing reports religiously. I’d like to say that I’m not going to drink as much this year so I won’t be so damn hung over on the ice but I know that isn’t a reality. Anytime a bunch of college buddies get together, they drink like they’re still in college. Granted we all can still drink a lot. It just takes us so much longer to recover.

This Angler