Have you ever listened to ice fishing fanatics lament about how tough ice fishing used to be? They seem to really appreciate all the advances in recent years in the quality of gear that is available to them. I question whether or not they covertly believe the new guys to the sport are sort of wimps because of how easy they have it now.
The reminiscers aren’t actually all that old. Many are middle aged people who are remembering their childhoods when going ice fishing meant you were going to be cold. Period. There was no way around it. They talk about using a chisel to create the hole in the ice and donning layers and layers of clothing. They remember wearing as many pairs of socks as they could fit inside their boots!
The clothing has improved a great deal. Boots will now keep your feet warm at 25 degrees or more below zero. There are all kinds of new fabrics, which are much less bulky but very warm. There’s polartec, thinsulate, polypropylene, thermaloft and something else new every winter. A single pair of socks will keep you warm now, too.
It seems that chisels are a tool of the past. Now the holes are created with ice augers, even electric or gas powered augers. And with their portable ice fishing shacks the anglers get to move from spot to spot on the lakes to locate where the fish are biting. Years ago this was not very feasible without a ton of extra work. I’m guessing the folks who have a fancy ice fishing house are pretty stationary still, but with the luxury that is often built into those big shelters, I bet they don’t mind at all.
I live in Minnesota and there are plenty of ice fishing fans living here. Many of them still choose to use an ice fishing house rather than a more portable shelter. You can see many of these houses scattered on the lakes when you drive by. Clearly the communities of winter anglers are a blend of many traditions who enjoy talking about the good old days.
They all seem to agree that something that has remained the same over the years is the reason people enjoy going fishing on the ice. Some people go just to party, but most go because it feels great to be outside in the winter. They enjoy the overall experience – the fishing, the snow, the comraderie, and the challenge of braving the elements.
