One other first complaint I usually hear about ice fishing is that it can be boring to some people. The main difference in open water versus ice fishing is casting and contestants moving around. You rarely stay in one place when fishing on the water. However, when ice fishing, your goal is not to have to move from your spot too often. Once you drill your holes and settle in, you want to be able to spend your day catching fish and having fun.
Fishing On the Ice Is Nice – Fun on The Ice
Over the years, I have gone from having just a 5-gallon bucket filled with gear and a topper for the bucket to act as a seat. I’ve moved all the way to having a large sled full of gear and setting up camp when fishing. The evolution of my ice fishing adventures was not just about getting more gear. It was about having more fun. You don’t need fancy gear to have fun while on the ice, but let me go over how my fun was enhanced as I enjoyed ice fishing more.
At the Start
When I was introduced to ice fishing, I had a friend who invited me out with him. I had no gear and no idea what was in store. I went to a local bait shop and grabbed an ice rod and reel along with a few baits that were suggested by the store owner. They suggested I buy a lid for a 5-gallon bucket that also has a cushion on it to sit on, and then I could put my gear inside the bucket. Sounded like a good plan, so I agreed. I arrived with my bucket and minimal gear and ended up having a lot of fun and catching a lot of fish.
I could not help but notice that my friend was set up much better than I was. He had a shanty, a heater, and much more tackle. This sparked my journey of upgrading my gear. The next winter, I added a large shanty, a propane heater, an electric auger, a few more rods, and more bait. Then I realized how much fun ice fishing could really be when you were more comfortable. The gear was not what made it more fun, but it made me more comfortable and more successful on the ice. This, in turn, allowed me to enjoy my time more.
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The Fun Began
Once I added the heated shanty and electric auger, I could drill holes more easily and quickly. I could also stay out longer and stay warmer on even the harshest days due to the wind protection of the shanty and the heater. This allowed me to be very comfortable in the cold. Additionally, I could now invite friends to come with me since I could fit up to 4 people and their gear comfortably on the ice in my new heated campsite. One of the best parts of a fishing adventure is hanging out with friends. Sharing the experience with others is priceless.
This new gear allowed me to do just that. One of the parts that made ice fishing more enjoyable, besides learning where the fish were, of course, was realizing that the catching fish part was just something added on to the experience. The time outdoors in the peaceful winter and spending time with others were the primary reasons for my trip. We would all bring thermos’s full of fresh soup or chili, hot cocoa or coffee, and snacks. We could sit around in our chairs and enjoy the food and conversation. Meanwhile, we simply all held our rods above the holes in the ice in anticipation of feeling a bite.
Ice Fishing is Fun
Once this began, I realized that ice fishing was actually more fun than most hobbies. We could literally just be sitting on the ice and have some of the best conversations and moments. We could do this without having to do much work at all. In this moment, ice fishing no longer became a cold, lonely, and frustrating task. Instead, it became something I could look forward to each season as the colder temperatures rolled in and our open water season drifted away with the arrival of freezing ice.
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Fishing On the Ice Is Nice
I had something to be excited about instead of dreading storing all my summer fishing gear. While the waters may freeze and be still, I learned to make ice fishing warm and exciting.
