What is the best part of winter in Minnesota? Ice fishing.
Oh, there are the snow forts, snowball fights, cross country and downhill skiing, ice skating, etc., but you can’t beat a cold winter evening at an ice fishing house. , warm and toasty, while you hoist those Walleye and northern pike trophies.
And anyone can do it, from toddlers as young as one or two to grandparents and great-grandparents. If you have never fished in your life, you can do this!
Start by finding a crew that rents ice fishing houses, or you may have a friend or relative with an ice house. These buildings are usually the size of a garden shed (although I have seen some the size of an actual house), insulated, cozy, and equipped with a propane heater to keep you nice and warm while you fish for your cold-water prize. Drill a few holes in the ice with an auger, drop a line into the water with a minnow on your hook, and you’re fishing.
Move the line up and down a few times from time to time so that if a Walleye (best for eating IMHO) swims by, he has a look at what he thinks his dinner will be. If he grabs your line, start pulling him quickly, don’t let him have slack in the line or he’ll go! Once you’ve reeled him in, be sure to remove the hook from his mouth with a pair of pliers – Walleye and Pike have nasty sharp teeth. Throw him on the ice outside your ice fishing house to cool off, and when you’re done fishing for the day, collect your prize and head home to a wonderful meal of fresh fish.
You can find a wide variety of ice fishing houses, from small portable versions to large camper-style houses. One of our friends has a house for 6 people, complete with stove and bathroom. Others are simpler, with a few chairs and a heater. Whatever your preference, you can enjoy ice fishing so much more when you’re not sitting in the cold winter wind. Who doesn’t like to fish comfortably?
Cold weather states are where ice fishing is most popular; After all, you need ice to ice fish! Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are known for their excellent ice fishing. In Minnesota, the ice is usually thick enough to walk on in mid-December and can last until late March. Walleye can be anywhere from 12 to 36 inches and sometimes longer, and weigh anywhere from 16 ounces to 13 or 14 pounds. Smaller fish taste better (and, of course, check your local regulations about which fish can be kept and which must be returned to the lake). Northern Pike are also common, but I find they contain too many bones for my liking. Many anglers say that pike are the most fun to catch because of their “fighting”.