Every Day Is A Good Day To Go Fishing
Pictured: Levi (left) and Max Van Hofwegen enjoyed a day of ice fishing with their grandpa, Jim Van Hofwegen, on Saturday. Jim says the best part of ice fishing is being outside in nature and the privilege that we have here in the midwest to access these lakes. He also loves fishing with his grandkids.
This week we begin a series of stories about engaging in activities in the great outdoors. Southwest Minnesota and the surrounding areas offer many opportunities to get out of the house and into nature. We want to help our readers find those activities and hobbies that will bring them health and joy in the new year.
By Jill Fennema –
Fifty years ago, our grandfathers went ice fishing with a wooden rod with a spike on the end. They made a hole in the ice, let line with a hook, bait, and a bobber down the hole. They stuck the stick into the ice with the spike and waited for a fish to bite. They knew they had a bite when the bobber went under.
Times have definitely changed. Now ice fishermen head out to the lake with thousands of dollars worth of equipment and a lot of knowledge about what fish like, what they do, where they live, and what external forces make them lazy or active.
Before you head out on the ice, whether you have no experience or you have years of practice and a truck bed full of tackle to back you up, the most important thing you need to think about is ice quality.
Four to six inches of ice is thick enough to walk on, while 12 to 15 inches of ice Is necessary to drive on. Always avoid areas with slush or other signs of thin or soft ice. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with a lake or pond before you head out.
Trevor Fey, one of the owners of Roger’s Auto Sales in Edgerton, has been fishing for years. He enjoys fishing year round and this time of year he is really excited about taking his family out on the ice or meeting up with buddies to catch a few fish.
Trevor says that every day is a good day to fish. But some days are better than others. The important thing is to have fun. It also helps to have the right equipment.
Trevor owns several ice fishing rods. Because he has been ice fishing for years, he has expanded his collection to include poles that are not mass produced. In fact, some of his poles were hand crafted in Florida. But not every angler needs to have a rod repertoire as large as Trevor’s.
Edgerton ice fisherman Trevor Fey with a walleye he caught on Lake Winnepeg. Trevor’s ice fishing adventures take him near and far. (submitted photo)
Levi Van Hofwegen fishing on Smith Lake in Murray County. He enjoyed a day of ice fishing with his brother and Grandpa.
Last Saturday was a great day for ice fishing. Several anglers reported that the fish were biting like crazy.
An example of a primitive ice fishing rod from the past.
A typical ice fishing rod is about 30 inches long (compare that to the long rods used in freshwater or salt water fishing which are usually 60 inches or longer). When choosing an ice fishing rod, you will want to pay attention to flexibility and durability.
While many ice anglers use a spinning reel on their rod, Trevor has recently been trying out new inline reels. The benefit of these reels is that they do not create twist in the line. Twist in the line can result in unnatural movement to the lure and bait.
Most, if not all, ice fishermen have multiple rods and reels. That’s because different fish can be caught on different setups. A walleye rod is not going to work to catch pan fish. When fishing for pan fish like crappie and sunnies, you’ll be wanting a sensitive, flexible rod. If you are fishing walleye you are going to want something tougher.
