There is nothing I love more than getting outside on a sunny winter day. Snowshoeing, skating, sledding, ice fishing – I just love enjoying the outdoors with snow! Ice fishing definitely tops the list of winter family activities on our homestead. Our whole family enjoys it, and we go often throughout the winter season (as long as the ice is good!) 

Early in the season we fish for Northern Pike with tip-ups. Then we start walleye fishing. We use pop up fish tents, our skid house, or our big fish house camper trailer. Once trout opener hits, we visit my dad’s fish house in deeper, clear water. We set up in pop-ups and large holes in the ice to sight fish. In the late winter and early spring, it is time to break out the tip-ups again and look for crappies. During that time of year, you best bring your sunglasses, because on a sunny day the snow glare on the lake can sure be bright! 

GET YOUR GEAR 

The gear you need for ice fishing can be as simple or as fancy as you want to make it. There is a wide variety of items in each category available, which might have to be covered in a separate post to cover them completely. The list of essentials needed for an ice fishing adventure include: 

-Ice auger 

-Bait 

-Tackle 

-Fishing rod or tip ups 

-Appropriate safety gear 

There are many optional items you can bring, such as a fish house, fish finder or camera, and more. I would also recommend bringing a chair or stool to sit on. There are many other optional items that can make your outing more comfortable. I would go to the ice fishing section of your local outdoor store to see what types of gear are available. 

FAMILY FUN 

One of my favorite aspects of ice fishing is that anyone and everyone of all ages can take part in it. There is much fun to be had outside of fishing, no matter the venue or weather! In the early winter season, we head to one of our favorite fishing spots in my husband’s hometown to fish for Northern Pike. We set up tip-ups, which sit on top of a fishing hole with fishing line spooled on them. When a fish takes the bait and starts swimming, a flag pops up to let you know there is a fish on. This in itself keeps kids entertained, especially when the fish are biting fast and furious. This spot is also near shore, so we usually have a bonfire with warm drinks and snacks. The kids go sledding and climbing on rocks.  

Mid-season fishing usually requires a shelter of some kind. It can get extremely cold where we live, both with the wind chill and straight temperature. We have both pop-up fish houses (basically a tent with no floor) and a fish house trailer (like a camper with holes in the floor). There are endless styles and sizes to both of these types of fish houses. Typically, we set up the big fish house in a spot for long term, then if my husband wants to try out different spots or lakes, he will take a pop-up or our skid house (small wooden “shed-like” fish house on wooden skis) since they are easily moved. During this season we fish for walleye and will keep northern pike as well. I love being in our big fish house as we can still have fun even if the weather isn’t great for outside play. We play cards, do crosswords, watch football or movies, and play games. There is a small kitchen in it as well, so I can cook, and there are beds to spend the night in. It is set up for cozy, fun family adventures!  

Depending on what type winter we are having (how cold and how much snow we get affects the bite!) we will move the big fish house to other spots or lakes to look for more walleye. While out at the house, we usually get family and friends visiting, and we will set up tip-ups, plow a skating rink, go snowshoeing or skiing on the lake, or bring our snowmobiles out for cruising. There is much fun to be had when out on the ice! 

In the late winter/early spring, the weather is great for being back on the open ice again. The sun feels hot after a cold, long winter, and the crappies (pan fish) are biting! We usually still have a shelter available for warming up, but we spend most of the time out on the ice chasing those flags and enjoying the fresh air. I love bringing venison cheddar brats to boil on a propane burner in the truck bed – nothing tastes as yummy as a cheddar brat eaten on the ice with a beer!  

FRESH FISH 

Locally caught, fresh fish is one of our family’s favorite meals. We usually host a couple of big fish fries during the year, inviting our extended family and using the big deep fryer to cook the fish outside.  

Wild caught fish is so healthy and delicious for your mind and body, and economical. Up here, buying fresh seafood is not easy to do and is very expensive. Eating walleye, northern, crappie, blue gills, and other local fish is prevalent in homes and restaurants. They are prepared in all types of ways: battered or breaded and fried (deep fry or pan fry), oven baked, blackened or seared, smoked, and pickled.  

When pregnant, you do have to limit consumption of the bigger species of fish up here (pike, large walleye, etc.) due to the mercury content. Read more about the safety of eating fish and seafood while pregnant here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-and-fish/art-20044185

GET OUTSIDE AND MOVE 

A day on the lake in the fresh air and sunshine does a body good! There isn’t a tired like a day of winter activities tired. Ice fishing is great because in between bites you can get some great exercise and have some fun – bring your cross-country skis, snowshoes, sleds, and snowmobiles to get out and play in the snow! If it a year of less snow, bring your ice skates. Our family has spent many hours playing on the ice, pulling each other on sleds, exploring islands, enjoying bonfires on shore, and just sitting in the sunshine on the warmer fishing days.   

BE CAUTIOUS 

The most important thing to remember when going out on a frozen lake: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 100% SAFE ICE. Be sure to do your research on the lake you plan to go out on. Check depths of water and thickness of ice – never rely solely on other people’s reports (unless a trusted local guiding business or resort). A recommended chart of ice thickness can be found here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html

Be aware of ice roads (and never drill holes on one!), snowmobile trails, and pressure ridges. On early and late ice, I would strongly recommend wearing an inflatable suit or life jacket. Many local papers will publish ice and fishing reports as well. Of course, always check your local fishing laws, slot limits, and license requirements. 

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE FISH 

If you have never been ice fishing or even heard of it, I hope this was a fun and informative read. It really is a great winter activity for the whole family, and we have enjoyed and will enjoy going out for years to come! Let me know in the comments if you have enjoyed your own ice fishing adventures or plan to in the future.