Sacred Hunter: Mastering the technology behind ice fishing
Ice fishing is not just for rednecks anymore. Put away those stereotypes of tobacco chewing, cussing, Bud-swilling archetypes and take another look at this traditional winter sport. It’s true. More people are willing to walk out onto the frozen surfaces of lakes and ponds than have been doing so for decades.
This new outdoorsman/woman embraces the technology of today and still finds respect and admiration for the age-old techniques of the masters. Mind you, it does not take a fortune to take up this sport in its simplest form. To get started there is a $26 annual fishing license that buys access to all of Vermont’s lakes, rivers and ponds all year. If the cost of a day’s skiing seems like a lot, try picking up a rod & reel combo for $29, a few lures (referred to as bibbits) for $12 and a tin of spikes for $2.95 (“spikes” are the ice fisherman’s colloquialism for maggots, referred to as such as to not offend the gentry willing to step onto a hard water surface, where regardless of one’s academic achievements, we are all equal when it comes to footing).
So let’s just say that you decide to give this sport a try. Where do you start?
It’s best to get good advice from someone who knows the area and spends time on the water. George LeClair’s “Big River Bait Shop” on Silver Street in Hinesburg is a great place to start. George is a veteran fisherman with a jolly St. Nick type demeanor who loves to help people learn the ropes. He will provide you with equipment at reasonable prices and coach you on how to locate the fish. A big part of the ice fishing experience is found in the camaraderie of a bait shop like George’s. You’ll always find a few guys sitting around on old stools chatting about the effect of the barometric pressure and solunar movements on the way fish bite. George is quick to point out what color and shape jig to use and always treats the neophyte with respect.
So now we’ve got the spikes, jigs and a good idea of where to go. We head off to Shelburne Pond with an image of big yellowbelly perch in the front of our heads.
When we arrive there are big trucks everywhere, most have decals on them. Landscapers, construction companies, excavators and even the infamous Dunkling Boys of Ray’s Seafood fame have their “Sure Strike Charters” decal on their truck. Typically, people who come here to fish are here to escape the tedium of their jobs and trade it in for a few hours of peaceful meditation staring down a bluish-white cylinder of ice.
We drill a few test holes and drop our lines down to the 14 foot bottom then reel it back up about ½ a revolution on our reels. On the second hole, we get simultaneous bites, both rods bending down to the hole as if some behemoth from the deep were trying to tug us down into its brooding depths. “Set it!” I shout and we both raise our rods, quickly setting the hook. The battle is on.
The reel’s drag system clicks backwards, making a ticking sound that means it’s a nice fish.
“Keep on ‘im! Let the rod do the work and let him fight the rod’s strong backbone. Don’t yank too hard or you’ll rip it out of his lip.”
The battle rages on and in about 30 seconds, the yellow gold flash of a perch can be seen under the ice as it is dragged to the hole.
We lift our rods in unison and laugh.
“Fish On!” and the season has just begun!
Please join me and my cronies at LL Bean on Thursday, January 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a free clinic “Ice Fishing Basics” before you venture out on Saturday, January 28 for Free Ice Fishing Day when no license is needed to try out this great winter sport. You may reserve a seat by registering at LL Bean.
Bradley Carleton is Executive Director of Sacred Hunter, a non-profit that seeks to educate the public on the spiritual connection of man to nature and raises funds for Traditions Outdoor Mentoring, which mentors at-risk young men in outdoor pursuits.