On icy Lake Monona on Saturday, Jan 21, I had my first experience ice fishing. While the temperatures were below freezing and I didn’t manage to catch anything besides weeds, it’s definitely an activity that I would like to try again. From a first-time ice fisher, here’s what I learned.
Before stumbling across the opportunity to take an ice fishing class through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and City of Madison Parks, I had never considered giving ice fishing a try.
But my limited experiences with freshwater fishing have been positive — I enjoy the serenity of waiting and I appreciate the practice of patience. The flexibility of the activity also makes it suitable for people with varying interests and experience levels.
“Fishing is a social outlet as well as a solitary one. You can make it what you like it to be,” says Theresa Stabo, an angler outreach program specialist at the Wisconsin DNR, and the instructor of the class.
Stabo says her first ice fishing experiences began in her childhood and continued when she started a family with her husband. On the community level, the Wisconsin DNR and its partners, such as the City of Madison Parks Department, have been offering ice fishing outings for generations.
Pre-pandemic, Stabo says more class opportunities were available. As icy conditions have become less predictable, however, the amount of classes they are able to offer has been reduced.
“We’re hoping that we’ll be able to preserve winter…” Stabo says, “We need to have confidence in the ice and we can’t always count on the ice.”
This was immediately evident — the class was originally supposed to take place at Brittingham Park, but upon testing ice conditions, Stabo discovered there was too much open water. The class was moved to Brittingham Beach — a portion of the same body of water, but in a place where the ice was more stable.
Close
Jigging stick on ice
While our jigging sticks were set up, we frequently had to use these orange skimmers to remove ice from the surface and prevent the holes from freezing over.
Brittingham Beach
On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Wisconsin DNR and Madison Parks hosted an ice fishing class at Brittingham Beach on Lake Monona.
Auger on Lake Monona
These hand augers are used to create circular holes in the ice, though if you don’t have one, you can also punch through abandoned holes with a sledgehammer.
People at ice fishing class
While demand for ice fishing classes is high, the Wisconsin DNR and Madison Parks have offered fewer classes since the pandemic.
Jigging stick on ice
While our jigging sticks were set up, we frequently had to use these orange skimmers to remove ice from the surface and prevent the holes from freezing over.
Brittingham Beach
On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Wisconsin DNR and Madison Parks hosted an ice fishing class at Brittingham Beach on Lake Monona.
Auger on Lake Monona
These hand augers are used to create circular holes in the ice, though if you don’t have one, you can also punch through abandoned holes with a sledgehammer.
People at ice fishing class
While demand for ice fishing classes is high, the Wisconsin DNR and Madison Parks have offered fewer classes since the pandemic.
Ice safety is one of the major points Stabo emphasizes for anyone considering taking up the hobby. She says what makes ice treacherous is not knowing what’s underneath the surface. It might look fine, but repetitive freezing and thawing can disrupt the integrity of the ice.
“The DNR does not issue edicts saying that [the lakes are] fine, because the conditions are variable, even on just one body of water,” Stabo says.
She also says wearing a life jacket on the ice and fishing with at least one other person are always good precautions.
Another aspect of ice safety is preparing for the cold. Wearing plenty of layers is important — especially if you’re not planning on using an ice shanty to keep warm. During the class, our holes couldn’t go a few minutes without beginning to freeze over. Coming well-prepared to handle inclement conditions helps make sure you can enjoy your time on the ice.
Once your safety is guaranteed, the fishing can begin. Stabo says understanding the basic equipment for ice fishing makes for a successful outing. As a minimum, you’ll need a jigging stick, some small lures and something to break through the ice.
For more experienced ice fishermen, this often means using an auger, a special tool for cutting circular holes. If you have access to a simple hand auger, I found it was fairly simple to operate. But auger blades are expensive and fragile, so Stabo says punching through an abandoned hole with a sledgehammer works, too.
“I tend to use fairly minimalist gear … I like the simplicity of things,” Stabo says.
One of the main things Stabo wants people to take away from the experience of ice fishing is that there are a lot of opportunities for recreation on the water. Ice fishing is a fairly accessible venture compared to those that require boats. After acquiring some simple equipment, you can just walk out on the ice and get started.
Coming in without any knowledge, I felt a little out of my element. But I soon began to appreciate the uniquely communal experience — everyone alone at a hole, but together on the ice — and really started to enjoy my time outdoors.
Stabo hopes that people will recognize the value in having access to recreational water spaces. As members of the Madison community, people should take pride and ownership in our shared resources.
“The lakes belong to everyone,” Stabo says. “So it’s incumbent upon all of us to take good care of them.”
Celia Hiorns is an editorial intern at Madison Magazine.
As a first-time ice fisher, a class with the Wisconsin DNR taught me about the safety, procedures and value of ice fishing.
Comments are closed.