Years ago living in north central New Hampshire in the Lakes Region ice fishing was a big sport but we didn't like to rough it so much so we pulled our ice shanty out onto the ice and left it for a couple months before pulling it off end of March. We had gas heat and gas top stove to cook on. We had holes to fish through in the four corners with rigged reels set up on a ceiling support with the drag set to slow the run when they hit the live bait normally a smelt on the hook that swam around below the house. We normally set each corner at a different depth to get more coverage. We had a card table set up in the center and would sit in short sleeves and drink beer and whiskey and play poker while we fished. On days that were not "real" cold we would also set up outside lines on tip ups where a flag sprung up when a fish took the bait.
One winter it got so cold so early that by mid January the ice was over 36" thick and they could even run log trucks out to log the islands that had not been able to be logged before. It took alot to chisel a hole down through 36" of ice. Those with power augers could not drill all the way through because the drill shaft was not long enough. We fished for everything from lake trout, to shad, to perch, to black bass even to land locked salmon which were not suppose to be taken through the ice. And we drank alot of beer and whiskey and Yukon Jack. My wife always claimed that ice fishing was just another excuse for a man to drink to excess.
Like there needed to a reason in my errant youth....
Yeah I enjoyed that movie as well... Warm days in February and March I could stand on the ice and fish but on days when it was just above or even below zero give me the warmth of an ice shanty and a good poker game a plenty of beer. If you caught a fish all the better.The bright side was never having to worry about how to keep the beer cold...
I'd partake in the eats and the whiskey. :)
ReplyDeleteAs would I, though I'd rather have Bourbon.:)
ReplyDeleteYears ago living in north central New Hampshire in the Lakes Region ice fishing was a big sport but we didn't like to rough it so much so we pulled our ice shanty out onto the ice and left it for a couple months before pulling it off end of March. We had gas heat and gas top stove to cook on. We had holes to fish through in the four corners with rigged reels set up on a ceiling support with the drag set to slow the run when they hit the live bait normally a smelt on the hook that swam around below the house. We normally set each corner at a different depth to get more coverage. We had a card table set up in the center and would sit in short sleeves and drink beer and whiskey and play poker while we fished. On days that were not "real" cold we would also set up outside lines on tip ups where a flag sprung up when a fish took the bait.
ReplyDeleteOne winter it got so cold so early that by mid January the ice was over 36" thick and they could even run log trucks out to log the islands that had not been able to be logged before. It took alot to chisel a hole down through 36" of ice. Those with power augers could not drill all the way through because the drill shaft was not long enough. We fished for everything from lake trout, to shad, to perch, to black bass even to land locked salmon which were not suppose to be taken through the ice. And we drank alot of beer and whiskey and Yukon Jack. My wife always claimed that ice fishing was just another excuse for a man to drink to excess.
Like there needed to a reason in my errant youth....
My wife always claimed that ice fishing was just another excuse for a man to drink to excess.
ReplyDeleteSmart girl! Good story, must have been fun and reminds me of Grumpy Old Men. A wonderful movie!
Yeah I enjoyed that movie as well... Warm days in February and March I could stand on the ice and fish but on days when it was just above or even below zero give me the warmth of an ice shanty and a good poker game a plenty of beer. If you caught a fish all the better.The bright side was never having to worry about how to keep the beer cold...
ReplyDeleteThe bright side was never having to worry about how to keep the beer cold...
ReplyDeleteThat will do it.:)