Anglers have started heading out on various lakes and ponds this week in search of some early season ice fishing action.
Many lakes have 4 to 6 inches of clear ice built up on the surface, but some of the larger bodies of water aren't ready for foot travel quite yet. However, it's important to use extreme caution no matter which lake you're on.
Anglers have seen varied success so far, but a common theme that rings throughout angling circles is the current ice conditions; smooth, glossy, and nearly snow free. Many anglers comment on how they wished they had brought along their ice skates, as each lake presents a perfect skating rink in its entirety.
Yet for anglers, the ice conditions mean more than simply supporting body weight. The relatively thin, crystal clear ice allows anglers to peer into the underwater world without even drilling a hole. It's easy to see six or eight feet down on lakes with good water clarity. And during the first portion of the ice season, many fish relate to those shallow water areas, especially those containing green, leafy weeds.
The snow-free surface on the lakes also makes it quite convenient to pull a portable fish house out to stay warm and out of the wind or pile mountains of gear into a large sled and the runners will still glide along with ease.
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It's also nice to have a relative idea of how thick the ice is by viewing the many cracks from a side view. Of course it's best to chisel or auger a hole for a more definitive gauge, but the thick white band of each crack is an easy way to see the ice's consistency between holes. And since there's no insulating snow on the lake surface, the ice is forming at a rapid rate, meaning it won't be long until ATVs, snowmobiles and cars will ease themselves from spot to spot. Just remember, it's not time for that quite yet.
Another good thing about the snow-free ice is that anglers can use their flasher sonar to read the depth without drilling a hole by squirting a small puddle of water on the ice and placing the transducer in that water. A small squeeze-bottle is quite handy to do this and is a real time saver.
However, it seems to every positive attribute of clear, snow-free ice, there's a negative attribute to offset it. For instance, walking is not only difficult, it's dangerous. One slip could easily result in a broken bone. Ice cleats are relatively inexpensive and a good choice. Not only will they prevent you from going boot over stocking cap while walking, they'll prevent you from performing a triple Lutz while auguring your hole.
Another unfortunate aspect of clear ice is that the fish have access to more ambient light. Angler shadows lurking above can sometimes spook fish and the times of day when fishing activity peaks is more concentrated toward the lowlight periods; early morning and late in the afternoon. Cloud cover can extend those periods but sunny days often have an adverse affect.
Yet no matter what the politics may be in support of or against the ice formation this season, no one can argue about the thrill of actually getting outdoors for some fun, relaxation and, hopefully, the thrill of catching a few fish.
