View from Vining, Ice Fishing 1-5-07

Even though our winter in Minnesota has lacked snow, it certainly has not lacked ice; at least not in our neck of the woods. The roads and the lakes are covered in the stuff. This is bad news for those of us trying to get around town, but good news for the ice fishing folks.

My husband, John and I were invited for an afternoon of ice fishing with one of John’s parishioners, Andy. It was a beautiful sunny day, the ice was a foot thick on East Battle Lake, and we had hopes the fish (big fish) would be biting.



Andy’s fish house was 6’X8’ with four fishing holes, one in each corner; a gas stove for heating (we were plenty warm); two small windows for sunlight and ventilation; a small counter, and just enough room for three chairs and three of us.

The bait that day was minnows. Once the hooks were baited and set it was just a matter of waiting for the bell to ring. Andy has the lines set with a bell at the top. So when a fish went for the bait and jiggled the line the bell would ring and the fun would begin.

I did not participate in the fishing aspect of this day—I didn’t get a license. But I enjoyed the company, the time to catch up on some reading, the snacks and watching the action; which was pretty slow. In three and half hours, three fish were caught. I won't embarrass my husband by telling you how big (pictures speak louder then words) but they were all Northerns.

Despite the catch of the day (which most fisherpeople know is out of your control & has no ill reflection on our host Andy), it was a lot of fun. It certainly does force a person to be patient and to just enjoy the peace and quiet of the house (except when the ice is moving or forming; then it gets a little noisy). I would do it again.