Ice Fishing Up Close and Personal

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

If you happen to be traveling I-15 south of the Dillon, Montana, area on Saturday, January 24th, and you've never had an "up close and personal" experience with ice fishing,it would be worth your time to pull off at Exit 44 and see what's going on at the annual ice fishing derby on Clark Canyon Reservoir. It's a very easy off, easy on exit that will take you immediately into the camping area where you will find plenty of room to park your rig and walk out on the ice (or not). If you don't want to test your "ice legs," you can wander over to the Beaverhead Search & Rescue building and look at the fish being brought in by young and old fishermen . . . oops . . . fisherpeople . . . in hopes of winning some of the many cash prizes. I've fished the reservoir for years, but I've never brought in any fish as big and varied as I've seen caught during ice fishing season.

If you do stroll out on the ice, you'll get to see how thick it is (2+ feet as of today) and how beautiful it and the water below are. Want to try your hand at ice fishing, assuming you have a valid Montana fishing license? The Search & Rescue teams will drill you a hole for a buck--what a deal!

As I said, you'll find plenty of room to park and several easy loops to bring you in and out of the area without having to back up or wiggle your RV around in tight places. I believe the Search & Rescue folks have a food booth, too, so you can pick up something for lunch while you're there.

OH--I almost forgot. If you do get into the area, give us a heads-up because we live on the west side of the reservoir. We'll come over and introduce ourselves if we're around!

Carolyn

[FLSTS03]

Sounds like a ton of fun but we will be in Palm Springs @ the Laquinta resort for a meeting that weekend, anyway that would be a long haul from Montgomery Alabama(kinda tuff to do that in a 4 day weekend). Have fun and catch one for us. Steve

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

Hmmmm . . . let me think about that. Palm Springs . . . ice, snow, mush . . . Palm Springs . . . ice, snow, slush. It's a no-brainer, probably.

Enjoy Palm Springs. You guys eat a fish without having to sit on a bucket on a frozen reservoir to catch it first. Still, ice fishing is highly addictive!


Carolyn

[H. John Kohl]

My young bride and I went Ice Fishing with my father. He was fishing for perch and using a rig with two jigs on it. The rig was a short 18" pole and two jig hooks, very simple. Two guys close to us were fishing for pike and not getting a bite. My wife was not experienced at ice fishing so naturally she was pulling them up two at a time. After the third landing the pike fishermen packed up in disgust and move far a way grumbling about all their equipment with no fish and this lady getting them two at a time. We had to help my wife walk on the ice because this "Southern Bell" had never been on hard water before.

[Waynem]

And don't forget the bucket does double duty, makes ice and seat!!!!

[NCFischers]

Last year, my "Southern Belle" asked me dead seriously, "Why would anyone want to shovel snow?". She has sooooo much to learn.

[mail2us]

Fish Stories we all have. Here's a true one as best recalled:

At age 10, born in Vermont, I went ice fishing with my Dad, Uncle and two cousins. We drove out on the lake in northern Vermont, hand poked the hole with a large bar. My uncle had his own shanty he dragged out earlier. Never ice fishing before, my Uncle gave me bait and my two cousins and I remained outside to fish. They were pulling in the perch...me nothing! Alot of laughing going on in the shanty. They come outside to look and my Uncle says, ...Dennis, maybe they just don't like vienna sausage!! end of story.
Carolyn, I'd love to ice fish just to remember that story over and over and of course, catch some fish, especially in Montana. Maybe some day. Dennis

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

The fish I've seen brought in to the photo/weigh/measure station range from "thigh size" to "I'm never going in the water again if THAT'S what's in it" size," seriously. Some of the fish are gorgeous with iridescent copper/coral/red/gold coloring, and some are downright ugly. Perch-size? Rarely!

Carolyn

[jpkelpe]

I used to get to go fishing with my Daddy and the neighbor when I was a little girl. I remember driving on the ice and hearing it crack. For some reason I don't remember getting cold but I do remember the fish we caught. Didn't have to worry about them getting too warm--Oh Memories..

[capn chris]

Sven was out on a MN lake ice fishing. Ole pulled up on his snowmobile. "How's fishing, Sven?" Sven replies, "Not so good." Ole says "Hop on, Sven. We'll troll for awhile!"