An ice fisherman photographed at the La Crosse, Wisconsin, rest stop.
I OFTEN WONDER, what do outsiders think? And, by outsiders, I mean those of you unfamiliar with a Midwest winter, specifically with the sport of ice fishing.
I mean, let’s say you’re from Miami or LA or Dallas and you’ve never seen a village of fish houses atop a frozen lake let alone vehicles driving onto and across the ice. For Minnesotans and Wisconsinites, scenes like this are simply part of our winters.
Or let’s say you pull off the interstate, like we did on Saturday along I-90 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and you spot two guys loading fishing equipment onto a sled in a rest area parking lot. Randy and I saw exactly that.
The scene seemed so Midwest Norman Rockwell-like. Bucket and fishing gear atop a simple pull-behind sled. Fisherman layered in warm outdoor outerwear topping a red-and-black buffalo plaid flannel shirt. Paul Bunyan fashion at its finest.
As we exited the parking lot, I managed a photo. Iconic. A guy on his way to ice fish in the backwaters of the Mississippi River on a Saturday morning in mid-February. Love it.
TELL ME: Have you ever been ice fishing, or even observed an angler ice fishing? And, yes, I’ve fished through a hole in the ice on a frozen lake. Just not in recent years.
© Copyright 2020 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
My partner went ice fishing once or twice before the kids came in Northern Ontario. They had a hut they slept in on the ice. One thing he said that surprised him was how loud ice is. I guess if you’re sleeping on ice, and it makes all those sounds, or the water beneath makes the sounds, it could be a little bit nerve-wracking?
I haven’t experienced ice fishing myself and honestly, I don’t really have any desire. But I do think those huts are really cute!
Laughing at “I do think those huts are really cute!”
Your husband is right about the sound of cracking ice. I’ve heard it and the sound is rather unnerving.
They look like She Sheds, only uglier. And smellier. 😂
There is a pond on the west side of I 35 between Moose Lake and Sandstone where each winter on most days there are two hard core ice fishermen. Sitting on 5gallon buckets fishing through the ice. In this time of high tech gear, fish houses, tents and assorted other items these guys have always done it old school in the coldest of weather. I always admire them as I drive pass them and wonder how much longer they will continue in the old ways.
Nope- I will stick to fly fishing. Which in early Spring can seem like ice fishing with cold openers in April.
Thanks for sharing that story about the two old school fishermen. If dressed properly with strong sunshine on a windless day, sitting in the open like that could be comfortable. I just read a story on MPR about the disastrous ice fishing season in a portion of Minnesota due to snow coming too early, covering the lake surface and thus not freezing the water to a strong, solid depth: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/02/18/after-hellish-ice-fishing-season-minnesota-resorts-say-they-need-help
Yes, I saw that story. Also heard plenty of complaints when I was home.
I’ve never been ice fishing but have seen photographs of the interiors of the little houses the ice fishers built. Fascinating. Your photo is like a Norman Rockwell for sure. Our winters may have some cold and snowy days but are tame compared to your conditions and temps.
I felt so fortunate to get that shot just as the angler passed by the Welcome to Wisconsin sign. A picture story, in my opinion.
Absolutely. Serendipitous
I have never been ice fishing but am well versed in cold sports even if I am not a fan. 🙂 So happy to not be in those elements now. There is a couple in the rental villa close to our house that hails from Minnesota and is here for 3 months. They love to escape here and have done it for years in the winter . But it is great to be ale to embrace the things that you can do when the weather is icy cold and fishing is one of those things, right?
You are so right about finding activities and things to embrace no matter where you live.
I have friends and relatives who are devoted to ice fishing. My idea of fishing for ice is to visit the refrigerator.
Ha, ha. That’s part of it for many ice fishermen (and women).
Great Photo – love it! It has been years since I have been ice fishing. I never drove my vehicle or snowmobile onto the ice though – not in my comfort zone, especially when you hear the ice cracking. I remember turning in my MN drivers license to obtain a Nevada drivers license and the DMV representative asked me what a snowmobile permit was. I have hiked before, however; it is a different experience to hike in the mountains like we did out west. Then you have air boats down here, which not everyone is familiar with or have been on. That is why I like traveling to see new places, how people live, the history, the cultures and traditions, etc. Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
I love that question you got about a snowmobile permit.
When driving past the backwaters of the Mississippi on Sunday, I saw a village of fish houses, an air boat and then, on the other side of the treeline, a boat on open water.
Quite the sight indeed!!! I love air boats and how fast they just glide across the water.
I have been Ice fishing a few times locally on Lake Washington in Le Sueur County. It was quite a few years ago when our children were young. I also went along once to Lake of the Woods. That was over 25 years ago. I am not a fan!! I will gladly wait to catch some yummy fish when we can take our boat out and move around on the lake. The sound of the cracking of the ice is unnerving to say the least! My husband still likes to go sometimes but has not always been able to depending on ice quality issues. Loved the photo though!! Glad you caught the action!
Now that I’m older, I would be more hesitant to go onto the ice, too. But, hey, at least we’ve both tried ice fishing, right?
I’ve been in ice houses before out of curisosity, and rode out on a lake in a car but I was younger then…too scary now.
I’m with you. Too scary now.
I LOVE this photo!!! You really captured a moment! Did you notice the “do not enter” sign? I have Ice fished when I was a youngster. We even tried some spear fishing (without luck). Our Son Brice takes his Scarlett ice fishing every winter. This year he plans on taking Lewin for the first time…he’s 3!
I love that Brice takes his kids fishing.
The “do not enter” sign is for motorists so they don’t drive the wrong way on the entry road into the rest stop area. But, yeah, it makes for an interesting sign in relation to the ice fisherman.