Intentions on the ice

[JimBuck]

With the ice season in full swing, I've been thinking about why myself as well as others brave the winter weather to go fishing.

I hear folks talk about the success of a day based on a limit of "keepers" or "eaters." I've also heard stories of people saying a day wasn't what it could have been due to the fact that all they caught were fish too large to keep. Others ice fish just to "get away from it all", spend time with friends, kids etc. Everyone is different.

My question is, What are your intentions on the ice? To break a personal best? Fish for the pan? To learn? Educate? Catch a "buzz"? Read romance novels?

I'm curious why you guys decide to invest so much time into the sport?

[OnAFly]

I go for many reasons:

-Get away from everything

-Try to hit a PB

-Occasionally try to bring some fish home (1-2 limits of crappies per year, 1-2 sunnies, 1 walleyes, 1 northerns)

-Learn more about the sport

-Most of all, to have fun with the people I'm with and try to catch a few fish, even if we aren't keeping anything.

I don't think there is anything more relaxing than a day on the ice, in the boat or an the streams.

[leroy77]

Pure enjoyment. I love nothing more than just to be out there with family and friends, if I catch a fish its just a bonus!!

[tgruenke]

I would agree that I enjoy just being out there with family. If I get skunked it's not the worst thing.

[Northlander]

To have something to do instead of sitting in the house all winter. Fishing to me is a escape and the reasons why I go differ every time out. At times its a stress relief and at others its a competition within myself to try to figure out the fish that day. No matter what fishing is always fun to me. When its not due to weather or whatever I go home.

[Fever]

I personally like the challange. I set out to learn what pattern / presentation is working. I also like to learn new spots on new lakes. I also like to change up species. In the summer I primarily target Bass but during the hard water season I target Pike, Walleye, and all panfish species which in my opinion keeps things interesting. I typically drill 20 - 40 holes and move around till something shows up and something works. I also like to use my real weeds, vex (obviously) and the aqua view from time to time. Personal bests and all are a bonus.

[bigbad401]

Getting away from college. I don't get to fish all that much because of full-time work, family (2 young kids), and part-time school. So just to get away from work and school is great, whether it is with my father-in-law or by myself.

[blackdog1101]

My main purpose is to get outdoors and connect with nature. I spend wwaayy too much of my time behind a desk, so being outdoors fishing is my "mental floss" for clearing out my brain.

My second reason is to bring home some fish for dinner. I have my own "slot limit" for keepers (6" - 8" for sunnies, 9" - 11" for crappies), but I don't worry too much about how many I catch on a given day. If I get into some keepers, great, if not, that's OK too.

[Learning2Fish]

Myself i go ice fishing to one get away from alot of stuff and just relax and remind me back of alot of memories back on the ice. Also enjoy and pass on the knowledge of what i have learned onto the kids and fellow fisherman who may also join me. If i am lucky enough to get a bite, catch a fish, or just [PoorWordUsage] the day away on the ice its alot of fun. Main thing is keep the feet from slipping in the hole and its a good day.

[mr_jman]

When I go ice fishing, I fully intend not to fall through the ice!!!!

I love everything about it from the drilling of the holes with my Mag 2000, or Mag Express to seeing fish on the aqua vu, or the vexilar screen light up! I enjoy trying out new jigs and lures and seeing how fish react to my presentations. Its all the little things also from the little CD Radio player listening to a Gophers basketball game or Wild game, and the Buddy heater keeping me warm to filling my stomach with candy bars and pop while I'm out there! JUST BEING OUT THERE!

In the end I think that Ice Fishing is different everytime you go. You will never have the exact same experience twice! In a way its not knowing what each new outing brings that keeps me coming back and trying again. Catching fish is a bonus and I still consider the days success based on how well I did, but not catching anything doesn't make it a bad day!

With the girlfriend along my intentions are to keep her happy and interested long enough to stay out there as long as possible!

[boxoshawn]

Great post. I personally go out for multiple reasons. The deafening quite on a lake with few shacks can get the busiest of people to slow down. If this doesn't work, the case of beer usually does the trick.

Ice fishing is also a great reason to go out with old pals/family and have a great time. In college we couldn't afford a shack, so we would sit around a fire with our 8-10 tip-ups dispersed the shoreline... good times.

And lastly, you can always catch a few fish and surprise some people with a fish fry in the middle of winter.

[mthunter]

I second blackdogs answer - Time on the ice, in the boat or watching the dog work a pheasant field are my version of therapy. Bringing home a meal now and then isn't too bad either.

[Just Me]

ditto for me what blackdog101 said plus getten the boys out and teaching them.

Just Me

[hooksetter]

My main purpose is to get out of the house and have something to look forward to during what could be bleak winter months. I used to do a lot of skating and snowmobiling but have toned down my winter pursuits a bit.

I love all of the gear and planning that go into the challenge of catching a few fish. I rarely have big catch days but always enjoy my time out either alone or with a buddy or two. I set a goal of catching 50 fish (pretty modest for most on this board!) each winter. Thats gets me out enough to make the winter fly by.

[MikeM]

All of the above and watching my son embrace the sport I introduced him to as a youngster.

He out fishes me every time out and he is putting together an impressive array ice fishing gear. Time for me to move in on his tackel..pay-back time!

[JAbbe]

"I LOVE TO ICE FISH"

I don't care if I have to walk all the way out in the middle of the lake in the middle of a blizzard to just freeze. I love to ice fish more then any other field sport.

Just something about the anticipation of catching that trophy threw a round some times dark mystery hole. Fishing in the winter is great cause you have so many options to do. Any-kind of fishing you want.. Wile in the summer your kind of limited. for instance summer time.. To get at walleyes 99% of the time you are going to need a boat...and if you need a boat your going to need a lot more room....not the same with ice fishing.. a kid with no money, a stick an a string and no bate can go out and catch a walleye..northern... a can of corn will catch pan fish all day for a kid.

when you get older you invest a little to stay warm. a house.. a portable... what ever it is you want.

you have the option to live out on the lake.. and lets face it.. in the summer that's hard to do.

even in a straight blizzard you could live out there an have a ton of fun. If you work construction its even better for you. You get all winter off to ice fish and fill you day how you want what better could you ask for.

from a family point of view.. you bring your family out there specially your kids.. get some bonding time give them an opportunity to learn something they can never forget. Its memories.. as for the wife ( if you have one ) or a girl friend ( they will always go) ( IF they are normal ahahh )

spend a night out on the lake an you two will have some real alone time... its just things no one can take from you.

the other great things about ice fishing..

your away from it all.. bring your ipod.. or cards what ever it is you wanna do .. i normally don't bring much just rods an bait.. etc..

you just forget everything till its time to go

the main thing way so many people spend so much on this sport is it goes back to our natural roots

cave men... its something we've done for 1000's of years and all over the world people have different ways of fishing/ice fishing.

but since everything cost money.. you dont have much of a choice but to spend a little money every year on something you utterly enjoy to do even if you get skunked all year ( its happen to me )

but you keep going back.

in other words.. its like going to work..

if you know there is a bag of money in your locker when you get to work and all you have to do is show up.. of course your going to show up...

i would say its the same concept.. you know there is a bundle of joy under the ice... you just have to show up and drill your hole...

thanks for listening.. Abbe

[fishermatt]

I have several reasons for Ice Fishing:

1. for the MEAT My family and I LOVE to eat fish.

2. for the feel of a walleye smacking my bait, then setting the hook into a solid fish

3. to experience # 2 as many times as possible each outing

4. for the MEAT

5. to pick apart the structure on foot versus in the boat to find the spots on the spot

For me it's all about catching as many fish as possible every time and trying to get my buddies in on the action too. If I'm not getting bit, I'm trying to figure out why and looking for the next spot. Fishing is WORK to me, but it's my favorite job and I don't even get paid for it!

[Mr. Pike1]

Ah great question. Many fish all their lives not realizing it is not fish they seek.....

For me personally I have never gotten past the excitement and rush I feel planning for the next time on the water be it ice or open water. I hope that child like excitement never ever goes away.

I enjoy being outside and all the wonders of nature.

I enjoy the time and stories shared with friends and my father.

I enjoy the mystery of not knowing what you might catch.

I enjoy exploring a new lake and again the mystery of the structure below.

I enjoy trying new rigs, new tackle, new tacktics, new toys.

I enjoy that rush I get as my vex shows movement on the bottom of the screen or school of crappies in deep water.

I enjoy just being away from the day to day routine.

I enjoy that on the ice you can meet people from all walks of life and for that moment in time its all about ice fishing and the moment.

[niterydr]

1) I love the access I get to area lakes without owning a boat (or a truck).

2) Cheaper to access all the lake than buying a boat or a truck.

3) Solitude.

4) The 'survival" aspect of it all. I live in an climate controlled world, getting out to the elements is great.

5) The fishing!

[thedeadsea]

Most importantly, to get away from it all and if I'm not solo, to spend quality time with fam and friends, put some more good times in the memory bank.

Also important/rewarding:

To teach myself new things and find new hot spots.

To pass on the sport to my kids by teaching them how to do it.

To test my equipment in the hope that someday I will have the *perfect* ice fishing set-up.

To catch fish, whether I am keeping them or C & R.

To sometimes bring home a meal of fish.

The thing I like about fishing is that there always is the hope and chance that I may catch a new P.B., wall hanger, or even a record fish. Although even a slow day on the ice is fun, a single fish could make it the day of a lifetime.

Steve

[FLaker]

Let me start by saying I love my family and my career. That being said, if I catch nothing it is still better than the best day at the office. It is my time to recharge, reflect and RELAX. It is quiet, it can be very mentally challenging to figure out the bite, or it can be mindless pulling fish out non-stop. For me, ice fishing is whatever I want it to be depending on my frame of mind that day. That is what I love about it. I rarely take fish home, unless the DW wants a meal. I love the hunt more than the meat.

Oh yeah, the beer is always cold, too.

FLaker

[squeeb27]

Ice fishing is my second favorite sport next to duck hunting. I love it for the solitude just me, a beer, and the hum of the vex. I also love sharing the time with my old man. The best times I have with him and the best stories I have heard from him were shared in the shack over some leinie's. I also love that it is so easy to access the lakes. Its not always about the fish, I always release what I catch, just love being out.

[Chef]

I have two separate sets of expectations--one for when I have the kids with me and one without.

With the kids, I teach, keep it short and fun and go after anything that bites well, like Perch or Pannies.

When I go alone or with friends we go to be together, catch enough for a dinner and enjoy friendly verbal abuse!