Growing Popularity of Ice Fishing?

[Panfish Guy]

I was just wondering if anyone would have a place where I could find some numbers on the amount of people who have joined the ice fishing crowd through the years. I have a paper I need to write for one of my classes.

[AndRo]

I suppose you could buddy up with a bait shop owner and look at earnings over the years for this particular time of year?

That is a really tough survey unless the survey has been done.

[Panfish Guy]

This isn't ice fishing only but is still interesting.

"Fishing license sales tell the story of more anglers on the

water. In 1911 Minnesota began to sell fishing licenses to

nonresidents for $1. Resident fishing licenses first went on

sale in 1927 and cost 50 cents each. The number of licenses

sold each year has been on an upward trend ever since major

world events such as the Great Depression and World War II

caused dips in license sales. After the war, more cars and

better roads gave anglers access to more lakes, and fishing

license sales boomed.

Since the 1970s almost the entire increase in sales has been due to resident fishing license sales. Today

Minnesota has about 3.5 anglers fishing its waters for every one angler in the 1920s. More than 2.3 million

people (licensed anglers and children who are not required to buy licenses) fish in Minnesota each year" From this web page http://vilaslandandwater.org/water_resources_pages/fisheries/angler_article.pdf

[Down Deep]

Up until a few years ago Minnesota required that portable ice fishing houses be licensed. It was the invention of the portable houses, lightweight power augers, heat sources, better snowmobiles, sonars, ATVs, 4X4 vehicles and lightweight warm clothing that conspired together and exploded the popularity of ice fishing. I would check the DNR for stats on portable licenses. I'd also contact Vexilar, Otter Outdoors, Frabrill, StrikeMaster and Clam Corp and see if they can give you year by year sales figures.

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, sales figures would be a great place to start. Of course, they're not perfect....lots of factors have to do with how much money people are spending...but they'd be useful for sure.

[Twins Guy]

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...ngl#Post2725529

[AndRo]

You may be best off writing your paper on another subject, one that has more data and readily available resources. You will get done sooner, and therefor can do more ice fishing!!

[pathogen]

The numbers of licensed anglers is logically going to increase as the state's population increases. I am curious about the proportion of ice fishermen to the general population now vs the past. I guess I could figure it out......but not curious enough to overcome my laziness.

[randallt]

Contact marketing departments at the "ice-fishing" product manufacturers. Strikemaster, marcum, aquavu etc. They will have market demographics, if they will share will be up to your sales skills. This may get you valuable contacts for an awesome job when you graduate!

[Down Deep]

One more resource you may want to check is Sportsman Lodge on LOW. They "cut the ice" in developing ice fishing as a winter vacation. 30 years ago they started putting small ads in the sports sections of Minnesota newspapers advertising thier lodging, heated ice house and the "Bombidier Ride". It was the first non local ice fishing trip I ever took. At the time they were alone in the market and it caught on in a big way. Ice fishing is now the major profit center of the whole US side of the tourist market.

[marshmallow]

I Feel Many More Lakes In Minnesota Should Have Special Regs.. And Slots .. Especially Lakes That Used To " Consistantly " Produce Quality Trophy Size Panfish .. The Production Could Not Match Up To The Persistant Preassure And Greed .. Same With Pike Waters ..

[cavalierowner]

I seriously question if ice fishing is growing in popularity, especially when compared to what it was back in the sixties when I started ice fishing and got my first house. Maybe growing from what it was 5 years ago, but compared to the sixties, I don't know... Back then there were BIG fish house cities all over Lake Minnetonka. And there were people all over the ice on weekends filling those houses and fishing in the open. If I had to guess, I would say there was at least 5 times the number of people on the lake on weekends that there are now. It really would be interesting to see numbers then vs. now.

Anyone else here that remembers those big cities on Minnetonka or am I losing what little mind I have left?

[hookncook]

I would recommend you scope your paper to a respective area, then call a DNR warden that works that beat.

They will be able to tell you how popularity has grown based on the amount of encounters they for the respective region you're writing about.

[Brad B]

I was just wondering if anyone would have a place where I could find some numbers on the amount of people who have joined the ice fishing crowd through the years. I have a paper I need to write for one of my classes.

there is a article back in the 2009 in fisherman ice fishing guide that broke the numbers down by states and age of the anglers. it didn't have the numbers by years. if you would like a copy of this I can scan it and send it to you in a email. you will just need to PM me your email address.

[Panfish Guy]

I want to thank everyone for all of the suggestions so far! I figured writing the paper on something I am interested in would make it more fun. Going back to school after being out for 30 years can be very challenging!

[Gordie]

You could check out the DNR HSOforum for lic. sold and it may not give you excact numbers but the info on dark house lic. might help you out

.