Why do you Ice fish?

[Bluka]

I ice fish because, its something about waking up on a day when its too cold to get the paper outside and you go get on the ice to catch fish, To walk to a spot on the lake and drill 20+ holes to find fish, and when you leave it looks like there were tons of people there fishing.{thats fun work} And of course the most important reason......Peace and quiet with Nature.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I was raised around it. Enjoy fishing in general on so many levels, it can be challenging, relaxing, competitive, social, theraputic....

You have to find something enjoyable to do in the winter if you live in MN or you just join the ranks of miserable whiners for 4 months of the year.

[traveler]

I ice fish to catch fish. The heck with "just getting out", playing cards, etc... I'm all about catching fish. Lots of big fish, preferably.

[chaffmj]

To catch fish and I also like real cold beer.

[Esox_Magnum]

To much work to push the boat on the ice and cut holes to cast....Ice fishings my relax time fishing, catching suppper is reason 2

[DTro]

If I lived in Hawaii, I would surf

If I lived in Arizona, I would cook Chicken on rocks

If I lived in Florida I would shoot gators

If I lived in Alaska I would wash dirt till I found gold.

But I don't....I live in MN

[Pooh]

it can be challenging, relaxing, competitive, social, theraputic....

+1

Plus my wife leaves me alone on the lake. She doesnt want me dropping my phone down the hole.

[Pleasant]

+2 and it is cheaper than a divorce

[herefish101]

it's the most fun you can have in winter, especially when you use a snowmobile to get you there.

Oh yeah, I love to fish!

[B-man715]

I fish for the same reasons I hunt.

Not that I'm very old, but my motives have evolved over the last decade or so.

It used to be all about limiting out, or killing a bunch of critters. Now I'm happy just to be out and experience all that mother nature has to offer. It's the best way for me to release the stresses of life and work.

Don't get me wrong, I still hunt and fish to put meat in the freezer; but that is no longer my primary objective, simply a bonus

[No_Fish]

Too poor for a decent boat !

[mainbutter]

There's something really cool about watching lights blinking in a circle, and one light gets closer to the other, and then you catch a fish.

[fish_eat_sleep]

Its a whole bunch of fun trying to get a big red blob on a screen to move! Never thought jigging a 1/64th ounce jig and a soon to be dead worm could be so much fun! It sure is exciting!

[splakeshaker]

I fish for the same reasons I hunt.

Not that I'm very old, but my motives have evolved over the last decade or so.

It used to be all about limiting out, or killing a bunch of critters. Now I'm happy just to be out and experience all that mother nature has to offer. It's the best way for me to release the stresses of life and work.

Don't get me wrong, I still hunt and fish to put meat in the freezer; but that is no longer my primary objective, simply a bonus

Fishing to me has been always about relaxing and letting go of stresses. It's not about the fish but having a line in the water. Catching fish is fun too..Don't get me wrong, I'll keep my limit of decent fish.

Hunting however has changed for me. I was all about the experience but I'm starting to shift towards the fill the freezer mentality..If I can put down a deer for a $30 tag or 2 for another bonus tag. Fill up my freezer and have nice steaks and roasts for my family, I feel like I won at the game of life....

[Therod]

This winter especially I've had the itch really bad, just a compulsion to fish all the time. If no one else wants to go, I hit the lake alone. Its extra quite that way too.

[harvey lee]

For me, I simply enjoy the peace and quiet while sitting in my boat or a deer stand.

One can just relax and enjoy Mother nature.

[IceHawk]

The peace and quiet of sitting on the hardtop and enjoying what mother nature has to offer. Catching fish is a bonus!

[Kyhl]

Because the lake is frozen, otherwise it would be regular fishing.

I like being in nature and the challenge that goes with it. As a society we have removed ourselves from nature. It's nice to get back when possible.

The comraderie of sharing the experience with family and friends.

So many stories based on experiences. The multiple stories of sleeping in a wooden shack up north with -40F temps, lower with wind chill. Other than my fishing buddies, no one else I know has done that.

Brushing your teeth with cold toothpaste because you forgot to bring it in. How many people at the office have experienced that?

The list goes on and on. It's about life experiences. Watch tv or go outside?

[Boar]

Pretty much for all the same reason mentioned, but I had a conversation with a guy who loves to golf, not very good but he tries. I asked him why do you golf? what ist about golf that keeps you coming back? an he simpply said, "Its tha one swing where you conect perfectly, an the ball just magicly dose wat you want, you might have a 1000 swings that hook every which way, but having that one swing keeps me coming back."

I said to him just like ice fishing, Watching that bobber, you just never know when its going down, but when it dose, It's awsome! Something about soaking a bobber makes the world so much better.

Plus I cant bear hunt in the winter. Boar

[dan z]

beacause I HATE the sound of jet ski's. and I love eating fish

[Hardyboy]

The peace and quiet on the days i fish alone, the challenge of drilling and finding the "right" spot. The comradery and fun when your with friends. The accesability. I dont get to summer fish because of my work so i make the best use of my available time.

[that_guy]

I fish for many reasons. The reason I fish that I haven't seen listed is the anticipation once you put that bobber onto the water, and the pure excitement when it goes under the water. I can't think of many things that really pulls at my inner child emotions and gives me the opportunity to get excited about something simple.

I can stare at a bobber in complete silence for HOURS just waiting. I'm sure many of you are the same.

[AndRo]

I do it for the thrill of the catch. It's fun trying to locate and stay on top of the schools of fish. I like being able to help out the other anglers with me or around me. I enjoy feeding friends and family with my catch. Nothing beats the time on the ice with my friends, kicking back having a beer and playing first fish, biggest fish and most fish. Plus it is a heck of a lot more quiet on the lake than in the summer.

[Tracker55]

No phone, No pager, No computer. Just me, mother nature and a cold beer.

[reinhard1]

watching a tip-up go up is like watching a bobber go down. sitting outside on a mild day on the ice with a gentle snow comming down with no wind. being up in the wilderness with the only sounds you hear is nature, and hopefully a buddy screaming FLAG!!!!!good luck.