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Spotlight:
December Ice Fishing
Maureen Rodriguez Callamari M.L.S., Parenting Educator
Ice fishing has come a long way since its discovery by the native tribes of America and Canada. Historians have dated ice fishing dates back over 2000 years when the U.S. and Canada’s original inhabitants invented the practice. Native Americans used ice picks and wooden bone tipped spears to make the catch of the day. Today’s modern augers have replaced tools used to punch holes in the ice and ice fishing rods and reels have replaced bone tipped spear. However, fishing is still popular and has made a comeback with a new generation of anglers interested in learning more about ice fishing.
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with line and hooks through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. You might wonder how the fish survive when the water is cold, and ice has formed. While some fish go dormant, others like trout can eat insect larvae and other fish in the winter. They migrate to deeper bodies of water and don’t feed as much during this season since their metabolism slows to adapt to the colder temperatures. So, the fish are down there. The varieties of fish you can find depend on your geographic location. In the Hudson Valley area waters, you might find walleye, trout and crappie to name a few. Some other popular species in New York State can include Perch, Pike and Atlantic Salmon.
Often ice conditions permit ice fishing from December through March. Of course, the condition of the ice is the most important safety factor to an ice angler. Location is also important because some bodies of water that might appear to be safe might have hazards below that you cannot see. For instance, reservoirs might look like a great place to fish, however there are structural mechanisms in some reservoirs that create a treacherous condition for anyone who might try to ice fish in it. Since reservoirs are created in a way to balance water tables there is a water trench somewhere under that ice topped water that is not suitable for fishing and extremely dangerous. It is best to fish in areas identified as good places for ice fishing. Some locally recommended places to ice fish are Morgan Lake, Sylvan Lake, Silver Lake, Rudd Pond, Stissing Pond, Wappinger Lake, and Whaley Lake. Ice safety should be your number one consideration when ice fishing. Please check the guidelines on the DEC website. Also remember the thickest ice is usually formed around the edges of a lake, so always drill test holes to ascertain ice thickness.
Before you set off on an ice fishing trip, please do your research. Visit The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation web page for local fishing laws and safety recommendations and the Department of Health Fish Advisory pages for types and amount of sport fish consumption recommendations. Gathering as much information will help your trip be safe and successful. You might want to look at the weather forecast so you can be properly dressed and prepared for the wintery weather of the day, but also to gage the activity of the fish which are influenced by weather patterns. Once you have done all your research about locations, ice safety and weather you can collect some important tools for ice fishing success. Things like an auger for making holes in the ice, ice fishing pole. Fishing line and reels, an ice scoop, Ice cleats, a five-gallon bucket for storing tools, your catch or perhaps use a seat, Lures like simple jigs and bait like worms, salmon eggs, bait fish or power bait. To learn more about Ice fishing locations and regulations visit the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. To learn more about how to ice fish, check with your local sportfish club, bait store, County 4-H office, or participate in an ice fishing demonstration. Click here to learn how to ice fish from the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation
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