Tip-ups, augers and shiners

By Dave Stebbins
Turley Publications Guest Columnist

Like my summertime trout fishing, I enjoy keeping ice-fishing simple too. When I go out on the ice to fish, I carry in my backpack five simple wooden tip-ups, a jigging rod, my ladle and a small plastic bottle for my sounder, hooks and split-shots. And in the other hand, my hand auger and my orange Home Depot bucket holding about a dozen shiners of various sizes.
One of the reasons I use simple, light tackle for ice-fishing is because I can access more remote areas like small lakes and ponds inside state forests that have only seasonal roads and are closed during winter months.
It’s awesome to snowshoe out to a wilderness pond on a cold, crisp, sunny day with little wind and the absence of flying biting pests and not a chance for a tick. And trek through several feet of powder in brush that would have otherwise been too thick to penetrate in summertime. Well, it’s not exactly “Jeremiah Johnson” (one of my favorites), but you get the picture.
On the other hand, it’s nice to just park and start drilling holes too, even in crowded areas, but still big enough to find a good spot. The company of other fisherman when there are no boats to hide on is usually pleasant.
Out on the ice, the mood seems a little different among fisherman than on water. Many times I have been offered hot drinks, food and good conversation. Perhaps that “territory” thing is no longer such an issue. Perhaps they’re just happy to get out of the house and away from their nagging wives. No, that can’t be it. Woman, obey your husbands. Husbands, love your wives.
When I was in the ice-fishing section at Cabelas the other day, I didn’t even recognize some of the “high tech” ice-fishing gizmo’s they had.
Even the tip-ups were kind of weird looking. I couldn’t find the old simple wooden ones that sell for about six bucks each. Didn’t see any of the old blue hand-augers either. It was all high tech and power, and it all looked expensive too. I guess I’ll have to go to my small hometown bait and tackle shop for what I need.
I do realize however, that it could be a little tough trying to carve through 14 inches of hard white ice with a small hand auger such as I use. Then again, this ain’t northern Vermont.
Then again, this winter so far proves to be “just like the ones I used to know.” Meaning, when I was a yoot, my chums and I were always able to play hockey on the ponds and go sledding BEFORE Christmas.
Unlike in recent years in southern New England, I could launch my canoe on Christmas Eve and maybe even mow the lawn one last time. Well, maybe not mow the lawn, but hey, whatever man. If ya can’t beat’em, write bad things about’em.
All that said I have already seen guys out on the ice. In fact, one guy last week was walking out on the ice on Staffordville Reservoir while wearing an all white jacket, I thought it was Jesus. I mean, the water was so thin it looked like the ducks were having a tough time not falling through. But it couldn’t have been the Lord I saw, I didn’t hear any trumpets sound, and I’m still here, Amen. Anglers, safe ice is not always as it appears. Please use caution when venturing out on the ice in southern New England before Jan. 1 or at anytime. If you go through and the drowning doesn’t get you from instant hyperventilation and panic, then the hypothermia probably will. You have seconds to get dry. Have a plan and don’t go it alone in uncertain conditions.
It is always exciting when a flag springs up, sometimes after that happens about 50 times or so, the excitement wears off just a little. That’s when you start walking to the tip-up instead of sprinting and pushing your buddy out of the way to get there. Only to reach a false alarm in which the shiner has set off the flag.
If your new to ice-fishing, or just want to get started in a simple and low cost way, drop me an email and I’ll be glad to help you get set up and even give you a few secret spots for some guaranteed fish.
If you’re the type that hates the cold, there are always plenty of very pleasant 30-degree sunny days. I never ice fish when it’s bitterly cold or windy or when it’s raining or even snowing.
Why be miserable? I wouldn’t go out on a boat in that kind of weather. But amazing as it seems, I’ll do other outdoor activities in lousy weather, go figure.
So whether you like to bring your entire garage out on the ice with you, or just a backpack, ice fishing is a great winter activity for the whole family. That is, until the wives and children start complaining of cold and boredom.
You also don’t have to take out a small loan to get started either. Unless your into the modern high tech stuff like windless tip-ups, fancy shelters, dual beam ice systems, aqua view fish tv’s and big power augers.
So what’s the point? Don’t hibernate this winter, get out and enjoy part of it anyway, we still have about 90 days to go before....ahhhh, spring trout season.

PS. If you didn’t email me and you didn’t get a deer, tsk, tsk. I’ll eat a venison burger for ya.

Dave Stebbins lives in Wales. He can be reached at stebbins777@gmail.com.