Ice fishing is becoming more popular for all generations
It’s a Saturday morning in December. Senior Max Krumm and junior Reier Skarning have just picked up their fresh bait, driving onto Eagle Lake’s solid ice, they unpack and ready their supplies. As they drill their hole for the day, they reference a fish finder that shows where the fish are moving underneath the ice. Setting up their temporary tent, they are now ready to sit back, relax, and fish.
As many individuals experiment with ice fishing, since Thanksgiving, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has sold upwards of 56,500 fishing licenses, which is the highest it’s been since the 2015 to 2016 season according to MN DNR.
With climate change being the leading cause, the last couple of winters have been on the warmer side – with last year’s winter being the warmest on record. As a result, the ice has been thinner and too dangerous to stand on for long periods of time, and the ice fishing seasons have been significantly shortened.
This year’s winter temperatures were colder, allowing many anglers to resume one of their favorite passing times – ice fishing. Some of Minnesota’s most treasured lakes have been decorated with makeshift huts, houses, and tents. Sitting around the drilled holes, anglers of all ages bond over their shared love for this winter weather activity.
Reier Skarning holds a Northern pike on Pike Lake. Photo by Max Krumm.
“Last year I rarely went because the ice wasn’t thick enough,” said Krumm, a fishing enthusiast. “Now me and Reier go at least once a week.”
Back in action, many existing fishermen or those new to the sport have needed to stock up on supplies, leaving outdoor sporting goods stores with empty shelves and freezers.
Joe’s Sporting Goods in St. Paul, a popular Minnesota-based company, has also experienced a sudden increase in ice fishing.
“Some of the live bait has been a little tough to get,” said Doug Stahly, the fishing equipment buyer at Joe’s.
The demand for live bait is due to the lack of stores that carry it, as it needs to be restocked multiple times a week.
“There’s only so many people that provide live bait,” said Stahly. “With so many people fishing, we go through it a little quicker.”
But due to the predicted conditions of this winter, Joe’s stays prepared, continuing to buy extra stock from the manufacturers.
“Manufacturers have a lot, so we’ve been continuously re-ordering and filling things in,” said Stahly.
As ice fishing grows more popular, many individuals wonder what the factors are that cause people to return to the sport year after year, and how people have the patience to sit and wait for a fish that might never come.
Teacher Nicholas Freeman says that icefishing is more than catching fish–but they like catching fish too. Photo by Reier Skarning.
Getting to play cards and hang out with friends, Minnehaha film teacher Nicholas Freeman feels it’s more about the people you’re with that make it enjoyable, not the number of fish you catch.
“It’s more of a getaway than anything else,” said Freeman. “The experience is fun because for me it’s not about fishing and feeding my family.”
From a student perspective, first-year Myles Anderson finds the passing time of ice fishing rather tranquil, and fun to spend with family.
“It’s actually very peaceful, being in front of nature,” said Anderson.
Whether it’s the thrill in waiting for a tug on the line, the adventure of trekking out onto the ice and setting up camp, or the camaraderie of the activity altogether, the art of ice fishing has and will continue to be a crowd favorite for the Midwesterners during the long, frigid winter season. Especially when we have a long, frigid winter.