Dip nets no larger than 18 inches in any dimension. Often you find yourself standing there, implausibly upright in a gorgeous, uncaring place, taking it for granted. Tasty land-locked salmon, lake trout, brook trout, cusk, smelt and white fish are all popular catches. However, the Lord made sure that this was not just a typical day on the ice. Trying to get any productive ice fishing done with your children around you is almost impossible. Large and unique are two simple words to describe this Southeast Idaho destination. It always starts with ice thickness. Available species include rainbow trout and kokanee. Ice fishing on Minnesota's Lake of the Woods & Rainy River area truly offers a unique & satisfying winter experience. Seat cushions and propane heater welcome us inside, as does a bearded man in unironic Carhartt: Vinnie Matturro, another Fish Nerds guide. Have other activities for them to do while waiting for a flag to go up. The reservoir's surface area varies from year to year depending on how much water is left after summer. Here is a nice pickerel iced by Anna Kolodziej while fishing alongside her husband, Aaron, earlier this winter. People can find places on Fish and Game’s ice fishing webpage, or by calling a regional office. So spending free time being humbled and outsmarted by creatures we supposedly evolved past can instill a sense of connection, modesty and reverence. Mr. Groves prepares lunch in the shack. The 180-acre lake has naturally reproducing rainbow trout that can reach in excess of 20 inches. A lake trout is photographed before it is released back into the water. Follow these ice fishing safety tips to enjoy a safe day on the water. So the whole approach is: how much fun can we have while we’re doing this.”. Quality fishing is the obvious attraction, but a big bonus for anglers is its proximity to the town of Cascade, which offers full services for visitors. Sure enough, a shadow flutters past, gone like a horror movie monster before my eyes can focus. A mystical appreciation. Ice fishing is pretty self explanatory, and all you need aside from your regular fishing tackle is an ice auger and a This access is plowed and maintained through the winter by Bonneville County. We’d set our tip-ups — wooden devices that sat in the hole and popped a flag up if a fish took your bait. Ice fishing begins on Jan. 1 … Clients are always having a great time. I suspect what prevents people from trying ice fishing, besides its reputation for being unpleasant, boring and dangerous, is not realizing that guides exist. Watch as the water melts slightly and refreezes. Vinnie Matturro uses a drill-powered auger to make a six-inch hole in the ice. Any size hole may be cut through the ice to catch cisco. Place one end of the string from the fishing pole on top of the ice cube and sprinkle salt on the ice where the string is touching. Anglers should also know basic ice safety, which is 3-4 inches of clear ice for one person and more for a group. The real battle in catch-and-release fishing is sometimes between the desire to get the fish back in the water and the urge to keep marveling at its beauty. Staying Safe: the DNR does not monitor ice conditions or the thickness of the ice so be sure to check ice conditions before heading out.We hope you have a great ice fishing season, but also a safe one. Ice fishing provides a fun way to get out of the house for a day or a weekend and catch fish. They discuss the nearby Ossippee Ring Dike, a geological formation created by an ancient volcano, and how there’s never been a dinosaur found in the state. Inside the hut, sonar devices help to determine if there is fish activity below the ice. So instead of the movie “Grumpy Old Men,” I tell people to imagine zipping across a frozen lake on a snowmobile, an ice shack so warm you may take your coat off, and a real-life video game on a sonar screen where winning leads to celebrations at whatever pokes through the hole. It’s about 20-miles long and 8-miles wide and roughly divided in half between Idaho and Utah, but you can fish with a license from either state. And who wouldn’t want to try that, at least once. Whether you ice fish in shanties or adventure in the open air, plan your winter ice fishing trip today. There is a $5 access fee for this county site. Two-lines permitted when ice fishing with a two-pole permit, Trout limit is 2; only Cutthroat Trout with a clipped adipose fin, as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept, Cisco limit is 30; dip-netting permitted January 1 through February 15. Growing up, ice fishing was the angling of last resort. I’m glad I remembered my sunscreen, sunglasses and face mask. The lines are empty, but we just got something amazing to take home with us. Ice fishing action can be fast and furious when winter seals the lakes under ice. The cube will bob up and down in the water and then float on the top. As winter progresses, fish closer to the surface because oxygen levels in the lake tend to become depleted, thus confining fish to the upper portions of the lake. Winter days are shorter, so any time spent outdoors is a bonus. But advances in fishing technology, better understanding of fish behavior and even social media have changed the sport from a caricature of inactivity — a metaphor for blind, ineffectual waiting in subpar conditions — into an action-packed, fish-producing winter pastime. To view this site, you must enable JavaScript or upgrade to a JavaScript-capable browser. This slow-growing, native apex predator well below the legal 18- inch minimum can reach 3 feet. Then, just when you’re figuring things out, it’s time to go. Ice fishing provides a fun way to get out of the house for a day or a weekend and catch fish. We picked destinations to inspire you, delight you and motivate you to explore the world. The trout in Williams Lake tend to suspend in the water column and favor Power Bait, worms or eggs. Ice Fishing in Wisconsin Fishing is a four-season sport in Wisconsin. This basically being outer space for it, I think of how long I’d enjoy a moonwalk without a spacesuit and cradle the fish back through the hole. Idaho has a variety of ice fishing opportunities throughout the state, Seasonal Trapping/Hunting Report for Furtakers, General Season Deer and Elk Tags Available, Unclaimed / Leftover Controlled Hunt Tags, Duplicate Hunter/Bowhunter/Trapper Education Certificate, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Natural Heritage Program Technical Reports, Vintage Posters, Prints and Stamps for Sale, One line only when ice fishing. You will quickly learn what works and what doesn’t and adapt accordingly, and you will also quickly learn why it’s a fun and unique way to go fishing, as well as a great way to get outdoors during winter. It is best to access Magic Reservoir through the township of West Magic, but watch weather patterns, as the road is not plowed consistently. No need to stay inside during the long winter months waiting for the sun to come out and dreaming about open water and summer fun. Mike and I groan, thinking back on all the time and energy we’ve wasted chipping out iced-over cusk lines with crowbars. There’s way more moving around now, meaning some. Ice anglers need to be aware of special rules, which include: The lake is a vacation destination, so there’s a wide range of services and various accommodations from motels to vacation rentals. But I don’t like fishing — I like catching fish. The holes stop producing bites. With frozen dirt road crunching under the car tires, my longtime fishing buddy (and paleontologist) Mike and I pull out of the driveway of my family cottage in New Hampshire for the hour drive north east toward the White Mountains , where an invite we’ve long coveted has us giddy. The cloudless sky is Windex blue. We check “cusk traps.” Cusk are also called burbot, eelpout or “poor man’s lobster” for their flaky, sweet fillets somewhere between cod and catfish. Ice fishing is always fun, sometimes because of enthusiastic weather. A dark back glistening as if shellacked, Dijon speckles. Soldiers Meadow is a 124-acre reservoir with 4 miles of shoreline and administered by the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District. Fishing guide Clay Groves takes gear and an angler out on the lake. And today we’ll be fishing with Clay Groves, a licensed New Hampshire fishing guide, obsessive fisherman — he once went on a quest to catch and eat all 48 legal species in the state, and host of “Fish Nerds,” a podcast that brings together — “codifies?” — people interested in fish, fishing and eating fish, covering everything from biology to cooking. Critical, predatory eyes question our whole enterprise and inquire after our intentions. He takes a coat hanger fashioned into a long hook and reaches into the new hole, pulling the line through. As Mr. Groves goes to pick up Mike and the snowmobile fades, I realize something miraculous: there’s no wind today. Mr. Groves directs us to a spot in a foot-and-a-half of water. We jig, with a baited tip-up 15 feet away. But we’d still like some fillets to take home. There’s parking and nearby restrooms at the Forest Service boat ramp on the west end. Fun Ice Fishing Trip I was looking to get Kokanee, though it was a bit late in the spawn. Ice fishing leaves an experience afterglow, a pleasant, tingly emotional windburn. Our games were rarely interrupted by flags. Williams Lake is probably the most popular and easy-to-access ice fishing water in the Salmon Region. It’s also home to some very good ice fishing locations that offer fun, unique and interesting experiences. A toothy jaw mouths piscine curses or prayers. Ice fishing for the whole family, novices, and kids. But on days like this, when besides the occasional distant whine of a gas auger or the ice pinging as it thickens — a sound like whales playing laser tag beneath you — when you’re a half mile from anything that even could make a noise, the silence feels almost holy, cloistered as one is on the pop-up remoteness of a newly frozen lake. You’ve just done a wild, silly thing, there’s adrenaline and calm, and now your day could never be the same. Visitors are encouraged to check snow conditions before heading up to this location as the roads are not routinely maintained throughout the winter. Explore endless ice fishing spots to catch walleye, perch or pike this winter. Had a great day of fishing with Samantha landing big Cutbow Trout and some good size Brown Trout over in Glenwood. I set the hook. Be adventurous, bundle up, get outside and try fishing in a whole new way--through the ice! Here’s more recent information from Fish and Game biologists about what you can expect from Lake Cascade this winter. Mike gets two bites, but can’t set the hook. But our focus will be jigging from the warmth of the shack, targeting larger, generally tougher-to-catch lake trout. The light out here, amplified by the grand plaza of ice, is extreme: somewhere between white sand beach and operating room. Ice Fishing Safety. A solitary blip becomes our destination, a hut fashioned from a pop-up camping trailer, converted with plywood sides and solar panels. In fact, for the last two years, ice anglers have started ice fishing at Henrys Lake around Halloween. The first and longest-running company on Lake Dillon. Williams Lake is about 30 to 45-minutes drive from Salmon depending on road conditions, so bring what you need on your fishing trip. Fish and Game partners with Idaho Parks and Recreation and the US Bureau of Reclamation to ensure there’s easy access during winter at various points around the lake. The reservoir produces perch, rainbow and brown trout for ice anglers. Ice fishing lets you catch fish throughout winter, and it’s a unique and fun way to go fishing with your family and friends. He rails against New Hampshire’s biggest ice-fishing derby not offering a catch-and-release option, while happily frying up invasive species. The fish are congregated in the main channel, making for good catch rates. Once we arrive at the lake’s public boat launch, Mr. Groves scoots up the snow-covered boat ramp on his snowmobile, says hello, and ferries us one-by-one to the fishing spot. As I hop off the sled, the insulating snow gobbles all sound. By Brad Koehler February 1st, 2020 Saturday, January 18th, in the midst of what might have seemed like another typical western Wisconsin snowstorm, Kicking Bear held a Family and Kids Ice Fishing Day. ICE FISHING FAIL!!! He grabbed his gear, stepped out onto the ice, and started to cut a hole when he heard a booming voice shout: “THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!” The man jumped up and looked around, but he didn’t see anyone. I race over, sliding to the hole on my knees like a snow-suited Springsteen. But with ice-fishing, safety always should come first. ICE SAFETY from the DNR – Check out these tips to increase your safety while you’re on and around the ice.. It was my first time ice fishing, but it … Stay on top of the ice. Fish and Game crews stocked nearly 25,000 kokanee in the reservoir in 2020, and it also has rainbow trout available for ice anglers. A former science teacher, Mr. Groves hosts like a cross between Click & Clack of “Car Talk” and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Ice fishing is pretty self explanatory, and all you need aside from your regular fishing tackle is an ice auger and a slotted spoon to keep slush out of the ice hole. Ice fishing is always fun, sometimes because of enthusiastic weather. Stepping off the ice always feels like just having lived a whole, strange little life. Sportsman's Lodges Style. Spending time on a frozen lake with friends and family is one of the best ways to have fun and (hopefully) catch dinner in the winter. Anglers are catching plenty of perch up to 10 inches, trout up to 20 inches, and an occasional bass. Ice fishing is an exceptionally fun and rewarding way to get you through Northwestern Ontario's extended Winter Months. However, if you have a good action lake for panfish and either a warm winter day or an ice shack, jigging is fun as well. Here’s more about Magic and other ice fishing spots in the Magic Valley. Henrys is a great opportunity for anglers with lots of trophy trout, but it also closes on Jan. 2, so Ririe has a longer ice fishing season, as well as good fishing for perch, trout and kokanee. Mr. Groves’ approach to fishing is somewhere between a Zen koan and “Catch-22.”, “I believe fishing should be fun, so it’s not about the fish, it’s about having a great time. Here, in no particular order, are five places to check out this winter. Or enjoying the peace. Idaho’s prime ice fishing season typically runs December through February, but conditions can vary dramatically from place to place. Mr. Groves produces a gag tape measure that says the fish is 25 inches. “Then you just cut the line, pull it through and retie it,” Mr. Groves says, “Cusk don’t care if the line is pretty.”. The rest of our morning will prove just how lucky my catch was. The augers are lawn mower engines or cordless power drills attached to 3-foot corkscrewed blades. Arguably Idaho’s best ice fishing destination thanks to a massive restoration effort conducted by Fish and Game in the early 2000s. When is the ice thick enough to go out for some ice-fishing… In the winter, New Hampshire gains more than 250 square miles — roughly a quarter the size of Rhode Island — of flat, undeveloped, public space. We jig for another 20 minutes, and then turn toward the chilly gloom of our waiting car. The Piscifun ICX Precision ice fishing reel comes in two different colors, giving you more options to pair with your favorite ice rod. A guided trip — like a nature tour mixed with a deep-sea fishing charter, minus the seasickness — helps anglers safely visit spots and does away with the guesswork and hassle of gear and bait. Anglers looking for places to go ice fishing can probably find one within a couple hours drivetime and find some interesting fishing opportunities. Ice fishing is an enjoyable and challenging angling activity. Ririe Reservoir is easily accessible at the Juniper Access located near the dam. Yelling out petty triumphs or failures. You will need a parking area and an easy place to walk onto the ice. A Canadian angler had a few too many to drink and decided to go ice fishing. Fishing encourages a full-bodied communion with the water, though. Ice Fishing FUN! Which in actual fact might have netted me more fish, in retrospect. The Mr. Heater Hunting Buddy Portable Space Heater is a major game-changer when it comes to enduring truly cold temperatures while out fishing. Ice fishing isn't all fun and satellite TVs. Ice fishing gear usually looks ridiculous or cool or both: The rods are two feet long. He urges us to watch the holes. Anglers are getting better at handling fish, but catch-and-release fishing is still recreational abduction: validation-seeking, insecure people like myself bothering fish just to confirm primal skills long rendered unnecessary. But a quick word of caution. Fish and Game partners with various agencies to help provide ice fishing access by maintaining winter parking lots in many locations. All you need is fishing gear, a few pieces of special equipment and a basic understanding of ice safety. A restroom is available at the reservoir during winter. Ice fishing on Silver Lake in Madison, N.H., with a fisherman using a tip-up device whose flag goes up when a fish is on the line. I’m not having fun till I catch a fish. Ice fishing provides a fun way to get out of the house for a day or a weekend and catch fish. For three months New Hampshire essentially gains more than 250 square miles — roughly a quarter the size of Rhode Island — of flat, undeveloped, public space. When choosing a place to go ice fishing, pay close attention to access. Ririe Reservoir is located minutes from Idaho Falls and provides some great ice fishing opportunity for much of the winter season. Ice fishing in most New Hampshire lakes and ponds begins at “ice-in” and ends at “ice-out.” Depending on the weather and ice safety, this season can be from late December through mid-April. We managed to catch 4 Kokanee, about 15 little rainbows, and a sucker in a half day. Ice fishing is pretty self-explanatory, and all you need aside from your regular fishing tackle is an ice auger and a slotted spoon to keep slush out of the ice hole. We zoom over foot-thick ice covered in packed, crusty snow. The Upper Snake region’s chilly climate and accessible lakes and reservoirs gives it a long ice fishing season. Mike was waitng in the parking lot with holes drilled and a warm tent set up. For more information on ice fishing, personnel from the Fish And Game’s Depart of Aquatic Education conduct basics ice fishing classes as part of the Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby, held every winter on Meredith Bay (February 8-9, 2020). Mr. Groves switches between patiently teaching and playful teasing, asking distracting questions about working with dinosaurs. And with the equipment and apparel now available, there's no need to be left out in the cold! You can learn more on the ice fishing webpage. With a few simple steps ice fishing can easily become an enjoyable way to pass the winter months. It can be dangerous if you don't do it right. River fishing is awesome too! I tend to release all lakers. Move around if you are not finding fish and change your bait often. Ice fishing fail is a fishing video I made while ice fishing. 52 PLACES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Discover where you should go in 2020, and find more Travel coverage by following us on Twitter and Facebook. … “So there’s an opportunity to be the first one,” Mr. Groves says. Ice fishing provides a fun way to get out of the house for a day or a weekend and catch fish. Add warm snacks, jokes, stories and fortifying beverages, and suddenly ice fishing doesn’t sound so bad. My rod bows and jerks like a horse tossing its head. Put the ice in the glass or bowl of water. A stocked species Mr. Groves is happy to remind us is originally from California, it will be coming home with us. This is the very real harvest us weirdos who love ice fishing seek to leave with as much as photos or dinner: this little doggy bag of blessedness. Fat, iridescently pink and absurdly pretty. So Mr. Groves, who learned the biological history of every species he goes after — when they came to the state, who stocked them — has enough information to serve as something like a moral guide as well. And pulling up each line is like starting the day with six scratch tickets. Our time has been part fishing lesson, part natural history tour, part entertainment. Ice fishing is a fun outdoor activity, especially when done safely. He feels like a voice of reason, reminding anglers that prized and much-coddled bass have only even been in New Hampshire since the 1800s, and that yucky fish like lampreys are native and ecologically important. Our girls like ice skating, cross country skiing and sledding. The joy of sitting around a wood stove with beer and chili knowing that at that moment you’re technically fishing is one of my favorite parts of fishing in the state. Absolutely a fun fishing gadget to own that will keep the fish-tales in check! We snap a photo. If you have been to a lake or reservoir during summer, those access sites could be blocked by snow. I love hitting the rivers during the colder months due to there being less traffic and less pressure on the water. Stubby computers in zippered lunch coolers help find fish. Bring basic tackle, such as hooks and weights, some bait (worms work for nearly everything), and give it a try. It also can be very productive. This is a particularly great gift for ice … That’s another reason I enjoy Mr. Groves’ podcast. It is located 20 miles southeast of Lewiston off County Road P2. Ice fishing with Sport Fish Michigan is a fun, relaxing, and comfortable experience not to be missed: for both first-time ice anglers and experienced ice anglers. When the hard water arrives, look out, fish! This ice fishing destination is a best kept secret for local kokanee fishing. Anglers are drawn to the lake for its trophy Bonneville cutthroat trout, lake trout and whitefish. "Anglers can expect ice fishing for kokanee and perch on Ririe to be excellent this winter," says Fisheries Biologist John Heckel. Many species of fish, including warm water species such as largemouth bass and sunfish, are active and susceptible to ice fishing techniques. That’s the fun part. There aren’t many sports so boring that you have to start playing other sports in the middle of them. This winter the water level is extremely low, so fishing is primarily near the dam, but there is a silver lining. Big Ed’s is proud to offer guided half-day ice fishing trips in Breckenridge, Keystone, Dillon, Frisco area. Ice fishing is fun and a surprisingly effective way to catch fish. We have good news for anglers: There’s no offseason for fishing in Idaho, and we don’t believe in cabin fever when there are so many outdoor activities during winter. But for those who take safety seriously, ice fishing can be a lot of fun, for both the novice and the experienced fisherman. Mr. Groves points out spots on shore — where E. E. Cumming’s treehouse was, where Grover Cleveland partied. It’s so cool. A trip with a New Hampshire guide reveals how much the sport has evolved, while keeping the eternal battle of angler and fish at its heart. It’s like sticking your hand down the ice fishing hole and waving it around, hoping a northern pike will bite. If the ice is too thin, you or your vehicle can fall in. The lake is unique because it boasts four “endemic” species of fish, which means they exist nowhere else on earth, including Bear Lake whitefish, Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish and Bear Lake sculpin. There’s a high, from the logistical boldness it requires, the smallness it engenders. The devices have changed the nature of ice fishing, since anglers no longer have to wait blindly for fish to bite. Parking can be found in the lot adjacent to the dam along the county road. In Maine, we love ice fishing. Visitors can have all the conveniences of home as they stay in a warm cabin, condo, motel, or sleeper fish house. Up comes a 15 inch rainbow trout. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world. Based on trends over the last four years, biologists expect anglers will have plenty of kokanee over 12 inches, and perch populations are looking healthy with some fish reaching about 10-inches with lots of slightly smaller perch. At 164 feet, Silver Lake is one of New Hampshire’s deepest bodies of water, and has no reported invasive aquatic plant species. (Click on each location for more information and maps to get there.). Steve Macone is a writer and comedian; he is on Twitter @Steve_Macone. Ice fishing gear for the hard water angler, with ice rods & reels, augers, flashers, jigs and more at FishUSA, America's Tackle Shop Javascript is disabled on your browser. Time to move. A Winter Adventure With No Hassle - Just Fun! These different fishing holes all provide room to spread out and have your own place to adventure for the day. And exciting gadgets threaten the sport’s fundamental sad conceit by actually telling you if anything’s down there. Included in Our Minnesota Ice Fishing Trips Adventure: ... Click Here to request more information about Minnesota Ice Fishing at Sportsman's Lodge or call us today at (800) 862-8602. “So when you’re digging for these things, and you find a bone, is that like fishing?”, “Oh it’s very similar,” Mike says, “You don’t just dig randomly, you prospect.”. “Yeah let me focus on setting a hook first,” Mike says. If you’re new to ice fishing, or have never fished at all, don’t be discouraged from trying it because it's easy to get started. Because a day on the hardwater replicates being alive like nothing else: it’s sometimes successful, sometimes unpleasant, always beautiful. Other risks include carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly used heaters and frostbite from exposure to the cold and wind. Idaho is a very diverse state when it comes to climate and geography, so be sure to check local conditions before you go ice fishing. We load neon jigs with dead smelt, plop them through black holes and check our fish-finders with the head-sideways, looking-one-place-but-moving-something-important-with-your-hand-somewhere-else self-seriousness of arthroscopic surgeons. No, really. (“The hardest part of ice fishing used to be making a hole in the ice,” Mr. Groves says.) Minutes later my tip-up flag shoots up. You will often see anglers gathered at favorite fishing spots, especially on weekends, so that gives you a good hint where the best ice fishing is happening. There’s an iPhone charger and the floor has holes in it. We move again for one final attempt, switching species to target rainbow trout. Minnesota Ice Fishing at It's Finest! So Mike and I are at Silver Lake, in Madison, for the same reasons people listen to the podcast: community within an often lonely sport, a few laughs, and to steal as many fishing tips as possible. His campaign against lead tackle and data-backed discussions about the gentlest way to hold fish lean toward an informed, hunter-hippie vibe similar to Steven Rinella’s Netflix show “MeatEater.”. Solar-powered Christmas lights hang on “simulated hard wood” walls. Lake ErieLake Erie has some of the most intense ice fishing in Ohio. There are over 50 resorts, sleeper services, & hotels in Lake of the Woods. Fishing both allows for and often demands this bespoke morality, called upon as frequently as pliers and variable even among anglers on the same trip. And outside, Mr. Groves sets those rustic Rube Goldberg devices, tip-ups. While it can be easy to haul in … Then we’d play hockey. But honestly when the image translates to machine-gun tugging on my rod it feels the way all bites do: like nothing short of divine intervention. While perch are the main attraction, the reservoir also has lots of rainbow trout, many of which are trophy sized, as well kokanee salmon and a variety of other fish. Some lakes allow anglers to set six simple “cusk lines” for 24 hours unattended. Catching fish through the ice can be a fun way to spend a winter day. I don’t suspect a monster, but the vibe among spectators is cautiously thrilled. It seems like an insane place to fish, another of his pranks. Through the hole comes a sleek, foot-long lake trout, flapping angrily in this strange resistance-less vacuum and hearing the unfamiliar vibrations of human cheering. Lake Cascade is massive at 21-miles long and up to 4.5-miles wide, and due in part to its large size, the fish can congregate in certain areas while others are nearly barren. Within minutes, I mark a fish. Ice Fishing Jokes The Drunken Ice Fisherman. Any mention of ice fishing usually comes with a built-in beat of silence, requiring either no explanation at all or eliciting puzzled, are-you-joking comments. Mount Chocorua crowds us from the north. In addition, there’s a unique cisco fishery where fish are dipnetted through the ice during the fishes’ winter spawning season. Mr. Groves drills a hole beside the first frozen-over trap. Ice fishing is a great socially distant activity. He hosts the podcast “Fish Nerds.”. Imagine fishy photos — true Instagram bait — and maybe dinner to take home. Ice fishing with friends, or even your significant other, is a sure way to make a day on the local lake even more enjoyable. It’s stunning. The reservoir’s perch population rebounded and flourished and produced numerous state and world’s records, which has attracted anglers from throughout the country seeking its “jumbo” perch. Simple things can be done to have a fun, safe outing. 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