Take Your Family On An Ice Fishing Trip

Many people who have enjoyed a day’s fishing with their family during the summer have never considered repeating the repeating the experience once the winter has set in and there is ice on the water. Ice fishing can be a different way of enjoying fishing, and it is as much fun for children as regular fishing.

The best thing about ice fishing as a family activity is that it is an opportunity to get outside during the winter, to get a lungful of fresh air, and to play in the snow. Children can never resist building a snowman or getting into a snowball fight, and they will appreciate the opportunity to get out of the house and use up some energy. Ice fishing is a great excuse to get out of the house during the winter, and it also offers an interesting activity to occupy the whole family.

You should set aside a whole day when you organize an ice fishing trip. You will want to reach the ice as soon as you can, even if that means getting the kids up early. The best time to catch perch, for example, is as the sun rises. You will do best if your lines are ready and waiting in the water at sunrise. You will find that is in the early morning and the late afternoon that you will get most activity on the lines, but there will be plenty of other winter activities to occupy the family in between. In fact, this is one of the things that makes ice fishing such an interesting day out for children- they would soon get bored if you expected them to sit and wait for hours at a time.

It is hugely important to bring a good lunch and plenty of snacks with you, because it will be cold and you will be using up a lot of energy. Bring plenty of water to keep everyone hydrated, and a thermos of hot chocolate will be appreciated by the children in the group. You may want to bring tea or coffee for the grown ups, but it is not a good idea to drink to much alcohol as it will cool your body down, and it can also be harder to realize how much you’ve had to drink when you’re outside in the cold. You don’t want to end up too drunk to drive home at the end of the day.

Make sure that everyone dresses warmly, especially the children. Wear multiple layers rather than one big jumper, as the air trapped in between them will help to insulate you. A windproof jacket will keep you cozy despite the cold winter breezes. Some sturdy boots and warm gloves will make all the difference, especially if they are waterproof as you will be getting wet as you fish. A warm hat is vital as you lose a lot of heat from your head, and a pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes from the glare coming off the snow. You should also bring some sunblock to protect your face, even though the children may find the idea of sunblock in snow rather odd.

There are some excellent outfitters who will make sure you have everything you need for your ice fishing trip. This will include a cabin with a stove, some lines and minnows for bait, as well as the essential service of drilling a hole in the ice. If you need any advice to get you started, then they should be able to help you out.

You will need to prevent ice from re-forming across your fishing hole. You will have been given a metal spoon which can be used to do this. Never use antifreeze to keep the hole clear as you would be introducing a toxic substance into the water. You should also make sure that you and your family respect the environment. Don’t leave any waste behind, and be aware that other fishers may value the peace and quiet of ice fishing. Don’t disturb them with loud music or let your children be too loud.

Unless you are going to eat what you catch you should release your fish back into the water. If you catch more than you can eat you should d the same. This is a good way to teach your children to be respectful of the environment and of the need to preserve the fish for the future. Fish are very slow to replace their numbers when there is too much fishing.

The last thing to remember is that you should head for home before anyone gets over-tired. Even if you feel OK you will probably realize how tired you are once you are in the warmth of your car, and you will still have a long drive ahead of you. Everyone will also be looking forward to a good meal, and the children will be ready for bed.