Changing Seasons

Ice Fishing In The Adirondacks

Story and photos by Brandon Marshall

It's negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the wind's a steady 30 to 40 mph, and droplets of moisture surrounding the eyelids are beginning to freeze.  A sure sign that the North Country's ice fishing season is just around the bend. It is a time when hundreds flock to the ice to stand, sprint and sprawl in an attempt to snag a big one.  The Adirondacks offer a wide range of places and species to fish, and as with fishing in the warmer months, there are plenty of opportunities during the freezing season.  

The best time of the year to go is during the end of the season.  February and March are the best months, says 40-year veteran ice fisherman Scott Baker. “I like to go out in early mornin', 'round an hour after daylight,” he says.  Another seasoned vet, Dave Richards of Richard’s Grocery, Bait and Tackle, says he’s always had the most luck during either early morning or late evening. Either way, the first task at hand is to drill.

For cutting holes in the ice, a hand-powered auger is the best for the price.  Although cumbersome, it’s extremely lightweight compared to its motorized counterpart and can drill holes up to eight inches in diameter.  The size of the hole is determined by the kind of fish intended to go through that hole.  If a wide-girthed, three-foot northern pike grabs the bait and the hole is no more than four or five inches wide, there could be a problem.

"If you can't catch 'em on that, there probably aren't any around"

Jigging is one of two known ways to ice fish. With this method, “use a small rod with a spinning reel and about an eighth of an ounce sinker,” Baker says.  After baiting, “I usually use a fisheye on the jig, or pin minnows (also known as icicle minnows) which are about two inches long, silver and skinny. You hook those on and the perch really like 'em.”

A popular variation on the theme of jigging is the Swedish Pimple, a long, flat, slender piece of steel with a red reflector-like coloration on one side and three dangling hooks (also known as a treble-hook). “If you can't catch 'em on that,” Baker says, “there probably aren't any around.” Essentially, it's a jig, so as with any other jig lure, the savvy angler will let the bait hit the bottom and then reel in a couple times.  The trick to jigging is popping the pole up at intervals to make fish, such as perch and walleye, think that the lure is injured prey.  Techniques can vary, and as with all types of fishing, skill is acquired with time and practice.  

Another method of ice fishing that works particularly well for northern pike is a tip-up, Baker says.  A tip-up is a simple device that is laid across the top of the hole.  It’s basically a stick and spool with a spring-release mechanism attached, so that when the line is pulled, a small flag pops up.  “With a tip-up, I like to keep my bait either three feet off the bottom, or three feet under the ice,” Baker says, “Normally I'll use a treble hook, and if I've got 10 tip-ups, I put 'em in two parallel rows of five.”

"Now you have to put a lot more time into it"

Even the simple sport of ice fishing has undergone significant changes in the last half-century.  Today, tip-ups have changed from wood to plastic and are a different design, making them easier to work with but not always as reliable as before.  

"Always used to just tie some fishing line to a stick, use the same lures as today, then after I was done I'd just twist the line around the stick,” says Baker, referring to his earlier days of ice fishing in the Adirondacks.  “Now, you have to put a lot more time into it. Say you spent five hours 25 years ago to catch 10 fish.  You'd spend a day out there now, regardless of what you're fishing with.”

Tip-up changes aren't the only transformations ice fishermen have experienced in recent times. The aesthetics of the sport have changed dramatically over the years. For instance, the traditional “ice shanty” or ice-tent has become obsolete.  What used to be really cheap, bulky and heavy can now be compacted and carried like a backpack to a desired location.  According to Baker, such tents were mostly homemade and not mass produced like the ones today.  “Now they make little heaters to keep you cozy, there are certain kinds of neoprene gloves to keep hands warm and dry, and even ice-cleats to maintain stability,” says Baker.  

Perhaps the greatest change, though, exists in the number of individuals taking to the ice during the winter months. If you ask the vets, the number of ice fishermen today just ain't what it used to be. Richards explains that fewer people are enjoying this sport than perhaps ever before. The market for minnow sales is apparently thinning as of late, he says. Thanks to the economic recession, “everything went up about ten dollars this year,” he adds. Still, he says, the tradition will continue to live on in the Adirondacks for as long as winter continues to come.  

For those sportsmen who still enjoy winters on the ice, Baker, Barber, and Richards all agree the top three best places to fish in the Adirondacks are Lake Champlain, Chateaugay Lake and Chazy Lake.  According to Richards, the best bait to use for ice fishing are minnows, normally fat heads or shiners. “Use pin head minnows for perch, and use either a shiner or a red fin for pike,” Barber suggests. Baker's bait of choice is equally clear. “If you can find the red-finned minnows, get those above all others,” he states emphatically. “They're the best.”

Bait choices aren't the only things ice fishermen have to consider before heading out into the cold. Even more important are the legal components of a day on the ice. The Department of Environmental Conservation lists perch, sunfish, pickerel, northern pike and walleye as legal species to fish during the winter season.  Depending on which county, various waters allow fishing for trout, lake trout and landlocked salmon.  According to Richards, the only fish illegal to keep are bass, and in contrast to the DEC’s records, walleye. Though many aspects have remained unaltered, time and technology have become a major influence.

According to Keith Barber of Outfitters Plus in Dannemora, NY, some of the conservation laws have changed, mainly concerning baitfish.  Up until about three years ago, a person could trap their own minnows and legally use them as bait.  Now there are regulations on the minnows, put into action by the Department of Environmental Conservation to halt the introduction of invasive species.  Such outfitters are the only place one can legally purchase bait, and with purchase comes a receipt that will be needed if a state official happens to wander out onto the ice during the fishing trip.  

Additionally, fishermen should ensure their own safety before going out onto the ice. “Safety is the most important thing,” Barber explains, “you‘ve got to be really careful of thinning ice and ice heaves, and know what color the ice should be.”  Normally when ice fishing, the darker the ice, the safer.  The DEC suggests that one person on foot can tread on two inches of ice, however, to hold as much as a car or truck the ice needs to be at least seven to 10 inches thick.  Also remember that when there is slush atop the ice, it is 50 percent weaker than the strength of the thickness of the ice.  Always dress in heavy extreme cold gear and layering is a must.  Other than taking safety measures, it’s important to enjoy the outing and try not to get frustrated.

Where's your favorite ice fishing location?