Ice fishing is my happy place. I love the hunt just as much, if not more, than the catch at the end.
The main hangup is that winter days are short and, having a standard day job, fishing gets relegated to the weekends. That’s 2 days. Usually at least one has something going on (often with the wifey). I usually try to get out a half day each weekend, but sometimes even that is tough. In short, 1 half day a week doesn’t seem to cut it for me.
So, short of retiring, how do folks here make it work?
Work the night shift? I’m retired so it works great for me. I go up to Red sometimes on Tuesday and come home Thursday or Friday morning before the masses show up. It’s nothing short of wonderful. Hardly any people on the lake so road traffic is almost non existent. No strobe lights and everything is as quiet as can be when you step outside of your house. Fishing seems to be notably better as well.
So, short of retiring, how do folks here make it work?
Marry rich? I didn’t either so had to wait for retirement.
Tough… I’ve got 3 kids under 3 years old so it’s been more and more difficult. Weekdays have pretty much become out of the question unless I take a vacation day. Which I’ve done some of for half days here and there. Weekends if I can while most of the house is still sleeping, fish from like 5-9am or 8pm- midnight. What I have started to turn towards now is to get all my fishing done in one big chunk. Take 2 summer trips and 2 winter trips and fish HARD for 2-3 straight days, then pretty much don’t go again until the next trip.
I’m a teacher, so I understand where you are coming from when it comes to fishing during the week. I mostly get out on the weekends, but usually have other obligations too. I try and sneak out after school most nights. I fish local lakes by the school. I’m pretty limited with species to chase with not a lot of daylight, so I target lakes with reputation for night bite crappies and or walleye. I target other species on the weekends. Long story short, fish close to work and find night bite crappies and or walleye (easier said than done). Good luck!
Day job for me, too, but I have no problem going out after dark up here. Kid goes to bed at 7, eat with wifey, fire up the sled and hit the lake by 8 or 8:30, fish til 10:30 or 11:00. That has been the schedule the last two nights anyway. Mostly walleyes where I fish and it’s not a fast and furious bite, but like you said, the process itself is enjoyable and the action is enough to keep me entertained. Had a 28-30 inch pike around 9:30 last night that really surprised me, I’ve never seen them as nocturnal feeders.
Tough… I’ve got 3 kids under 3 years old so it’s been more and more difficult. Weekdays have pretty much become out of the question unless I take a vacation day. Which I’ve done some of for half days here and there. Weekends if I can while most of the house is still sleeping, fish from like 5-9am or 8pm- midnight. What I have started to turn towards now is to get all my fishing done in one big chunk. Take 2 summer trips and 2 winter trips and fish HARD for 2-3 straight days, then pretty much don’t go again until the next trip.
Brother i feel your pain. Same for me. I usually find the best time for me is putting the kids to bed around 8pm and then fish till midnight or later. only problem there is im woken up at 6 or 7 in the morning with the kids jumping on the bed. Give and take. I cherish those moments too
I work evenings and used to work the night shift. Would go crazy working a 9-5. Nobody out there to bother you and you typically have the lakes almost all to yourselves. I rarely fish weekends which is a blessing in my eyes.
Get up early and get to the lake at sunrise and fish til 1 or 2 and get to work by 3.
Work the night shift? I’m retired so it works great for me. I go up to Red sometimes on Tuesday and come home Thursday or Friday morning before the masses show up. It’s nothing short of wonderful. Hardly any people on the lake so road traffic is almost non existent. No strobe lights and everything is as quiet as can be when you step outside of your house. Fishing seems to be notably better as well.
Icecap I hear ya on retirement I’ve been for 3 years now and it’s awesome fishing during the week. When I worked though my schedule was Sunday-Thursday so I always had Friday before the crazy masses came out. Plus I started at 3am so on Thursday I was on my way to a lake somewhere by noon. I would’ve rather worked the weekends and had time off during the week. But that doesn’t always work out well with kids for sure.
Living in the twin cities metro, I fish mostly panfish on lakes within an hour of me, so night fishing post dinner could be a possibility.
The main concern is night fishing alone. It doesn’t bother me, per se, but I know it is less safe. I’ve done it a few times, but in situations where I set up and scouted during the day. I actually try to avoid fishing the same lake twice a season so there would be added risk trying a new lake after dark.
I always let someone know where I am (usually with location sharing on), picks, spud bar, float suit, crampons, etc.
I’m retired so it works great for me. I go up to Red sometimes on Tuesday and come home Thursday or Friday morning before the masses show up. It’s nothing short of wonderful.
Sounds like every ice lovers dream right there! At least you’re making the best out of your retirement!
I’ve got 3 kids under 3 years old so it’s been more and more difficult.
My buddy has 3 kids under 4 and spends Friday thru Sunday with them on the ice. I have 3 kids as well ages 2-7. They all love “fishing” it might not be all fishing but its all outdoors and a heck of a lot of fun for all.
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call in sick or work construction. Im gonna be fishing a bunch from now till ice out as we are slow at work. hoping for 4 or 3 day weeks honestly. do youself a favor and fish while you can now before you get old. in the open water season, I specifically request many Mondays off to have the river to myself as much as I can. I can’t handle the $itshows at the launch’s on weekends! don’t really fish much July thru labor day but all the other months!
Being happy is a serious part of life. Its all about give and take with your employer, but if its not working fix it. I recently made a big change in my life that puts me on the water 7 days a week and still have plenty of family time. I couldn’t be happier!! I wish you luck figuring out what’s best for you.
in the open water season, I specifically request many Mondays off to have the river to myself as much as I can. I can’t handle the $itshows at the launch’s on weekends!
The recreational riff raff on a sunny day at the launch gets old real quick, that is for sure. Even a big lake like Mille lacs has a lot of people around on the weekend sometimes and when I go on a Tuesday or Wednesday it’s often better fishing, and far more enjoyable.
I swear you give kids a flashlight or headlamp at night they stay entertained for hours.
Night fishing can be had, just need to find the right lakes.
Back when I worked a 9-5 I would fish almost strictly at night. Sometimes I’d get some daylight before work on the river, but it was usual to make dinner, cleanup, kids to bed then dad would take off and fish for couple hours. When you love it you just find a way, otherwise do you really want it?
Living on a lake it easy to jump on the snowmobile and head out for a couple three hours after work. Fishing during the nice week is really nice, it is quiet and the fish are less spooked. The weekends can get crazy. Not a complaint, just an observation, wheel house have really changed how busy a lake can get with weekends being the worst.
The high school kid down the street goes out in the morning before school. I’ll see him come zipping off the lake on his sled and then zipping past the house on the same sled to get to school on time. This kid really likes to fish. Pretty cool to see.
I can be on Tonka, Waconia or a number of smaller lakes within 15 minutes of my house, so I’ll go after the kid is in bed at 8 or occasionally get the go ahead and go straight from work at 5. Fish until 11-midnight and you have a good session in, if we get into the fish I’ll clean them right away or keep them in the garage and clean for dinner the following night. Weekends I have one or two full weekend trips planned, otherwise it’s mainly day trips up to Mille Lacs.
Weekdays and nights are the best if you have the rite schedule or lack of schedule like me.I work weekends in winter and then Im free to fish all week, whenever and where ever I decide.Summer slows me down some for weekday fishing,I manage a day a week forsure,but its usually more.Rainy days,night time or I just skip out on work and fish.I dont need a ton of money to live off of or to fish alot.Dont need a brand new truck,wheel house,fancy boat or top of the line equiptment to catch fish so I work less and fish more.Puts a smile on my face when I head south after fishing for 5 days and see all the guys dragging their nice new house with their brand new truck dealing with all the traffic and cluster f@$# that goes along with it so they can fish for a day and a half then head back to work to pay for the toys.
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