First taste of ice fishing!

I was just sitting in the deer stand thinking about when I first got into ice fishing. I remember being out on some north central Illinois farm ponds with dad, grandpa and great grandpa in pursuit for what ever would eat a wax worm on a tear drop jig under a bobber in who knows how much water.

The equipment we had was primitive by today’s standards, a dull hand auger, a bucket of pegged rods, with about 20 feet of line on the pegs. No shacks, no heater, a bucket with the non padded plastic lid on it, with a hole cut out to toss your fish in or have your rods stick out, no cleats and of course no electronics! We fished like that for years, and were often successful!

There was one time in particular that I have remembered for years where dad didn’t even hardly have time to wet a line. I was fishing 2 holes and as fast as i would drop a line on either hole the bobber would go down. They weren’t anything spectacular but those bluegills helped get me hooked on hard water and that kept dad busy unhooking my fish so my hands didn’t get cold (thanks Mom).

The way I fish now sure has changed from when I first got started on hard water.There wasn’t much hole hopping going on back then with that dull auger, and no electronics. We didn’t know where weed lines were or drop offs or brush we just cut and hoped! Things sure have changed! I give credit to anyone who still ice fishes without a flasher. You couldn’t pay me to leave mine at home!

Looking back at those trips from 20 plus years ago I am so thankful I was introduced to the sport, but more importantly for the time I got to spend with three of the greatest guys I have ever known!

After my wife and I had our first child this past May I keep thinking about the time I am going to get to spend with her introducing her to a sport I am so passionate about and love so much. I can’t even imagine what kind of equipment we’ll have when I take her on the ice for the first time.

How did you get introduced to hard water or introduce someone else and what piece of equipment has changed the ice fishing world for you the most in recent years?

2 drunk brother in laws fishing in a gravel pit for striped bass. I was probably 12 at the time and remember it taking a lot of Old Milwaukee to get any fish.Its a miracle no one ever got hurt.

Now I love to go out with my kids(7,9,11) whenever we can hit the ponds. Without the Old Milwaukee. We run some tip downs and jig they have a blast.

We love the showdown flasher and since we rarely fish over 10 fow prefer schooly style rods.

My favorite memories from my youth revolve around ice fishing with my Dad and a few close friends. We always seemed to Chase tip ups more back then. But we never stopped having fun.

I am with you on my flasher. I would fish with 1 boot before I would fish without my flasher.

Looking down a hole on Lake Okoboji while laying on my belly. Hands wrapping my face while I peered down the whole and watched the fish. It was just cool being able to watch them swim around. I guess I was my own camera back then. Then eating a twinkie and hot dogs from the thermos. That was living in the 60’s and the early 70’s. We didn’t even realize it was cold outside.