It’s time for ice fishing
Published 10:29 am Monday, December 29, 2008
Fishing has its variety, and this time of the year in Minnesota it is of the frozen variety and in the Albert Lea area there are plenty of spots to choose from.
For those that wet a line often, they may have a favorite spot but more than likely they have many different spots on their list or programmed on their Global Positioning System (GPS). As much as there are differences in fishing today than from yesteryear, it is really still grandpa’s ice fishing? Mike Ingvaldson, from Ellendale, has been fishing for many years, both from a boat and on the ice.
“I enjoy fishing of all kinds but I really like ice fishing the best of all,” Ingvaldson said. “It is easier to fish on ice than out of a boat.”
Ingvaldson told of the constant expense of fishing from a boat, with its upkeep.
“You’re always having to do maintenance on the motor, and you feel like you to always be upgrading to the next great thing when you’re fishing from a boat,” Ingvaldson said. “I have a boat but I probably only use it a couple of times a summer.”
Ingvaldson was recently on Beaver Lake just three miles west of Ellendale checking the depths for fish.
“When I come out here I usually start with a map of the lake that has the depths on it so I have an idea where to start drilling holes,” Ingvaldson said. “We drill quite a few holes before we get started fishing and we move around quite a bit to locate the fish.”
The main equipment that can be found being used by many that go ice fishing these days is an auger, either manual or powered by a motor, a fish locator or depth finder, a fish house and, of course, the rod and reel.
To the novice, it may look like all a person does when they go out on the ice is just walk to a spot, drill a hole and start fishing but for those that go often they know that that may only insure a poor result.
Two men visiting from the Lonsdale area said that they try their best to locate the fish before unloading all their gear and setting up their portable ice house.
Houses in various sizes and shapes are often times equipped with a heater, lights, television, radio and even bunk beds. Many who go out on the ice just love the simplicity of it all. Drive out to house.
Turn on heater, lights and television. Put bait on hook and drop a line and relax.
This is what was heard from so many that were on the ice at Beaver Lake where it is beginning to look like a village that is made up of a dozen ice houses, a half dozen vehicles and people walking around from house to house on most days now.
The fisherman varied in the species they fishing for, and the bait they were using seemed to be the difference in getting to their targeted fish.
Albert Lea Lake remains a popular spot as well. Since the lake was stocked with walleye a few years ago ice fishermen flock to the spot.
Just out from the access point and beyond the channel, dozens of ice houses have been set up to go after walleyes.
The spot is the deepest part of the lake and is where the fish go during the winter months and the haul for the fishermen has been good so far.