Serious Business: Fishing, What is YOUR approach?

1 or 2 little ones don't bother me, but these were huge. I saw them and my feet went up!

That is still way too frightening for me. I live to fish but that would end it right there!! I'm terrified of our water snakes here and they aren't even poisonous. They're just snakes

This stems from a story when I was at work talking to one of the young guys during our lunch period.

One day we were talking about fishing and this young kid piped up and said that he had a cooler full of night crawlers at home. Since he had told me that he had taken Ranger training for the Army how he could eat anything, I thought that this was my chance.

I asked him what he did with the night crawlers and he told me that he used them for fishing. I asked him why he was using food for catching fish. He asked me what I did with them and I told him that I ate them and how they were good for you. I could see the cringe in his face and I knew I had him.

He asked how I ate them and I told him that one good way was to deep fry them. I told him to first prepare them by taking a fillet knife and slit them long ways and then place them under running water and rinse out the dirt and entrals. Then roll them in a Beer Batter and drop them into a deep frier and wait until they were a golden brown. I could see him even more. But then I told him that the best way for you was to eat them while they were still fresh out of the ground. At this point I could see him shudder.

That night after work I went to the store here in town and picked out the reddist gummy worm I could find. (This was when gummy worms just came out on the market). I went home a put it in my lunch box for the next day.

When I came to break time the next day, he was already outside eating and I palmed the gummy worm in my hand and walked outside in the grass and said out loud that I found a worm. He turned to look at me and I dropped it im my mouth and started chewing. He then jumped up and ran to the parking lot and lost what he had in his stomache.

From that point on, he never said a word about how he could eat anything again.

Was that Ornery of me or what.

The nice thing about winter fishing is no bugs

That is simply wonderful!!!

Another nice thing about winter fishing is that most of the Anglers are home all nice warm and cozy thinking about fishing while I am out there catching them.

I asked myself one day while watching a fishing show, why sit here and watch while I could be out there catching them. I fell in love with it and don't want to go back to just watching it.

The best time is right after a heavy snow when all is quiet. And knowing you are there all by yourself. The whole River to yourself. It puts a smile on my face every time.

not being such a girl about it? *laughs* I actually quite like being a girl, thank you

Naa, I couldn't give a poor wee fish that sort of panic.. I rather go walking

Now you have me interested. What do I need to ice fish..........besides ice

long underwear!

You sound just like my daughter. She was raised with a pole in her hands but now chases her kidlets and walks. I can respect that I usually don't scare too many fish too badly. I'll flip a dry fly even when the fish aren't biting. I love being on the river in my boat floating. The scenery is incredible and so is the wild life.

And more long underwear.

The first thing you need to know, is to tell if the Ice is any good or not.

If the Ice looks white DO NOT GO OUT ON IT. This is a soft Ice and you can easily fall through.

If the Ice looks black you are safe as long as the Ice is thick enough.

The rule on Ice goes as follows.
2" is safe for a man walking
3" is safe for a man on a horse
4" is safe for an automobile
6" is safe for a train.

I never go out until it is at least 4" I know I will be safe then.

A good snow mobile suit with a hood helps with a GOOD pair of Pack boots.

These are the items that I take with me.

1. You need something to cut the Ice such as an Ice Auger.
2. Ice scoop for the broken ice in the hole
3. A bucket to sit on and carry my tackle and bait and to put the fish in when I go home.
4. Usually a short rod with light line but it depends on what you are fishing for.

As for being a beginner. Do not go out by yourself. Always be smart and keep aware of what is going on around you. Stay away from any place that has running water near or below and stay away from any springs.

First of all BE SAFE!

Richard, I forgot where you are.

Okay, So I need to buy more long underwear..........

We don't have ice on the reservoir until January or February that is that thick. i'll aim for the 4" as suggested. Now I know what I can ask for Christmas.

Like you said, no bugs and better yet, no snakes

Can hardly wait to give this a try! What kind of bait do you use?

Raven Wing,

I live in Western Ohio.


Janey Mae,

I really depend on what kind of fish you plan to fish for.

For Sunfish such as Bluegills, Red Ears, Green Sunfish. I would suggest such thing as Wax Worms, Meal Worm, Mousies and Spikes. All of there are maggot type baits.

For Crappies, Walleyes, Saugers, Saugeyes, Pikes. I would suggest minnow type baits.

We have Lake Trout (Mackinaw) and rainbows. Never fished for the ones you mentioned. My son did bucket catch some blue gill once and put them in his bath tub. He named them and told me it was his aquarium. But that's a different story. I've seen meal worms before so maybe that's what we use here. I'll find out.