Adventures on Inland Seas’ Ice
Published: Saturday, January 16, 2021
By: Dan Armitage
Some of the wildest—and certainly the coldest—boat rides I’ve ever ‘enjoyed’ have taken place in mid-winter on a Great Lake while in pursuit of fish. Most were associated with getting to and from offshore ice-fishing grounds and involved airboats, hovercraft, or dog sleds. Other dicey, off-season fishing cruises occurred during winter breaks in the weather or during shoulder seasons, dodging ice floes aboard traditional v-hulled craft in pursuit of open water walleyes and, in one case, to take part in a pheasant hunt on Lake Erie’s Pelee Island.
But when Ma’ Nature brings her hammer down and locks up our Inland Seas in ice, it is most often snowmobiles and ATVs that get frigid-digit anglers to and from the (literal) fishing holes. I’ve got a buddy who built his own ice fishing sled using a mini-bike, a plastic tub, and a pair of sawn-off snow skis that is the envy of all who see it in action.
Over the years, similar ice fishing vehicles have been introduced, combining boats, snowmobiles, ATVs, and other hardware to create hybrid machines that can transport anglers and equipment over land, ice, and—in the event of open areas or breakthroughs—water. With some exceptions, few of these often-ingenious ice fishing machines have withstood the test of time. In a few cases, I count my own life fortunate to have done the same.
I’ve had my share of close calls while ice fishing on the Great Lakes, yet I continue to head out when the ice gets solid and the reports start coming in of active walleye schools, yellow perch action, and lake trout bites. Most of the incidents came early in my ice fishing/outdoor writing career, when I was young and eager and willing to trust my hosts or guides to have taken the proper safety precautions and to be prepared for worst-case scenarios. What I realize now is that some of those folks were more concerned about giving me the best chance at netting a good story and photos than playing it extra safe on the ice. While I 
appreciated their enthusiasm, putting my life on the line was not something I willingly signed up for, and I am much more cautious now about into whose hands I place my hide.
This cautious perspective also holds true during solo ice fishing trips. As a full-time freelancer and master of my own schedule, when the conditions come together to present premium outdoor opportunities, be it the whitetail rut, a walleye run, or steelhead staging, I can often take off a day or three at a moment’s notice. That usually means that I am on my own, as friends are working regular hours and hunting and fishing guides are already booked.
That said, I go out of my way to have a partner along on ice fishing escapades. That’s especially legitimate on open Great Lakes waters where you may need someone other than yourself to get you out of a bind. I also try to fish within shouting distance of others both when I am by myself, but also as a practice in safety when fishing with buddies. As tempting as it is to move away from the crowds and head for the icy horizon in search of active fish, I prefer to drill holes and wet lines where I can see others doing so safely—and within earshot. I also wear a flotation suit, dangle ice spikes off each hand, and have a rope handy for whoever may need to be hauled out of the frigid drink, including me.
Before booking an ice fishing guide, I ask for references. Then, I contact several of these anglers since they have booked this guide in the past. I ask not only about their catching success but about how safe they felt and what precautions the guide took to assure their well-being. Further, if I am booking an ice fishing trip in a state that requires ice fishing guides to be licensed, I ask for proof of the same.
It’s much the same process that I recommend when booking an open water fishing guide or charter skipper, but I feel the frigid consequences of an unsafe operation are far more dire this time of the year… as anyone who has struggled to get out of a hole in the ice can attest.
About the Author
Dan Armitage is a popular Great Lakes-based outdoor writer and host of the Buckeye Sportsman show (buckeyesportsman.net), syndicated weekly on 30 radio stations across Ohio. Dan is a certified Passport to Fishing instructor and leads kids fishing programs at Midwest boat and sport shows, and is a licensed Captain with a Master rating from the US Coast Guard.
This article first appeared in the Winter Issue 2021 (Jan/Feb 2021) of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Fishing
