Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is a popular sport in which a person catches fish by using a line or hook through an opening in the ice. Fishermen may sit on a stool or in a cabin while fishing, and this sport is very popular in northern Europe and Canada.
In places like the Great Lakes region of the US and Alaska, temperatures get so cold during the winter that the water in the lakes and rivers freeze over, and are strong enough to support the weight of people and other objects. It is in places like this that ice fishing thrives. Norwegians and other European settlers carried over this sport with them to states like Minnesota. From Minnesota the sport was carried to Alaska and other Great Lakes states, and many of the people in the US who practice this sport have Nordic origins.
The most common fish captured during ice fishing competitions are perch and northern pike. Many of the fisherman involved in this sport simply wear heavy coats and clothes for short periods of time. If the event is longer, heated cabins will be used. This cabin is known as a bobhouse or ice hut. The bobhouses are carried from the shore on the ice using snowmobiles, and the houses may be simple or complex, depending on the needs of the fisherman. Simple tents may also be used as well.
Ice fishing is considered to be a sporting activity as well as a sport, and alcohol is often consumed during these events. Many resorts have tents and houses which can be rented by fisherman for a set period of time. While US fisherman often build long rows of fishing houses in areas where fish are abundant, in Finland the fisherman often sit in isolation, and their coats are made out of strong materials in the event of an emergency.
The equipment used during ice fishing is very complex, and it is especially designed for this sport. A device called an ice spade is used to cut a circualar or box like opening in the ice. New ice will form in this opening, and a tool called a strainer is used to stop new ice from forming. Ice fishing is divided into three types. The first type of fishing is using a small lure on a miniature rod which has a bright color will be used to attract fish.
The second type of fishing is called tip-ups, and a line attached to a flag, and this allows fishing to be less intense. A strike occurs, and the line is placed in the water by hand without using a reel. Spearing through the ice is another method which is used. Fisherman stand over the hole with a line and spear. Fishing through holes in the ice is one of the oldest methods of fishing in the world, and was used by the Native American tribes in Wisconsin.
The Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe tribes of Wisconsin continue to ice fish today, and use many of the traditional methods they used in the past. They usually use a sled in order to bring the supplies out on the frozen lake. Despite this, there are dangers to ice fishing, and one must be careful when practicing this sport. Ice needs to freeze 4 inches in depth in order to support the weight of humans, and one foot in order to support the weight of vehicles.
Ice can break and move with currents, and fisherman have to be cautious when moving on ice. Areas where the ice breaks will freeze over with thin ice. Strong winds or warm spells may also be responsible for weakening ice. People die each year when their SUV or truck falls through the ice as they are getting ready to fish. Because of this, many fisherman have rescue cables attached to them so that if they fall in the ice, they are able to pull themselves out with ease. Helicopters may also be used to rescue fisherman.
Laws and regulations have been passed in relation to ice fishing. Contests are held which offer prizes for the fisherman who can catch the largest fish within a set time period. Many people take ice fishing very seriously, and up to 40,000 people have showed up to ice fishing events in Michigan. Carbon Monoxide is also a danger to fisherman who live in heated houses, and fisherman must exercise caution.
Some people argue that ice fishing is not a genuine sport, because there is very little skill required and the results are often dependent on luck. However, studies have shown that ice fishing produces a calming effect on the people who participate in it, and it is also important for managing the number of fish in lakes and rivers. It is also very important in countries where fish are an important diet.
