To non-anglers, fishing in winter seems like a venture in folly. No matter what your expertise, ice fishing offers a chance to overcome obstacles, enjoy camaraderie and employ rugged skills. The social aspects of the sport seem to be more than a small part of the fun.

Ice fishing gives you the freedom to move about and talk to other anglers. In a boat, anglers are often reluctant to do the same. But on ice, you are free to talk with others fishing the same area. Because fish seem to concentrate in certain locations, there are often several anglers fishing the same area.

Ice fishermen are a community of anglers who share a desire to sit in freezing conditions and, for some reason, generally do not feel the need to be secretive. They figure that attempting to hide the fact that they are catching fish is unproductive, since everyone can see where they are set up anyway.

Ice fishermen seem more willing to talk with one another and to share information about the bite. When most people go out on the ice and do not know where to fish, they head for the nearest group, which may be only two anglers. Others do the same, and soon there is a whole village fishing in the vicinity.

The “bucket brigade” is a name given to anglers who go out on the ice with minimal shelter, sit on a 5-gallon bucket, and work a little harder for their fish. These folks never worry about somebody fishing in their spot. You cannot fish two lines through an 8-inch hole!

Anglers learning about the techniques of ice fishing in recent years are attracting many people to the sport. Improvements in equipment and clothing attract people into the sport who may not have had an interest in the old ways of ice fishing.

Some anglers prefer to buy or rent ice houses where they may spend the night in bunks between fishing activities. Others make use of such facilities as TV, videogames, cooking and eating meals in these “shacks.” The buildings themselves range from homemade wooden to modern “camper style” structures.

Often, these buildings become shelter for family activities while enjoying the fishing.

As ice fishermen, we should never forget its social aspects. It is one of the things that make it magical.

If you want to get out among your fellow sportsmen this winter, why not give ice fishing a try. You’ll find plenty of useful information in the winter issues of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.