Love it or hate it, ice fishing is a polarizing subject—with plenty of people on both sides of the fence. Let’s begin with the skeptics, who generally fall into three main groups.

#1 The southern boy/girl: I’ve met most of these folks below the Mason-Dixon line. It’s tough to blame them for their disinterest; many have only seen ice in their cocktails. They reach for winter jackets when temperatures drop below 55 degrees. Of course, a few northerners have similar tendencies.

#2 The dedicated hunter: Although he/she seems like a fisherman, their true passion is the hunt. Ice fishing offers what I consider the best “hunt,” but if it’s not a 12-point buck, the hunter may not be interested. With multiple seasons and tags to fill, don’t expect to see them on the ice until they’ve limited out elsewhere.

#3 The non-believer: When you do something outside societal norms, there will always be some backlash. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, I didn’t have much exposure to outdoor recreation or an ice fishing community. When I announced my plans to go ice fishing at a family Christmas party, I was met with laughter and headshakes. My grandfather, usually calm except about Chicago sports, practically scolded me and would bring it up every winter, begging me not to go. The skepticism didn’t stop there; my mother, his daughter, wasn’t a fan, either. In high school, I even got grounded after she found out I went ice fishing alone. Those early days left a mark and a few stories worth sharing.

Now at age 32, I’ve spent about half my life ice fishing, and my involvement has grown substantially. Let me put things in perspective…

My first year, I wore sledding clothes, duct-taped a spinning reel to a broken rod and tied on a Rat-L-Trap. I used a hatchet to get through the ice.

The second year, I upgraded to ice fishing jigs, a hand auger, a spud bar, and a little black-and-white underwater camera—one of those unforgettable gifts. With new gear and knowledge, I finally landed my first fish on the ice almost a year later.

The third year brought brutal cold and thick ice, prompting me to buy boots and some sort of shelter. With no family support for ice fishing, money was tight, so I bought the only “shelter” I could afford—a pop-up, camping porta potty from Bass Pro Shops. Embarrassing as it seemed, it proved a lifesaver in the wind, though it was not made for fishing and was barely big enough for one angler.

By year four, I had a two-man shack, a better auger, and a heater from Craigslist. Suddenly, friends wanted to join me. We fished everywhere, catching all kinds of fish, including perch and trout on the Great Lakes. That year, I learned to use tip-ups—and everything changed.

Enter year five—a Frabill ice suit, jet sled, auger, flasher, tip-ups, and new combos. With all this, we caught big bass, hundreds of panfish, and had more fun than ever—just my high school buddies and me, a lot of laughs, and even more fish.

Fast-forward a decade, and I was driving a U-Haul from Alabama back to Chicago, having barely fished during my time down South. As I crossed the Tennessee River, an old friend called. On a day when it felt like the world was ending, I was asked to co-host a fishing show—MidWest Outdoors. It was a dream come true. What began as a pastime no one understood had grown into a job. Even more incredible, my inspiration to try ice fishing first came from watching Larry Ladowski on MidWest Outdoors back in 2005.

In March 2023, I joined Larry and Rob Manthei in St. Germain, Wis. to film two ice fishing shows. To them, it was another day at work; for me, it was a full-circle moment—fishing with my childhood heroes—and yes, I caught plenty that day!

Never in a million years did I imagine ice fishing would launch my outdoor career, but I feel unbelievably blessed. There’s something special about the camaraderie, the hunt, and the experience. Ice fishing is unlike anything else. Walking on water, even if it’s frozen, is truly something everyone should try.

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.