Fish not biting in the cold? Try using BaitCloud! However, stunning scenery will still make the trip to these spots worth it.
Here’s a thing universally understood by even the most amateur of anglers: Much of the time fishing—most of it, in fact—a sunk line is still and silent, taut only from the ebb and flow of currents beneath the surface. Hours trickle with few nibbles to show for time spent, and, barring exception for commercial or professional fisherman, landing the perfect catch every other cast is scarcely the point.
Fishing is about connecting with friends, the Earth, and the self. During winter months otherwise spent indoors, ice fishing elevates this distinctive connection and provides a unique adventure and escape. There’s the sitting on four inches of frozen water, atop hundreds of feet of decidedly not frozen water. Then there’s the tantalizing possibility of bagging a tasty trout, perch, or whitefish. Unless you’re a black diamond skier, it’s arguably the most exciting thing you can do all winter—and the most time you’ll spend outside the confines of your home. Take a look at our round-up of where you can find some of the best ice fishing the world has to offer, and what you should be casting for once you get there.
1. Lule River, Sweden
The Lule River in Sweden originates near the Norwegian border and is teeming with some of the tastiest salmon and trout you can find in Scandinavia. During the rest of the year, the river’s “hot areas” are only reachable by boat. Not so in winter, when the ice is secure.
2. Devils Lake, North Dakota
The state of North Dakota sure knows how to sell this lake. Touting it as “a fishing destination unlike anywhere else,” the tourism board brags that its fish are large and healthy, its winter season is long, and the “huge” size of the lake means you can avoid tangling your lines with any other overeager anglers. Grab a 3 or 10-day license to search for jumbo perch, walleye and big pike.
3. Lake of the Woods, North America
Welcome to the self-proclaimed Walleye Capital of the World, and perhaps the most commercialized location on this list. We say that affectionately, though— Lake of the Woods has the accommodations and resources to turn an ice-fishing trip into a full-blown vacation, complete with snowmobiling and cross country skiing for anyone who isn’t keen on staying on the ice all day. We don’t know why they wouldn’t, though — there are dozens of pre-heated fish houses, and if you opt for a sleeper fish house, there’s a chance you can glimpse the Northern Lights.
4. Kathleen Lake, Yukon Territory
This is a locale reached best by snowmobile, and this secluded spot in Canada’s Kluane National Park & Reserve is the only part of the park that allows open fires on the ice surface. While anglers describe the trout as "medium-sized" the sheer amount of them more than makes up for it. Expect to have a busy day on the ice, with an afternoon shore lunch to boot.
5. Lake Champlain, Vermont
Vermont is a lovely place to visit, with the type of hospitality you’re more likely to encounter in the Midwest or the South. In addition to a warm welcome, you can expect to find a healthy variety of fish in Lake Champlain on its western border with New York. Boasting bluegill, perch, pike and the occasional walleye, the winter fishing season is open from January to March 15 every year. Shanty rentals with optional wood stoves inside are available for rent, and it’s not hard to find gear if you need a little something extra.
6. Lake Simcoe, Ontario
If you glance at a Google Map of this lake, you’d be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed. Fishing huts, fishing outfitters and fishing charters pepper nearly every inch of shoreline—and that’s for good reason. Known for jumbo perch, whitefish and pike, the real holy grail here is the Lake Simcoe lake trout, and there are plenty of places on the ice to drop a line. Starting in January, you can fish seven days a week, in deep or shallow water, in the open, in a hot box hut, or even an ice bungalow if you’re keen on sleeping on the water overnight. Not far from Toronto, this is a perfect international jaunt for a mid-level angler.
7. Antero Reservoir, Colorado
This isn’t exactly the place to go for peace and quiet. A reservoir operated by Denver Water, it’s described by locals as "truly a circus" on the weekends. But if you find yourself in Denver and want to skip away for a day to scratch your ice fishing itch, you’ll find plenty of trophy-sized fish waiting to be caught. Thanks to an abundance of freshwater shrimp, rainbow trout, brown trout, Snake River cutthroat, greenback cutthroat, cutbows, kokanee salmon, brook trout, and splake are all caught in the reservoir. Just make sure to find a break in the weeds, as the water can run a bit shallow, and no one likes to get tangled.
8. Birch Lake, Alaska
Coined one of the region’s "Big Three" lakes by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Birch Lake is the perfect place for novice ice fishers because there are a ton of “catchable fish” here. Rainbow trout, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, arctic char and arctic grayling are present, though the grayling is fairly rare. The ADNR says this is a good place for introducing children and older people to ice fishing, so if you were considering a place to make ice fishing a family affair, this is your spot.
9. Fort Peck Lake, Montana
Fort Peck Lake in Montana is huge: There’s no way around it. You’ll find more than 1500 miles of shoreline, depths that stretch to the 200-foot mark, and more than 50 kinds of fish in the reservoir. It’s the fifth largest man-made lake in the country, with only one major drawback: It’s not close to much of anything. The closest town, Jordan, has a population of less than 400 people, and the lake isn’t within a half-day’s drive of any major cities or airports. But Fort Peck’s remoteness is part of what makes it so incredible. Lax regulations mean you can go a full 24 hours between tip up checks (tip ups are a device that let you fish multiple spots simultaneously; the rig sits over the hole and a flag pops up if you hook a fish). Also, tip ups can be spread as far and wide as you want, but there is a limit of six per angler. However, Fort Peck is known for having pressure cracks and thin spots at various parts of the lake, so this site isn’t for novice fishers. Talk to locals, pay attention, and bring a depth sonar. You won’t regret it.
10. Caples Lake, California
Contrary to popular belief, you can ice fish in California, and Caples Lake is a perfect (and accessible) place to do so. Rainbow and brook trout are plentiful in this locale, situated high in in the Sierra Nevada mountains near South Lake Tahoe. For more of a challenge—and a less developed spot— hit Silver Lake, just 10 miles away.
Wherever you go this winter remember to check for safe ice, dress for the weather and don't forget your favorite BaitCloud fish attractant to BRING THE FISH TO YOU!
Today’s family is busier than ever. With both Mom and Dad working to build careers, create savings, pay for the home, school, cars, groceries, and an ever-growing list of expenses, it's no wonder people have trouble finding time to spend as a family. If you like fishing, including your family can be a great way to enjoy some time together, create lasting memories, and grow inseparable bonds through an activity everyone will enjoy. Spending time with family is a wise investment, and we cannot think of a better way to accomplish that than on the water…
Here are five reasons hanging out with family and fishing rocks!
Fishing can be as simple or as complex as a person makes it, from sitting on the bank waiting for a bobber to dunk under to digging up worms to cast from a dock or bridge. The great thing is, at every level, there are problems to solve and things to learn. That’s why fishing is such a wonderful activity for kids!
At first, it may be helpful for very young kids if you do all the work for them. Choose a good spot, bait the hook, cast out, and maybe even hook the fish. Let them reel in the catch so they get the bug. Now you’ll see who's really hooked! Soon you’ll have them baiting their own hooks and making their own casts, patiently waiting for a strike.
Trying something new like fishing gets kids out of their normal comfort zone, and learning to do it on their own builds their self-confidence. As they become more interested, they can learn all kinds of new skills, from tying different knots to learning about fish behaviour or reading the water. Each new skill is a lesson in problem-solving, and the more they learn, the more prepared they are to apply those lessons to real-world problems.
Family time on the water creates fond memories. The fresh air, the sense of adventure, and the scenery are more than enough to create a positive foundation to build happy memories! Add to that the fun of exploring new places, learning the water, operating the boat, and working to catch fish as a team, and you have an activity that can provide many positive moments as well as lessons to draw from. Experiencing the fishing and all the fun that comes from fishing (like the one that got away) are what build a stronger bond. Just make sure to keep things light and fun! Save the hardcore, nose-to-the-grindstone trophy hunting for when you’re out with more serious fishing partners.
You hear it so much it has almost become a cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less true. TV, video games, and other technology can be detrimental to a healthy family when these things get in the way of personal interaction. When you’re out fishing, the only distractions are the good kind, like a fish on the line! Leave the phone in the car, or at least turn it off, and focus on the people who are right in front of you. Too often, the distractions of technology become a crutch that we hide behind when we aren’t comfortable expressing ourselves around other people. This isn’t a healthy habit for anyone, let alone something you want to teach to young children. No phones, no video games, and certainly no TV! We are out on the water to spend time with one another and enjoy the world around us. Help your family connect with the most important things in life by unplugging from the distractions.
I am certainly not a kid anymore, but as an adult, I can say that fishing and boating have helped me take time to connect with my parents. I have been able to spend much more one-on-one time with my father. We enjoy the whole experience together: picking out new lakes to try, getting outside, launching and driving the boat, and of course, hooking into fish!
Even when the fishing is slow, during the lulls and quiet times we have the chance to talk. It can be the littlest thing like sharing a laugh, or sometimes diving deep into a troubling issue. The important aspect is that without fishing, we might not have taken the time to have those conversations. Sometimes that’s what it takes: getting away from it all and being on the lake, with no disturbances from the outside world to really slow down, touch base, and connect with one another.
Fishing as a family is about more than just the fish.
Self-confidence, a fun and happy childhood, strong family bonds, the ability to focus on what is important: all of these wonderful benefits of fishing that we have discussed are also the very things that keep kids and young adults on the right track as they navigate the challenges of youth. But the greatest benefit of all is the strong bond that fishing as a family builds. It is no secret that instability at home is a common catalyst for troubled youth. By working from the beginning to foster a strong connection, a deep bond, and an open dialogue with kids, you establish trust that will be vital when they begin their journey to adulthood. Family is everything, and getting out on the water will help build a family unit that can work together even when things get difficult.
Time spent with family is worth every second.
For even more family fun, try tossing a BaitCloud or two and watch the kids delight in the bubbles and sparkling Bioglitter, a biodegradable plant based glitter that mimics fish scales. As it ball reacts, it releases thousands of tiny bubbles carrying an irresistible scent and the fish start to appear. Everyone will be delighted if that results in more catches! Check out our videos to see it in action!
