Outdoors in MaineToday.com

Ice fishing plentiful in Maine
Here are some tips for catching fish in winter

By LARRY WOODWARD, staff writer

Little villages of colorful shacks, populated by overdressed people, appear each New Year's Day with the opening of ice fishing season.

About 75,000 people a year fish through the ice for trout, salmon, bass, perch and pickerel in Maine. These fishermen freely expose themselves to subfreezing temperatures and blowing snow.

Ice fishing is a simple sport. A fisherman cuts a hole in the ice over a likely spot and drops a line from a trap, a small jigging rod or a hand line. No tweedy fly fishermen here.

Small ponds will provide lots of action with white perch. More patience is required to catch salmon, brook trout and togue.

Equipment

What you need is a current fishing license and a copy of the updated fishing laws. Most fishermen prefer manufactured traps made of wood or plastic that sit across a hole cut in the ice. The traps have a large spool for line and a spring mechanism that releases a flag when a fish bites.

Maine law allows each fisherman to set five traps on most bodies of water. A set of good traps costs $75 to $80.

You'll need something to cut a hole in the ice. One way of keeping warm is to use an ice chisel or hand auger. But the ice on some lakes can reach 30 inches or more, and a power auger is a backsaver if you're willing to spend $200 or more.

Also necessary are a heavy metal spoon to clear the holes and a bait bucket (a 5-gallon pail will do.

Where to go

Ice fishermen don't have to travel far from home. Small ponds offer white perch, bass and pickerel. The large lakes have more trophy species.

Keep the rule book handy, because catch limits and bait regulations vary greatly.

Ask bait dealers or other fishermen where they go. Or watch for parties on a pond or lake, and set up near them. Proper etiquette suggests you keep your distance from another party.

Beware of thin ice.

The best fishing spots may be near the mouth of a brook, but they can also be the most dangerous because of currents. Fishing along the shoreline is fine, because the ice is usually safest there.

Setting up

Clear the snow and slush from the area you wish to cut and get to work. You can cut a hole in minutes with a power auger if you're willing to haul it around with you.

Use the metal spatula to clear the slush and ice from the hole. Bait the hook (barbless are preferred) with a worm, smelt, shiner or sucker.

To catch brook trout, set the trap in close to shore in one or two feet of water, with the bait just under the ice. Brookies love earthworms and crawlers.

For salmon, go farther out and set the bait one or two feet under the ice. Salmon are attracted by smelt, especially if they are hooked to allow them to swim freely.

Lake trout are found in deeper water. Lower the bait to the bottom, then crank it up a foot or so. They, too, like swimming bait.

Set the traps in a line from the shoreline out, 20-30 feet apart, or in a semicircle that allows you to tend them without walking far. Check them frequently to clear newly forming ice and to be sure a fish hasn't disturbed your bait.

Pull up a stool - the white plastic pail with a cover will do nicely - and don't think about how cold you are. Jigging will keep your mind off the cold. Several types of short jigging rods are available, and new artificial lures have lots of action that rival live bait.

Staying warm

You can't spend too much on good boots. They should be insulated and have removable liners. A felt sole insert adds extra warmth and can be replaced if your feet perspire. The boots should have lugged-type soles for good traction.

Many fishermen prefer one-piece snowmobile suits. But others like a jacket over insulated bib-style pants. Dress in easily removable layers - a sweater or vest over a wool flannel shirt and thermal underwear.

Never go out without several pairs of gloves, because your hands will get wet and cold. Some gloves split to allow you to use your fingers to handle the lines. But a warm pair of waterproof mittens will keep your hands warmest. Don't forget your hat. Wear the warmest hat you can find with good ear protection.

Bring plenty of warm beverages - soup or coffee - and lots of food, because your body will burn lots of calories on a cold day. Avoid alcohol; it warms only the spirit, not the body.

Some fishermen use a shelter. Portable, personal shelters are available to keep you out of the wind. But the favorite shelter is an ice shack of lightweight construction that can be towed onto a pond by a snowmobile. These often accommodate four or more people with the warmth of a gas furnace or wood stove and provide a place to cook your catch and play a friendly game of cribbage or rummy while the wind howls outside. After all, this is a social activity.

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