This past week brought perfect ice-making weather. It may not have been everyone’s idea of a great time, but for ice fishing enthusiasts, it was the kind of weather we had been waiting for quite a while. While recent seasons have been tricky, hopefully this cold streak will have the ice popping and growing as the cold of January sinks into our bones.

Taking my family ice fishing has always been one of my favorite things to do in the winter, and we have missed out on it for the past two years. Partially because of the warmer winter weather and the lack of ice, and partially because life is busy. Last year, while lamenting with my father-in-law, Kenny, an avid ice fisherman, about the lack of ice, the topic of staying overnight on the ice came up. Yes, you read that right, sleeping out on the ice. Neither of us had ever done it, and both loved the idea of trying it. So this year, when my birthday rolled around and my husband asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, it took but a split second to say, “I want to rent an ice fishing trailer.” He joked that I must’ve been snooping on his phone! Secretly, he’d already reserved a trailer on Big Stone Lake, right on the Minnesota-South Dakota border. Nothing says love like an outdoor adventure birthday present!

Over the next couple of weeks, we planned the trip, made lists, and worked through logistics. Planning an adventure you’ve never done before can be challenging. When I’m stressed about forgetting something, I rely on the motto, “Well, we will be able to survive with what we’ve got.” That said, with kiddos in tow, we always go a little overboard. We let them bring stuffed animals, toys, games, books, snacks, and anything else that helps them have fun. Just because we want to catch fish all day doesn’t mean that’s what they want to do. And that’s okay! We want them to have a great experience and to want to go again. I still vividly remember my father taking me ice fishing. Well, he ice fished, and I slid around the ice and had the greatest time. And guess what, as an adult, I still love to go ice fishing, but now, I like to actually catch fish!

Car loaded, we headed northwest to Big Stone Lake, a narrow, 26-mile-long lake covering nearly 13,000 acres. It is the headwaters of the Minnesota River and is known for perch, walleye, northern pike, and large bluegills. After a six-hour car ride, we arrived at Artie’s Bait Shop, where we rented our trailer. As part of the rental, the trailer was already warm and set up on the ice, in a location they believed would be good for catching fish. We purchased bait, lures, and a few last-minute supplies, outdoor recreation supporting economic development at its finest. Because it was early in the season and the ice was only 13 inches thick, we took an enclosed ATV shuttle with our gear loaded in the trailer. Later in the season, people can drive their own vehicles onto the ice. I was honestly glad for the shuttle!

As for the ice fishing trailer, picture a camper on ice, minus running water. Each camper slept four. The beds transformed into couches or tables. There was a stove, an oven, and a bucket toilet in a bathroom. A large-screen TV connected to an underwater camera, plus a DVD player. Warmed by a propane heater, the camper sat comfortably at 68 degrees. In the floor were eight portholes covering 8″ holes drilled in the ice by our guides. By no means what we would call roughing it!

Even before we were settled in, a jig with a waxworm was dropped down the hole, and the fishing began. I’d like to tell you that the fishing was hot! But I’d call it more lukewarm. We would go a while without a bite, and then a group of perch would come through, and we’d catch a few fish. The fish proved pretty skeptical of the bait, so patience became an important part of the adventure. Everyone caught a fish, and we caught enough perch for a good meal! Overall, I would consider the fishing a success. It was fun to watch the fish on the camera, especially when multiple very large Lake Sturgeons swam past, sometimes directly into the camera, and took up the entire screen. On the last day, our daughter, Nina, pulled in a 10 ½-inch bluegill; she argues it was 11 inches, already an expert on fishing tales.

When the fish weren’t biting, we watched movies (Grumpy Old Men, of course), played games, put together a puzzle, read, colored, and played hockey. Warm soup, hot cocoa, fresh fish, pizza, and sweet treats filled our bellies. And before we knew it, the two days had passed, and we were asking if they had any openings for an extra night.

This experience won’t be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for us. We hope to go back soon, or maybe even check out another lake. In the meantime, we’ll watch Iowa’s ice thicken, and as soon as we can, we’ll head out to the lake to catch fish or just spend time outside.

Interested in learning more about Ice Fishing?

Marshall County Conservation will offer a pop-up ice fishing program in February, weather and ice thickness permitting. For updates, follow their Facebook page or call 641-648-5490 to join the notification list.

Join Hardin County Conservation for its ice fishing derby on February 7. Register at 9:30 at Pine Lake Upper Boat Ramp, Eldora. Staff will have ice fishing gear and teach the basics of ice fishing. Enjoy a meal and prizes at Pine Lake Wildlife Club afterward.

Remember, Ice Fishing events will only take place as long as conditions are deemed safe. When ice fishing, remember to tell people where you are going and when you will be back, check the weather before you head out, wear appropriate clothing, and test the ice thickness as you go. A minimum of four inches of clear, solid ice is needed for an individual to safely walk on ice.

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Emily Herring is the Marshall County Conservation Director.