PLATTSBURGH — In the North Country, fishing enthusiasts embrace the winter cold to keep the lines casting year-round.
By late December, the open water of Lake Champlain usually begins to freeze. For ice anglers, this means the start of the season. They replace boats with snowmobiles and even cars to explore the three-fourths of the lake that eventually ice over.
"The bays up north, like Kings Bay, freeze first," Plattsburgh-based charter guide Mickey Maynard said. "It freezes from the north and south toward the middle, but usually doesn't close in the middle near Port Kent."
With an unusually warm fall, this season may have gotten off to a slow start. But the ice has begun to arrive, and ice anglers know that for a successful day of fishing it's crucial to understand the habits of fish during the winter months.
Fish are drawn under the ice because it acts like protection.
"When a bay gets its first ice and there is open water on the outside, the fish will go beneath the ice," Maynard said. "In a spot like that, there will typically be good fishing."
The rule of thumb is the ice should be at least 3 or 4 inches thick to safely support an ice angler on foot. For cars and snowmobiles, the ice needs to be much thicker, around 8 to 12 inches.
Equipment for ice fishing can be as expensive as one pleases, but the basic tools have remained the same for many years.
A chisel, known as a spud, is used to knock holes in the ice early in the season when the ice is relatively thin. Come January, the ice is usually too thick for spuds, and a drill, called an auger, is used to punch holes. These holes rarely exceed one foot in diameter because too much sunlight will shock the fish.
The fact that most fish become dormant in the winter makes them harder to catch as they need less food. The more common species found in Lake Champlain include perch, northern pike and walleye.
Lake Champlain's species variety and size make it the most popular ice-fishing spot in the region. However, anglers can catch fish through the winter on smaller lakes and ponds throughout the North Country. Chazy Lake and Chateaugay Lake are also favorite destinations.
In addition to choosing a lake, an ice angler must choose bait: natural or artificial.
"I typically use live bait," Maynard said. "For example, if I am looking for perch I use maggots and minnows."
For lures, it's recommended the shinier the better. These lures reflect what little light penetrates the snow and ice above.
Ice fishing requires time and patience. To escape the frigid elements, people often buy, rent or build shelters called shanties. These can either be rigid or folding, similar to a tent.
"My shanties for rent are solid wood structures that move on skis," said Gilly Gagner of Bronze Guide Service in Highgate Springs, Vt. "The larger ones are 7-by-16 feet and have a heater and stove."
Sometimes clusters of shanties called shanty towns will pop up because there is good fishing in that area. If the fish stop biting, the shanties will spread out.
Although fishing in groups usually mean the fish are biting, it's also a smart approach in terms of safety.
"It's always a good idea to have at least one partner when you're out there ice fishing," Maynard said.
Because the sport requires extensive ice coverage, ice fishing locations are limited and the number of quality spots is even fewer.
Fishing charters, such as the services offered by Maynard and Bruce Batchelder of Holiday Harbor Motel in North Hero, Vt., take advantage of the touring side of ice fishing.
"I took five or six groups of clients out last winter," Maynard said. "Anyone can stroll on the ice and go fishing, but some people want a guide if they're not familiar with the area."
Lake Champlain is a popular destination for people living in locations that don't accumulate enough ice cover for fishing.
"Most of our clients come from places like Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire," Batchelder said.
In recent years, Lake Champlain has welcomed a growing number of out-of-state anglers. Gagner believes this trend is not simply about quality fishing.
"Southern New England is getting less ice every year," Gagner said. "These people are heading north because of the effects of global warming. They can't fish were they used to anymore."
Sitting out on the lake might not seem like much of a getaway, but it's a different world out there on the ice.
After a few hours, it is easy to forget how close civilization is.
"You get a fire going in a wood stove and that shanty becomes a warm place to get out of the cold," Batchelder said. "People bring portable cookers so they can enjoy their catch right out there on the ice. It can be a real escape."
