The Adventures of Ice Fishing in Minnesota

Last night was a monumental moment for me.

Moving to Minnesota means new adventures.

One of those new adventures that I have been so excited to do was go ICE FISHING.

Since moving out here, we have been asked many times if we ice fish. In Michigan, we never went. Dan has some ice fishing gear, but we had never gone together.

Well, last night Dan and I went ice fishing with Steve and Jill, a wonderful couple from one of the churches. I can’t tell you how much FUN Dan and I had! I was looking forward to it all day, but we were thinking that we might not be able to go because it has been in the 40s the past few days. We decided to head out to the lake and just check it out.

We went to Norway Lake and it was much bigger than I had pictured in my head. We drove down the slush to the lake, opened our windows and unbuckled (just in case we’d start sinking and we could jump out). I honestly wasn’t too nervous – maybe a little as we drove slowly at first across the lake and they seemed a little hesitant as it was quite slushy in some spots, but my adrenaline was going crazy and I was just pumped.

You can see the water moving as we drive…

 What is left of the sunset, over the lake

 Maybe a little slushy…but there was still like 2-2 1/2 feet of ice on the lake.

 You can see our tracks…which I learned is good to see them “stick” because that is how you find your way back to the put-in! (who knew?)

 My first ice fishing adventure! Dan and I knew we couldn’t go ice fishing without our rabbit bombers! Thankfully Dan had some warm/waterproof boots for me to wear. Behind is was the pop-up house we fished in – it was AWESOME.

 Jill and I ready to fish!

 If you look close enough, you can see the bottom of the ice…look at the middle of the hole and you can see the edge.

 Dan fishin’ away…I have to say that out-fished DAN! It was a proud moment because for the past year, I have not been able to say that!

 My first catch! Can you tell that I was just a tad excited? It was a little pathetic because I had no clue I had a fish (probably had one for a few minutes), but as Steve was looking at my bobber, he said “I think you have one!” Sure enough…

 Jill’s first catch (of the day…she’s been ice fishing before)

 Steve’s first…really I should’ve waited to take some of these pics b/c we caught MUCH bigger fish as the night went on. Here Steve and Jill wondered if we’d catch anything – we caught a TON of fish! Steve was so wonderful because he got up umpteen times from his “seat” (the minnow pail) to get more minnows b/c we kept catching so many fish! And, he often got my hooks out too…

 Fishing was a little slower for Dan, but we was starting to reel ’em in after awhile…

 And then Dan has to go and catch a walleye…

 Ah…fishing has just begun in Minnesota for us!

Thanks to Steve and Jill for making last night a BLAST! It was definitely a “first” to remember and we can’t wait to go fishing again! No more ice fishing this season, but that means summer fishin’ is right around the corner!