Ice Fishing
Susan Cloke
Winter Columnist
Journal Opinion
January 31, 2017
A little past 5 a.m on January 21, 2017 Lake Fairlee was a busy place. People wearing head lamps were walking on the frozen lake and setting out their flags to mark their fishing holes. It was Opening Day of the Ice Fishing Season, and the early morning feeling was one of celebration.
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| Nick Dubuque |
Nick Dubuque, an experienced, local fisherman, used a power auger to drill the fishing holes for his family and friends. “We set a few tips and jigs,” said Dubuque referring to the ‘tip ups’ and the jigging holes for the larger and smaller fish and the different fishing methods.
“It was good trout bite,” said Dubuque. “Our group caught 10 trout, most of which we threw back.”
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| Jacob Dubuque photo by Nick Dubuque |
Dubuque’s 4 year old son, Jacob, caught a 3.75 lb. large mouth bass. Jut about the same age as Dubuque was when his Sheldon VT grandfather started to teach him to ice fish. Growing up, his mother took the whole family fishing all over VT and NY. Now he plans to do the same for his children.
Dubuque is a software engineer. “I like my work and I like to ski, fish, hunt, mountain bike. Anytime I can be outside it’s a good thing.”
Lake Fairlee had hundreds of tip ups by the time the sky was light and the clouds brushed the tops of the nearby hills.
Dan Guertin works at the White River Vet Center, a VA Center for returning veterans and their families, to help in their return to civilian life. He had been in the Army from 1976 - 1980 and then studied to become a social worker.
“As part of what we do, we offer our Vets a lot of healthy activities and opportunities to re- engage with the community. That was the goal that started the idea of going ice fishing.”
Guertin has been ice fishing since he was young, going out on the Richelieu River as a young boy, and out on Lake Champlain, one of Vermont’s premier ice fishing lakes. “now I’m here on Lake Fairlee. It’s close to home and it’s good fishing”, said Guertin
“Opening day was quite an event. There were six vets, some had experience, some were new to ice fishing. Everyone pitched in to drill holes and set up bait hooks. and we caught on fish after another - all six of us.
The Vets fished and shared homemade pumpkin bread and drank coffee and visited with each other and with neighboring fishermen. This time we were all men. But all vets are invited and the ones who can come do.
The Vets caught 18 bass. Some at 4 lbs. and about 15 perch at 1 to 1½ lbs. One of the Vets showed how to filet a fish. Injured fish and left over minnow bait was left on the surface of the frozen lake for the eagles.
“There’s a ‘minnow rule’ requiring left over minnow bait to be dumped on the surface. It’s for the protection of the lake and all serious sportsmen follow the environmental rules,” said Guertin.
The Vets were there from about 8 in the morning to about 3:30 in the afternoon. “It was all so busy. I can’t stress enough what an exceptional day for catching fish - the fish were hungry - and for camaraderie,” said Guertin. “2017 is looking like it’s a good year for fishing.”
“ You have to have a fishing license to fish in Vermont. My license was $26. It gives me the right to fish, limits the number of fishing holes, and lets you know the rules.”
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is the place to get a license, learn about the best places to ice fish, find out about the rules.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2, Montpelier, VT 05620-3702
Phone: 802-828-1000
Vermont Ice Fishing Opportunities
Vermont Fishing Guide
Vermont Fishing License
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