A Guide to A Southerner’s First Ice Fishing Trip
If you grew up fishing for catfish in Georgia, bass lakes in Alabama, or brackish creeks along the Gulf, ice fishing sounds almost like a joke. We chase fish by boat, from the bank, or waist-deep in warm water. The idea of drilling through a frozen lake and sitting on top of it sounds very foreign but fun. Anthony, Saul, and I recently visited Colorado to give ice fishing a try and boy were we underprepared for the venture. In this blog, I am going to share some things I learned to help out my fellow southerners not make the same mistakes when getting on the ice.
Plenty of folks from down South end up trying ice fishing at least once. Maybe you moved north for work. Maybe you are visiting family. Maybe you just want to say you did it. Before you head out there in a hoodie and work boots thinking it is just fishing with a colder breeze, let me help you avoid learning some lessons the hard way. Here is what to expect and what most Southerners forget to prepare for.
The Cold Is Different Than You Think
We know cold. Or at least we think we do. We have felt twenty eight degrees with wind and called it brutal. Ice fishing cold is another category. You are sitting still. No casting. No trolling motor. No walking the bank. Just sitting over a hole in a frozen lake with wind sweeping across open ice. The cold comes up from beneath you and blows across you at the same time. If you are not dressed properly, you will be uncomfortable to say the least.
What you actually need:
• Insulated waterproof boots
• Thick wool socks
• Thermal base layers
• Insulated bibs or snow pants
• A heavy coat designed for snow
• Gloves that allow some finger movement
• A hat that covers your ears
Cotton hoodies and blue jeans will betray you. Once they get damp from snow or sweat, they stay wet and you stay cold. Layering is the key. You want to trap heat without sweating too much when you move around.
Ice Is Not Just Ice
Down South, ice in nature means a slick bridge or frost on the grass. That is about it. Walking on a frozen lake feels unnatural at first. You will probably step onto it carefully, wondering if it will crack. Us 3 were timid dogs out there on the ice, scurrying back to shore each time we heard an odd noise from beneath us.
The good news is that thick ice is very strong. As long as its 4+ inches thick you have nothing to worry about. However, never assume the ice is safe just because someone else is on it. Ice thickness can vary across a lake. Areas near moving water, springs, or docks can be thinner. Falling through ice is not like falling in a pond in July. It is life threatening fast.
It Is Not Active Fishing
Southern fishing often is active. We cast. We flip. We troll. We move. Ice fishing is patient. You drill a hole. You drop a line. You wait. Sometimes you jig lightly. Sometimes you sit in silence. Sometimes you stare at a small rod tip or a sonar screen for long stretches. If you are expecting fast action like spring crappie or schooling white bass, you might get bored. But if you like waiting from shore for the large evening catfish to bite then you may enjoy the patience game of ice fishing.
The fun often comes from the atmosphere. Sitting in a small shelter. Talking with friends. Drinking hot coffee. Watching steam rise from your breath in the air. Adjust your expectations and you will enjoy it more.
There Is Gear You Have Never Used Before
Ice fishing has its own equipment culture.
You will see:
• An auger to drill holes through the ice
• Short rods designed for vertical fishing
• Tip ups that sit over the hole and signal a bite
• Portable shelters that look like small tents
• Heaters inside those shelters
• Sonar units made for ice
You cannot just bring your bass rod and expect it to work well. The rods are shorter because you are fishing straight down. The line is often lighter. The baits are smaller. Also, drilling a hole through thick ice is work. If you think you will just chip away with a hammer, you are in for a long day.
The Wind Is Your Enemy
On open ice, there are no trees. No banks. No hills to block wind. A mild breeze becomes brutal when it has nothing to slow it down. Many first timers underestimate this. They think if the air temperature is manageable, they will be fine. But wind chill can change everything. If possible, fish inside a portable shelter. Even a simple wind block makes a huge difference. Without protection from wind, your hands will freeze quickly, especially when handling wet line and fish.
Comfort Is Strategy
Southerners are used to roughing it. But comfort on the ice is not about luxury. It is about endurance.
Bring:
• A folding chair or bucket seat
• Hot drinks in a thermos
• High calorie snacks
• Hand warmers
The Fish Are Different
Depending on where you go, you might be targeting species that are not common in the South. Walleye, perch, northern pike, lake trout. They behave differently. They feed differently. They often require subtle presentations.Listen to locals. Ask what depth they are fishing. Ask what bait they are using. Pride has no place on the ice.
It Is Peaceful
After all the warnings, here is the good part. There is something unique about sitting on a frozen lake while snow falls lightly around you. The world feels quiet. Sounds are muted. The pace slows down. For a Southerner used to cicadas, boat motors, and humid air, the stillness can feel almost sacred. If you prepare correctly, the experience becomes memorable for the right reasons.
Final Advice To Avoid A Bad Time
Overdress rather than underdress
Go with experienced people your first time if possible
Respect the ice and check thickness
Protect yourself from wind
Adjust your expectations about action
Ice fishing is not Southern fishing with frozen water. It is its own world. If you approach it humbly, prepared, and open to the experience, you might find yourself telling folks back home that sitting on a frozen lake was one of the most interesting fishing trips you have ever had. And when you get back down South, sixty degrees in January will feel like spring.
