Back in the Midwest, where the temperatures drop to well below zero for long periods of time, entire villages of ice huts spring up. Anglers spend days, if not weeks, in these villages. The more elaborate ones have plowed and named streets.

The huts are as fancy as the owner’s imagination and depth of pocketbook allow.

Although it is possible to safely ice fish in the Basin, the ice doesn’t get thick enough to satisfy us. Dennis note: The only time I felt safe on ice while fishing was during a trip to Canada. The ice was 2- to 3-feet thick and we reached the ice huts in vehicles. It was a wonderful experience and a lot of fun. If the ice reached a depth of at least 12 inches of around here, we would be on the ice with the rest of the anglers.

Local lakes and ponds are beginning to freeze with the current cold weather. Fish and wildlife doesn’t measure ice on lakes, so anglers are on their own. However, they offer some tips to consider when heading out for an ice-fishing trip: Don’t fish alone. Let others know exactly where you and your fishing partners are going and when you plan to return.

Keep fishing holes small and few. When drilling fishing holes with an ice auger, keep the diameter under eight inches. Bigger holes are not necessary to land fish and can create a safety hazard for others.

Watch your step. Avoid ice fishing near feeder streams or known springs; brush, logs, plants or docks. Also stay away from multiple ice cracks or ice that is popping or otherwise audible, plus and dark-colored ice that may be weak.

Spread out. Too many people congregated in one area may be more than the ice can safely support. Disperse weight and fishing holes.

Be prepared for weather conditions. Dress in layers and wear thermal underwear, fleece or wool, and wind and waterproof outerwear, especially for feet, hands and head. Take extra clothes, food, water, sand for traction, and a sled for easy on-ice transport of all equipment.

Be prepared for emergencies. Carry equipment such as ice picks or awls, rope, and personal flotation devices. Also pack a first-aid kit and matches for starting a fire.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers the following guide for traveling on ice: 2 inches or less, stay off; 4 inches, ice fishing or other activities on foot; 5 inches, snowmobile or ATV travel; 8 inches to 12 inches, car or small pickup travel; 12 inches to 15 inches, medium truck travel.

Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe. White ice, sometimes called snow ice, is only about one-half as strong as new clear ice so the above thicknesses should be doubled.

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/nwhookandbullet/fishing/article_9cf62b34-2299-11e1-a400-0019bb2963f4.html

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Ice Fishing Lake Manitoba Narrows

Canada’s wide variety of Salmon is what makes fishing enjoyable. There are Chum, Coho, Sockeye and the Chinook salmon in their lakes and streams and because Canada is so far north the temperature in those lakes and streams are efficient enough to keep the salmon plentiful year round. If you are not familiar with salmon fishing you can always purchase guides that specialize in salmon fishing. Be sure to find the guides that are written especially for Canada. These guides can also introduce you to the fishing population along all three coasts of Canada. The Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans offer a variety of salt water fishing that includes shark and tuna.

Canada is divided up into two types of fishing groups. You have Salt Water Fishing and Lake Water Fishing. You can purchase gear for both types of fishing in merchant shops all over Canada. So if you are not quite prepared for all of these types of fishing that Canada offers you always find what you need when you get there.

You’ll also find that you would like to experience Ice Fishing. Ice fishing requires special gear and safety regulations and clothing. So be sure to check on what Ice Fishing is all about while you are there.

When you go to Canada to fish, pick up your fishing license and asked for the guides that can tell you what is required of you when you fish, what Canada’s regulations are, the most popular type of fishing for the time of year you are there and what you need to do that type of fishing with and a map to find it.

Ice Fishing Lake Manitoba Narrows

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Despite legal efforts by Environmental groups 30 million acres of the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska have been auctioned to oil and gas companies for drilling leases.

Environmental groups, including the National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice, were unable to stop the auction in a federal court. Their claim shows drilling will endanger polar bears, bowhead whales, Pacific walrus, ribbon seals, threatened spectacled eiders, and other marine birds and fish.

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Over the next five years, the US government has scheduled 8 additional lease sales in the Arctic Ocean, Chukchi and Beaufort seas.

The US Department of the Interior received 667 bids for the 5,355 blocks of land up for lease sale in the Chukchi Sea Feb 6, 2008. Shell bid $105.3 million for a single exploration block, the most ever offered for a single tract in a US federal offshore lease sale.

View February 4, 2008 PlanetArk article
View January 31, 2008 National Audubon Society press release
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View February 14, 2008 Reuters article
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