Arctic anglers enjoy early fishing season

Arctic anglers enjoy early fishing season


BUCKEYE LAKE -- The unseasonably cold weather has created an early opportunity for to take advantage of a ice fishermensport that is gaining in popularity.
Buckeye Lake is a popular ice-fishing destination in Central Ohio, said Ethan Simmons, a fisheries biologist for District 1 of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The other hot spot is Indian Lake in Logan County.
Ice fishing usually starts in January, but fishermen already are taking advantage of the six-inch-thick ice covering Buckeye Lake.

"This should be a good ice fishing season," Simmons said. "It usually goes through February and sometimes March. It's typically January when you see temperatures this cold."
While there are no regulations on how thick the ice should be, Simmons recommends a minimum of three inches, although he won't go out himself unless the ice is four inches thick.
Winter is a good time to catch the saugeye, blue gill and croppies that live in Buckeye Lake, he said. The saugeye, a cross between a walleye and a sauger, is the trophy fish of ice fishing, said Simmons, and can reach 16 to 20 inches in length.
"Six of those, which is the limit, can make quite a meal," he said. "Typically, right now they are between a pound and a half and two pounds."

The ice usually is thicker toward the center of the lake than on the edges. Fishing can be done with tip-ups, up to six of them, which are basically lines with bait on them, attached to a flag.
Then a jig, or rod can be held in the hand. That increases the chance of catching something, Simmons said.
Smaller bait usually is used, such as a minnow or just the head of a minnow, for the tip-ups and a wax worm on the jig, Simmons said.

The fishing regulations are generally the same, but there is a maximum drill hole size of 12 inches -- nothing larger. Drilling holes is not a problem if you have the right equipment, Simmons said.
Safety is always a concern when ice fishing. Simmons recommends using a float coat, which not only keeps you warm, but can be used as a floatation device.
"Always make sure people know you are going ice fishing," he said. "Always carry an ice pick to use to get yourself out if you happen to fall in."

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