Ice Fishing Forum!

[lebruce]

Let us not forget to mention using a 1 1/2- 2' noodle rod with a u/l reel fighting a fish through a 4-12" hole. Man what a blast.:D

[barn dog]

Theres nothing like the smell of venison or hot wings cooking on the grill in 20 degree weather and sharing a bottle of Blackberry brandy with your friends.

[slabsrus]

If you have never been fishing in a spot like what we up here call shanty town you have not experienced the other side of fishing. In mid January shanties start popping up about 75 yards of shore on Higgins Lake in Roscommon county. This lake is loaded with smelt which can basically only be caught on a hook during the winter. By the time all the shanties have arrived there will be 100 or more packed into an area about the size of a football field. Yeah I know it sounds crazy, well you are right. But on a Saturday night in mid february in Northern Michigan it can be one of the funnest time you will ever experience fishing. If the fish are biting then you are going to be busy because a couple hundred per person in a couple hours is quite common. If they are not biting then just wander around a tell fishin tales with some of the other hundreds of people that might be doing the same. Or find one of the shanties that has a good card game going. Or even better yet find the shack with the generator and watch the game or a movie while you are waiting for the fish. Most smelt fishing is done at night so the glow of the lights under the ice just adds to the atmosphere. You have got to try this.