For many women, there is something inane about standing atop sheets of ice amid frozen surroundings filled with swirling snow and bitter wind chill.
But look deeper. There’s the magic of walking on water, figuratively speaking. The startling realization that beneath your feet, a relatively narrow layer of ice separates you from a quiet, concealed, aquatic world. And there’s that curious desire to please fathers, boyfriends and husbands, which is often satisfied by sharing peculiar bonding rituals with them, like going ice fishing.
Lisa remembers her first outing, unsure how to dress for a day in sub-freezing, fingertip-stinging climes; insecure about walking on ice; ignorant of what equipment to bring, much less how to use it. Still, over time she’s opened up to those who enjoy this odd yet captivating sport. So have others.
“Most ice anglers are helpful and willing to share information,” says Linda Conder of Stillwater, Minn., wife, mother and activist in Minnesota’s “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” program. “Women shouldn’t feel intimidated about trying traditionally masculine activities such as ice fishing. (Asking questions) has allowed me to learn, spend quality time with my husband and make new friends.”
Ice anglers should be concerned with safety and consider the physics of ice. When water freezes, it expands, causing it to float on the water below. That layer of ice must be clear, solid and at least 4 inches thick in order to support people. To better understand the principle of ice sheets supporting weight, take a plastic-foam cooler cover, float it in your tub and try submerging it.
If you aren’t sure whether the ice is sufficiently thick, “drop by the local tackle store and ask where the best ice is,” Conder recommends. “They’re great sources of safety information.”
Then there’s the cold. If your larger male counterpart seemingly doesn’t become chilled as fast as you, you may not be imagining things.
“Although many variables are involved, lightly built women generally feature smaller body size and lesser muscle mass,” says Dr. Mark Whitmore of Sharpe Clinic in Fond du Lac, Wis., “meaning resilience to cold may be poorer.”
Bottom line? Smaller people get colder, faster.
“The secret to weathering the weather is proper dress,” advises Alyssa Gonzales of Northern Outfitters, a cold-weather clothing manufacturer in Orem, Utah. “Years ago, we donned cotton long underwear, unfashionable plaid flannel shirts, pants and coats, rubber boots and gloves. And we got cold. Yes, cotton and wool are great insulators, when new and dry anyway. Once they’ve been worn and washed a few times, they shrink and constrict, lessening their insulating capabilities. If they get damp, the matter worsens.”
Today’s high-tech polypropylene materials, however, are excellent insulators that don’t constrict easily. More important, the “wicking” properties of these materials dissipate moisture away from the skin, keeping you drier, and hence, warmer. Combine this with today’s lighter, softer, synthetic insulating materials and more fashionably designed water-repellent clothing, Thinsulate-lined hats, boots and mitts, and you’ll understand why today’s well-equipped anglers spend time on the ice comfortably.
“Northern Outfitters even includes extra-small women’s sizes with `drop seats,’ ” Alyssa added, “things most men overlook.”
Once dressed, impress your fishing partner by bringing select gear. Start with lake maps, available at sporting goods outlets. Lake maps outline productive fishing areas otherwise hidden beneath layers of ice, and sellers often provide fish-catching tips for each location.
From here, modern electronics such as Global Positioning Systems can lead you directly to recommended spots, while sonar reveals depth, bottom content, weeds or other prominent cover, even fish.
Cutting holes can be a challenge for women of smaller stature because the drill is so long, although the job is more easily accomplished using today’s precision-engineered hand or gas-powered ice drills, designed to slice neat holes in seconds.
Try setting lightweight, easily assembled portable ice fishing shelters over your holes, using portable heaters for additional comfort. Inside, fish with jig rods and reels — downsized versions of traditional summer fishing rods.
Since water below the ice is generally clear, modern ice anglers prefer using thin, virtually invisible monofilament lines. Lures come in a plethora of styles, shapes and sizes and a rainbow of colors. Ask your male guide for recommendations, then smugly select something else. Should you catch fish, an armada of verbal fun can ensue.
You can also use tip-ups — wood or plastic framed units supporting spools of line baited with hooks and minnows. When fish bite, the spool turns, causing a brightly colored flag to spring up, alerting you of a strike.
When you return, try snuggling with your new fishing partner near a warm, glowing fireplace, mug of steaming coffee in hand. You’ll soon find this isn’t a bad way to spend long winter days after all.
———-
Tom Gruenwald is a fishing columnist and the author of two books on ice fishing, the latest of which is “Hooked On Ice Fishing II: Panfish.” Several of Lisa and Tom’s first dates were ice fishing excursions.
