I recently met up with friends to ice skate at Evergreen Lake and was intrigued by the amount of people ice fishing. It made me curious, what’s ice fishing all about? For all you ice fishing novices like me, I did a little digging and here’s what I learned:
🎣 How do I start? Check out ice fishing groups like Ice Fish Coloradoand Colorado Adrenaline Fishing for tips, guided trips, and how to get started.
🤷 Why go ice fishing? Honestly, it’s a great way to get some downtime outdoors. Scott Boettcher, owner of Big Ed’s Fishing Ventures in Dillon agrees:“Sometimes you just need a day off, and it’s a great way to be outside and not be on TV or sitting around on your tablet or cell phone.”
🦺 Ice fishing seems kind of dangerous – is the ice safe to walk on? A general rule is to look for clear blue ice and be cautious around areas with submerged trees, brush, or buildings. Here’s a quick guide on ice thickness from Colorado Park & Wildlife:
- 2 inches or less: STAY OFF!
- 4 inches: walking humans
- 6 inches: snowmobile or ATV
- 8-12 inches: car or small pickup
- 12-15 inches: medium pickup
- Fun fact: I participated in a handful of sports car time trial races on ice and it is a blast. Give it a try!
🧣 Last but not least: bundle up! Our sunny winter days in Colorado can make it seem like a hoodie is all you need. But with ice fishing, you’re out on the cold ice for extended periods of time, so be sure you’ve got a good jacket, gloves, and a hat. (I shared some tips on finding affordable winter gear in yesterday’s newsletter.)
📍 Are you ready to book your ice fishing trip? A majority of popular ice fishing spots are located in Colorado state parks. The Colorado Tourism website also has a great list of ice fishing locations.
Are you an ice fishing enthusiast? Send me your tips and recommendations!
