Now that the prime season for ice fishing is upon us, I have listed some of the best places in America to participate in this fun sport. Although recreational ice fishing has long been associated with the upper Midwest, there are prime places in almost every corner of the nation with pristine conditions for ice fishing – including thick ice, plentiful amounts of fish, amenities nearby, and even beautiful surrounding scenery. From the Pacific to the Atlantic, there are hundreds of locations perfect for ice fishing, and listed below are some of the best.
Caples and Silver Lakes, California. California does not usually come to mind when people think of ice fishing, but the Caples and Silver Lakes along the Alpine State Highway in the Sierra Nevada region provide stunningly beautiful mountain scenery and perfect conditions for ice fishing. The locations along the highway are best, but make sure you go far enough out into the lake before drilling holes, as the lake dries before freezing. Also, be sure to drill several holes, as the sunlight will draw the fish to the surface.
Strawberry Reservoir, Utah. Strawberry Reservoir is located east of Provo is another somewhat unexpected location. In the summer the reservoir offers plentiful trout fishing, with thousands of large rainbow and cutthroat trout, along with kokanee salmon. Fish here replenish quickly, meaning that there are fish available even in winter. Although this lake can be dangerous as it freezes unevenly, once a safe drilling location is found, try drilling in the weed beds. These areas are the feeding grounds for massive trout. Otherwise, if not catching many fish, drilling a hole a few feet over can even make a huge difference. Strawberry reservoir will not disappoint.
Chequamegon Bay, Wisconsin. This bay, located off of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin is notorious for fast-changing weather and ferocious storms. This is perhaps the most rugged location highlighted. A snowmobile or ATV is required to get far out onto the ice where salmonids, walleyes, and pike abound. Be sure to take a functional communication device with you, just in case the weather drastically changes.
Monona Bay, Wisconsin. Monona Bay is an inlet of the larger Lake Monona, which makes up the east side of the isthmus of downtown Madison. You can fish in the shadow of the numerous tall buildings and the giant capitol dome on this popular bay. On a typical winter day, the bay is usually teeming with ice fisherman, and for good reason. Fish abound under the ice here, as there are several weed patches for feeding located in the bay. This is the perfect urban ice fishing location.
Caspian Lake, Vermont. Perch abound in this New England lake. Due to the frigid Vermont winters, the lake freezes early, and it is recommended that fisherman drill several holes here for best results.
