Keystone  
"Ski Ride Drink Shop Eat Party Sleep Repeat"

As first timers, the whole thing seems a little awkward, but there's a quiet hum on the lake, little whiffs of icy air punctuated with friendly chatter among the fishermen, that seems laid back and inviting. 

Ice fishing has few requirements.  Although most enthusiasts actually have a little shanty to sit in, all you really need is a hole in the ice, a rod, reel, some bait and a bucket to sit on, oh, and a license.  

Of course those with the little houses are much more comfortable, and I've heard some of them may even fish in their pajamas!  The houses have heat and other conveniences, but fishing is the goal, so there are holes in the floor so fisherman can drill holes in the ice without going outside! 

There are certain safety considerations when ice fishing.  The number one thing to concern yourself with is make sure the ice is safe!  It needs to be deep and hard, because, you guessed it, you don't want to fall in; the thought makes me shudder.

Bear in mind that the wind is not your friend on the ice.  It tends to break up the ice into chunks, and a broken chunk can be large enough to have you on it floating away on your own little ice island.  Not good.  To find out about ice conditions, ask the local bait and tackle shops who cater to ice addicts.   Another good source, if available, is a park service.

Don't go without leaving a flight plan.  Someone should know where you are going and approximately when you'll be back, so they can get the search party gathered up if you don't show.

Another good idea if you are inexperienced; go with someone who knows the ropes.  That's why we're huddled up with Joe and Dave, a couple of guys who have been fishing for 20 years!   

Finding the perfect fishing spot seems to be closely related to hoops and hollers and no one seemed to mind when we join the crowd.  There are plenty of fish and, besides, it's a sport of camaraderie.

The first step is to chisel a nice wide hole, deep enough see water and wide enough to pull out the fish.  This can be done any way you please, but it's much easier with an Auger.  This ice is 18" - 24" deep so still requires some hefty manpower.   Next, we rig up our poles with slimy grub, drop the pole in the hole, and pull up a seat so we can see what's happening.

Now for the best part.  It's a sunny day, so even though it's cold, the heat from the sun soaks through our coats and warms our backs making us feel sleepy and peaceful.  The only sounds are low murmurs from fishermen, an occasional dog barking, and the breeze dancing with the snow across the lake.

It doesn't take long before we get a bite.  Such excitement!  Since it's our first time, we have to keep the fish, but throwing them back is not uncommon among the addicts.  Its the sport they're after.

We catch more fish and our bucket is filling up, but in between we discuss fishing techniques and  tell fish stories.  Sometimes we just sit in a semi daze and enjoy the day. 

At some point, it doesn't matter when, we eat tuna fish sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies.  Icy, icy beer, good for a hot day in my opinion, is kept nearby in a cooler, and hot chocolate in the thermos warms our hands when  necessary.  Joe taught us that even gloves with no fingers will keep your hand warm if your palms are warm.  Next time we'll know.  

We haul our gear back to the car and pull out a portable grill for a tailgate party.  The smell wafts through the air and invites some of the other fishermen to  join us.  Everyone has something to contribute from their coolers - potato salad, apple pie, chips and dip, apple cider.  It a great feast and a splendid end to a new experience.   

GO!