Ice camping on the Mississippi River
Ever since I was a very young boy I have been having a fantastic dream. In my dream, which I can seriously say I have had for over 40 years, I am ice fishing year- round with tip-ups. What is unique about my dream is that I am fishing in the backyard of the home I grew up in at Poynette.
I love ice fishing so much that I made a career out of it and this week I fished with tip-ups in my own backyard with one exception to my dream. I was camped on the frozen waters of the Mississippi River near Trempealeau
Monday, Feb. 1
High 23, Low 12
My ’96 Arctic Cat “Puma” was working hard once again today as I pulled three heavily loaded sleds to a place I would call home for the better part of the next seven days.
The place I would call home is a small bay that is located off from a maze of channels a few miles south of Trempealeau.
My cocker spaniel “Brownie” was riding on the Puma with me, and my golden retriever “Ice” was running alongside with a big smile on his face.
When I found our home, I drilled three holes and put out three tip-ups baited with large shiners. Next, I built camp which is simple but well thought out. This winter I purchased a 12-by-6- foot portable ice shack that does not have a floor.
After the shack was up, I put up my cot and two sleeping bags. Next, I set up my kitchen which is a small table and a one burner Coleman propane stove, and I laid out all of my food.
I use a propane light and a Mr. Heater, and fine-tune my camp with a folding chair.
In the end, I have a tax-free, low-maintenance cabin on whatever body of water that I choose to call home.
I had two hours of daylight left when my work was over and all I had to do was catch a fish. That did not happen and I really did not care.
At bedtime, I had two pups that wanted to call my sleeping bag home until daybreak!
Tuesday, Feb. 2
High 24, Low 14
About 3 inches of snow fell between last night and sunset today. Until that happened, driving a snowmobile or even walking on the ice was difficult. This morning, the flags started going up and I had an awesome day on the ice.
My first tip-up had a 32-inch northern pike trip it. Fifteen minutes later, as I was trying to put down my first cup of coffee, I had another flag. This time I iced a 31-inch gator. Suddenly, I was thinking, just possibly, I might catch a limit of five.
I thoroughly enjoy eating northern pike as do many of the people on my fish list. I have a friend that makes pickled northern pike as well and so, not only was I having fun, I was making some food.
I will try to describe a couple of things that help me to get the gators from under the ice to the top of it. I use 50-pound Power Pro for a leader. It is flexible and almost as strong as wire.
Whenever I am walking to a flag, I carry four tools. An ice scoop with a chipper on the opposite end. Most importantly, I carry a gaff. there is not a fish out there that wants to be caught.
When you are trying to change their angle from horizontal to vertical and then out of the water, a gaff is a well-placed insurance policy on heavy fish that have no desire to be flopping on the ice. When gaffing your fish, relax and aim right below the jaw. There are no vital organs in that area and so if you plan on releasing your catch, it should be fine.
I carry a jaw spreaders (large) for quick hook removal and a long-nosed pliers for retrieving the hook.
My day was truly a classic. I cooked excellent food, fine-tuned my camp and at dark had a limit of beautiful northern pike on the ice.
It always takes me about 18 hours to really get into the groove of a winter camping trip. My goal now was to catch a 40-inch gator and maybe even call in a coyote!
Follow your dreams!
Sunset
