Winter blahs

Well here we are again. Snow is on the ground, its as quiet out as a church, a crispness in the air, and frozen lakes. It just all makes me want to curl up and hybernate. Since I am generally much more relaxed outdoors this is a very tough time for me. Yes I know there is plenty to do, skiing, ice skating and so forth, but I wanna fish.

Why not go ice fishing you ask. Ok it is a reasonable question, and one worth examining. Like any other form of fishing, ice fishing first and foremost require this mythological stuff called money. I think money is what you are supposed to have after the tax man takes his 99.999999999999 % so they can give themselves a raise after freezing my wages, ( oops I digress ). Back on track here. Ice fishing does require a bit of capital to stay safe. By safe I mean avoiding frostbite and hypothermia.

First, you must have shelter, a two person tent would work well if you cut the bottom out, it would help keep the wind off. but first you have to buy the tent which is normally between $35.00 to about $70.00. You will also generally need some sort of small heating device. I have seen folks with 20,000 btu heaters attached to a 20 # propane tank. I dont know about you but it seems to me that when you have an enclosed area and a heating device sitting on top of an ice sheet, this is not the best of ideas.

Second, you need the gear. Most noteably a coat so thick and heavy you kind of resemble the incredible bulk, gloves so thick you cant bend a finger enough to scratch you nose, of course wool socks with electric heaters oh and boots so bog and heavy a mythological dwarf would feel at home in them. Then there is the fishing gear. I went and looked at some ice rods and reels and let me tell you they are cute. It is hard to imagine catching a minnow let alone large walleye and bass. Not really sure what I could or use for bait, like my catfish adventure the worms freeze fast.

Third, good insurance after I spend the next week in ICU chattering my teeth out of my head. Oh and by the way Chris left no structural damage to my couch, but did wipe me out of coffee.

Well, off to sleepy land.
Toodles