Why I Like Hardwater

[_colorado]

I've been thinking about this a little.  I hardly cruise the forums from spring - fall but once there's a possibility of ice, I find myself on the forums nearly everyday.  Why do I like ice fishing so much?

I like it because it is a little 'out there', not what most people want to do first thing on a winters morning.

I like being the first one on the ice, an hour or so before dawn, sitting in my hut with my heater and coffee, looking at my Vex lights. 

I like sitting in my hut sight fishing - that's hard to beat!

I like the quiet.

I like the wind.

I like the snow.

I like the results (usually).

I like the usual solitude.

I like sitting out on the ice taking in great views. 

I like cheap, low end stuff (my homemade sled) being just as valuable as my Vexilar FL-20.

I like icing lakers.

I like the feeling of my heart in my throat when a 30" pike cruises 6" below the hole or a 5 pound trout looks at my jig.

I like the other people that ice fish (unless they camp right next to me).

I like using different stink formula (unlike flyfishing)

I like taking my share of fish (unlike C&R when flyfishing).

I like the sound of ice cracking and groaning when it grows.

I like watching the moonrise at twilight over the ice.


What about you guys?  What have I missed?  Dang, this little list really got me psyched to get out soon!

[dalwhe1970]

 
You could write a ice fishing bible with all those named, And your right on the money.....aside from the smell of wood burning in the stove; Makes me feel like I am there already.

[sawblade]

I'll add a couple
Boomming of the ice.
Watching the excitement of a youngster pulling up their catch.

[thebig1]

I'll agree with everything colorado said, Except for the wind part, I hate it, And byt the end of march I'll be cussing it!!!!!! Can't wait for another great season to start.


                                                  Tight Lines!!!!!, John

[CrappieBuster]

I like beer
Beer and icefishing go together like peas and carrots

[Dog-duster]

...the smell of two-stroke exhaust from the auger, the sound of the ice chips landing on the ice while drilling.

I will agree, I hate the wind, screws up the calm you get sitting in the shanty.

[Switzersland]

I like feeling the tension on the line and the splashing sounds the trout makes as he is lifted into my blackout shelter.

[northernnyice]

i like that my friends and i are known as hardcore icefishermen, makes me feel kind of proud.

I like being out there with my best buds knowing we can have a hell of a time not doing much.

I like to eat and drink cold Busch beer

I like hearing all the augers running early in the morning, sort of getting that competitive feeling watching everyone else around setting up their gear while you do.

I like to check out other peoples equipment, possibly finding new cool things i dont even know about.

I like the concept of tip-up fishing, idk what it is about it, i just like it, i take it as a challenge.

I like fishing over night in the shack with the guys.

I get fever'ish thinking about looking out and seeing that bright orange beautiful flag waving in the air.

I love when the perch bite is hot and you can pull up 60 or 70 in a few hours on Chateaugay Lake.

I like knowing that there is a website like this where i can share my passion with other guys like you who love this sport just as much!!!!!

...those are just the first few of things i love about ice fishing on my long mental list, i could go on and on 

[Raquettedacker]

I agree with all the other posts.. But I just like the fact that I can go out and try to catch fish when most people are stuck in the  house bored, in front of the TV saying its to cold to go out side..

[_colorado]

How did I forget beer and the sound of ice augers??!!   

Aaah, the brotherly bonds of ice fishermen. 

Best wishes for a great to all in 2009-2010!

[soup]

I like that I dont have to put up with jet skies and speed boaters that run over your lines

[mealworm]

i like being set up early in the morning when its still dark

i like chillin on the ice as it starts to get a little bit light and the and every thing looks blue the sky the mountains and the snow
 
i like when you breath deep through your nose and your nostrils feeze

 i like icecles frozen in my goat

i like when the lake talks to you with its pops and groans

man i can't wait for ice!!

[Coloradie]

I love that I can catch fish all year! Cannot believe I did not do this long ago (only been ice fishing three years). Now I look foreward to winter, never used too! And I like all that was said previously!!!!

[anglinarcher]

Dude straight up. I catch more fish on the ice than in the boat or on shore!