Ice Fishing
By Rene Wendell
February, 2009
I was driving by Pontoosuc Lake, in Pittsfield recently and my friend said, “Look at those nuts out there.” Of course, she was talking about the ice fisherman. I just smiled and let the comment pass. I knew I wasn’t going to convince her of the fun that those people were having. Yes, ice fishing can be dangerous. 
Crossing the street can be dangerous too, but if you learn to look both ways, it is real easy. And armed with a little knowledge ice fishing can be done safely by all.
This year we have had a bunch of days and nights below freezing and the ice is thick. Of course, it is thicker in some spots than others. Know that you will run into thinner ice near inlets and outlets where the water is flowing, so it’s best to avoid these areas.
If you are new to this sort of fishing then follow the lead of others and go where they go on the ice. This also applies if you are accustomed to ice fishing but unaccustomed to a certain body of water.
Now that you know a thing or two about the ice, let’s talk supplies. Those are easily found at the Onota Boat Livery on Onota Lake, in Pittsfield. A temporary three-day license can be bought there and children under fifteen don’t need a license. The owner of the livery, Tom Dailey, is real friendly, and he knows where the fish are biting. If you are a first-time ice angler looking for a private lesson, give Tom a call and he’ll set something up with a local fisherman.
Some of my fondest memories as a child are with my father ice fishing. I was in charge of skimming the ice out of the hole he cut. I thought this was a big responsibility and I took it very seriously. 
I got every bit of ice out and never dropped the metal skimmer down the hole. He also let me be in charge of the fire. What a thrill for an eight-year-old boy. Of course, now I know he tricked me into doing all the work.
I would roam the woods looking for downed tree limbs, I would carve my initials into trees with my pocket knife, and I would encounter all sorts of animal tracks that I would follow for great distances hoping for a glimpse of their creator. Then I would hear my father yell, ‘Tip-up!’ and I would run with all my strength to get to the hole that had the biting fish. The anticipation was great, waiting to see what was on the line. Ice fishing puts you in prime big fish territory – be it pike, bass, trout, or pickerel. Of course, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. And when you lose, the stories told after are of the monster that got away. There are other monsters out there after all.
The MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has been stocking our local waters with brood stock Atlantic salmon for years, some as large as twenty pounds! These fish are part of an effort to restore populations of this magnificent beast to the Westfield and Connecticut river systems. And, we the fishermen reap the delicious benefits.
It is strange as adults what we remember from our childhood. I don’t remember the chill, the wet mittens, or the cold feet following our father/son fishing trips, though I know they definitely happened. I remember the seven pound brown trout and the four pound pickerel I caught on the same day when I was ten. 
I remember seeing the mink scurrying along the shoreline and my father throwing it bait. And, most of all, I remember skimming out those holes and keeping our fire stoked with wood.
When the fish weren’t biting my father and I would walk around and visit other people on the ice. Everyone was always friendly and happy for the company. I have since taken my nephews and friends’ children out and it is always a fun time. If you want to try it I would suggest just walking out and talking with a fisherman. And if you bring a cup of hot coffee out, then I am positive you will be welcomed.
Toward the end of February the days will be getting warmer. (I have seen days when you could fish in a T-shirt and be standing on two feet of ice.) So, get out there and give ice-fishing a try. Let this winter be one filled with memories and opportunities.
About Rene Wendell
Introduced to nature by his father, Pittsfield, MA native Rene Wendell knew the names of wild creatures as a toddler. After living in Florida and Arizona Wendell returned to the Berkshires to obtain degrees from Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and now works a conservation ranger for the Trustees of Reservations. As such, Wendell spends his days knocking back invasive plants, tracking rattle snakes, and teaching others about the great outdoors. He likes to hike, hunt, fish, bird watch, collect antiques, and go metal detecting with his 91-year-old father.