Spooky ice and other tales

I’ve been asked several times if there’s any ice and if I’ve been ice fishing yet.

Yes, to No. 1. Several local shallow lakes and ponds have frozen and are safely supporting ice anglers.

Among the frozen lakes are Smith Lake (Kila), McWinegar Slough (Hwy 35 east of Kalispell), Lower Thompson and Lake Monroe (AKA Lower Ashley).

And with the recent series of arctic blasts, no doubt other shallow bodies of water are added to the list almost nightly.

No, to No. 2. My ice fishing will have to wait until after Christmas.

This fall my interest in big game hunting was rekindled, even though I spent many, many, many hours watching squirrels.

Many of those hours would normally have been spent making wooden toys for my grandson.

It’s very unusual for me to wait until late December for my first steps on ice.

More than once I’ve claimed first holes on Middle Thompson.

I’m a real believer in 3 inches of clear, non snow-covered ice. Snow can hide soft spots in ice created by currents and underwater springs.

Just because the snow cover looks the same everywhere on the ice does not mean the ice is uniformly safe beneath.

I do remember, however, many years ago cautiously walking out on a one-inch ice covering on Beaver Lake.

The ice was perfectly clear, with no cracks. And it was spooky to walk on!

I was careful to keep my feet apart and I avoided areas where the water would be over my head (I hoped).

I drilled a hole and fished, which was stupid because any trout swimming by would spook.

If I saw a fish, it would see me!

I’ve also experienced the same vertigo on a foot of clear ice on Duck Lake.

Be careful if you venture out onto early ice.

Jerry Smalley’s Fishful Thinking column appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.