Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 13

sealed from the air by ice and deprived of sun by snow cover
Kuna points out that the number of ice anglers is
to receive oxygen. Clearing snow from the ice allows light
small compared to those who target open water, and the
penetration and promotes photosynthesis, a natural oxygen
opportunity to ice fish is relatively brief.
generator during the short winter daytime period." Influent
"Tournament limits are usually a fraction of the daily
streams, rivers and creeks can also deliver plenty of well
harvest limit set by the state," said Kuna, who fishes
oxygenated water to most public impoundments frequented
Pymatuning Reservoir, Crawford County, and Lake
by winter anglers.
Arthur, Butler County, as well as fisheries in New York
There are years when Pennsylvania winters are so mild that
and Michigan.
water doesn't freeze, at least not for long, which makes the
"Even when I'm fishing for fun, I keep a reasonable
opportunity to ice fish all the more special.
number, depending on their size, because my whole family
"Folks who want to give it a try will enjoy a camaraderie
loves to eat crappies. I throw the rest back. I don't fish to
that they won't experience in other seasons," said Lorantas.
stock the freezer like some guys."
"Maybe it has to do with the holidays or being able to walk
Lorantas also practices selective harvest on the fisheries
around a lake, but you'll find ice anglers are a very sociable
he frequents, including Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir and
Presque Isle Bay. "Once you find the right spot, you can have group. They'll often welcome you and invite you to pull your
bucket over and sit down." Selecting any fishing site near other
a blast catching 20 perch in about an hour," said Lorantas.
anglers requires customary fishing courtesy. By providing
He keeps enough fish for a couple of meals and releases
"elbow room" to those nearby, you will win respect and more
the rest. "If handled properly, the survival rate can be as
likely be invited to drill a hole and fish near a neighboring
good, or better, than in the summertime. If fish are returned
angler's "hot spot."
to the water immediately, they should suffer little effect.
And, there's no need to buy special tackle. "You can use
The cold water may even have some benefit, because the
conventional gear as long as you have a shorter rod with a
fish aren't enduring thermal stress, which sometimes
sensitive tip," said Lorantas. "And, a minnow is a minnow
accompanies release during warm seasons," said Lorantas.
is a minnow."
"The key is to prevent gill filaments and other tissues
He reminds all anglers, whether new or experienced, that
from freezing, which can happen when fish aren't
safety comes first when venturing onto ice. For safety tips,
immediately returned to the water. Air temperatures can
visit www.fishandboat.com/ice.htm.
be much colder than water temperatures, which are just
a little above freezing. The goal should be
getting fish back into the water as quickly
as possible," said Lorantas.
A deep-hooked fish requiring more
manipulation should be kept under water
in a minnow bucket while securing tools for
hook removal, especially on a cold day.
"Fish unhooked in the middle of a day
when air temperatures climb to above
freezing face lower risk of tissue-freeze
damage, as do fish unhooked in the
warmth of an ice hut," said Lorantas.
During winters with prolonged ice,
anglers may be doing fisheries a favor by
keeping habitat healthy.
"When you drill holes in the ice, you're
actually contributing to delivery of oxygen
to waters sealed from the open air by ice,"
said Lorantas. "Winter fish kills are rare
on public waters. I can think of just one
significant report brought to my attention,
occuring on a private pond, in the 20-plus
years I've worked for the Commission.
If there's ice and heavy snow cover on a
lake, the available oxygen can get used up,
especially if the watershed is characterized
by fertile soils such as farmland. Increased
water productivity contributes to increased
Mike Kuna's specialty is targeting crappies through the ice, but he catches other
biological oxygen demand. Drilling holes
nice fish, too, including this golden rainbow trout.
on the surface provides a means for waters
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014

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