AMC Outdoors, January/February 2002

By Madeleine Eno and Katharine Wroth

Ice fisherman Ted Firestine lives in Island Pond, Vt., and is devoted to the outdoors — as both a conservationist and guide with Northeast Kingdom Outfitters. You can also find him behind the cash register of his store in town, Ted's Market.

Q. What were your wintertime pursuits as a child?
A. I was born in New Jersey. As a child, I went ice fishing with my dad. He'd get 20 or 30 kids and take four of his friends and we'd make a whole day of it. I also went hunting, skiing, snowshoeing — really anything in snow.

Q. When did you start ice fishing, and what makes it so appealing to you?
A. Basically, it's that the outdoors in winter is so cold and refreshing. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't fish what you get from it. But there's the peace and quiet. And we'll fish for 20 or 30 perch, and it's so nice to come home and make a big meal. And certain fish, like lake trout and salmon, are easier to catch in winter.

Q How do you stay warm?
A. I don't use an ice shanty with the gas or wood heater like some do. I walk out on the ice or, if it's safe, drive a vehicle out on it. In February, you can get a nice day. It's zero degrees, but in the sun, it's comfortable. I layer: I wear high, insulated pack boots for the slush; wool socks; two layers of long underwear, silk and Duofold; wool pants; and gloves. Then a full face covering and a wool hat and sunglasses. I bring a stove to make soup and hot dogs and a big thermos of coffee.

Q. What special equipment do you need?
A. In winter you use different equipment. I use a tip-up, folding, spring-loaded fly [rod]. When you open it, it forms a cross and goes over the top of the hole. There's a shaft down the middle that sits in the water below the ice. When the fish takes the bait, the reel will spin. There's a little trip on it and an orange flag springs up. We say, "You have a flag!" Then you go and see if the reel is spinning. The fish are slower in the winter. They will take the bait, run, stop to eat, then run again. Then you set the hook and pull it in by hand.

You need a gas-powered ice auger, like the ones for putting in fence holes. For thinner ice you can use a chisel. Up here we fish in up to three feet of ice, so you need the auger. You can tell a good place to fish by knowing certain contours on the bottom where the fish gather. Also, they might gather near rock outcrops or trees.

Q. What are the dangers?
A. Weak or thin ice. Don't drive a vehicle on ice if you're not sure about it. The rule of thumb for ice is: [about] an inch for a person, four inches for a horse, eight inches for a car or truck. If the snow lays on the ice, it's not as insulated and ice doesn't form as easily, even if it's very cold. I always cut holes and check as I go.

Q. What's your favorite memory?
A. Taking my son out when he was little. I cut a hole and said, "go over there and jig." He must have been six and he was so happy. He loves it still. And it's just nice being with friends, catching a nice salmon and having a nice salmon dinner.

Q. And your worst?
A. Going out one day when it was 33-below with a 70-something wind chill. We got the truck stuck in deep snow, and it was pitch dark when we got it out. A blizzard blew in and there was two feet of snow when we drove out.

Q. How do you convince someone to join you?
A. You can't convince anyone. You either love it or you don't. I've brought city friends from downcountry and they say, "this is nuts." It's all how you're brought up. You'll always do it if you want, though as we get older we don't do it as much. Sometimes I go out by myself, take a sled and my snowshoes. I sit out with my bucket and enjoy the sun and the beauty of nature and the wildlife. It's good therapy.

 Winter Revels: Intro  |  Cross-country Skating  |  Dog Sledding  |  Ice Fishing  |  Winter Peakbagging

—Madeleine Eno is Publisher and Co-editor of AMC Outdoors; Katharine Wroth is Associate Editor of AMC Outdoors.