Fishing For Beginners | Winter Provides Recreational Opportunities

Grant Kirchner learned how to fish with his grandfather at one of Kensington Metropark’s ice fishing for beginners program. The Commerce teen has been hooked ever since.

“It’s a fun thing to do instead of sitting around watching television in the winter,” said Kirchner, a Lakeland High School junior.

The metropark will hold four ice fishing classes this winter for kids and adults interested in learning more about the sport.

“They take you out there, and they have all the stuff for you to use,” Kirchner said. “We did catch fish.”

The program starts with some classroom learning about the equipment and techniques needed to fish through a hole in the ice. And if weather permits, participants will head out on Wildwing Lake to drop a line in the water and test their newfound skills.

Mike Broughton, an interpreter at Kensington’s Nature Center, said winter is the only time that Wildwing Lake can be fished – only the western end is open to fishing – and more wintertime fishermen set up on adjacent Kent Lake so there’s less pressure on Wildwing.

“Hardly anyone fishes it that often in the winter,” Broughton said. “There’s decent size perch and blue gill out of that lake.”

Safety first

Metropark staff will pre-drill holes through the ice before the program, saving those learning to fish from a little extra work. But if the weather doesn’t cooperate, no one will venture out on the ice.

“We offer it four times. Sometimes the ice isn’t ready yet,” Broughton explained. “We’re hedging our bets. We need a certain thickness of ice to take people out. We’d love to do it four times.

“Right now it’s looking scary for the ice. It’s been so warm and rainy.”

The Kirchner family lives on Lake Sherwood. Grant Kirchner said he checks the ice’s thickness by drilling holes through the ice at the end of his dock. The neighborhood association notes problem spots throughout the lake in its newsletter, and often he’ll wait until he sees others on the ice with their snowmobiles or four-wheelers before heading out himself.

Six inches of ice typically suffices, he said.

That’s the same thickness Kensington staff wants for its winter programs. But there are other considerations, as well, according to Broughton. New ice is preferred, because it’s stronger than old ice. When drilling through the ice, the angler can determine its age by its color and amount of air pockets. New ice is clearer and has fewer air pockets, which forms after snow falls, then freezes on ice. Old ice is whiter and not translucent. The older the ice, the thicker it needs to be, said Broughton.

There are no specifics regulations at Kensington on when the ice is usable. Common sense, he added, plays a major role.

“It’s strictly up to the person on when it’s safe to go out there,” said Broughton.

Different sport

Those accustomed to sitting in a fishing boat or casting from shore during the warm summer months need to adjust to ice fishing. Different poles, hooks and bait are needed when out on the ice. Short poles are needed, and anglers jig, instead of casting and reeling. Jigging involves lightly bouncing the line at a certain depth. Smaller hooks and bait are needed.

“It’s a completely different type of thing,” said Broughton. “It’s harder to get the fish in the winter time. The fish have slowed way down, because they’re cold-blooded.”

Kirchner said he’s been asking for ice fishing gear as presents ever since he learned of the sport. This Christmas, he received an ice shanty.

“The lake isn’t frozen (yet),” he said Friday. “It’s bumming me out.”

Kensington has some ice fishing gear to loan for its beginners programs. Broughton said basic rigs can be purchased at retailers for as little as $10.

The metropark allows anglers to keep fishing shanties on Kent Lake throughout winter if registered with the park office. Otherwise, those fishing are not allowed to leave anything on the ice overnight.

pallmen@hometownlife.com (248) 685-1507, ext. 226

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