As an avid ice angler, I can say that thus far it’s been a good winter in the Upper Midwest in terms of ice quality and quantity. In Minnesota, we’ve been blessed with cold temperatures and little snow, which is perfect for making solid ice.
In fact, this winter has been one of the rare ones with great ice and a few weeks of zero snow, which allows for special views like the one highlighted in the Facebook video below. The ice is thicker than it appears in the video; my estimate is 4 inches, which is thick enough for walking. (Click here for a short video that explains how to safely check ice thickness.)
The video was posted on the Beyond the Catch Guide Service Facebook page. FYI: Beyond the Catch Guide Service (BTC) is a professional fishing charter operated and captained by Tommy Hicks. BTC offers outdoor adventures on Lake Superior and other area lakes in northern Wisconsin. Hicks and his team provide excellent equipment and fishing both in open water and on the ice.
One of BTC clients (above) recently caught and released a heavy, 40-plus-inch pike, and due to the thin, clear ice, you get a rare glimpse of the fish as it slowly swims away.
Note: Many of the Facebook comments to this video claim it’s a musky, and they’re 100 percent wrong. Others say the fish was hurt and will die; they’re also wrong. This trophy pike was handled properly during the release and quickly returned to the water. It has no reason to race away; she’s simply cruising slowly and recovering from the fight. It won’t be long and she’ll put on the feed bag once again.
I will, however, push back on the comment in the video about the pike weighing 25 pounds. That’s possible, but I’d guess-timate 22 pounds, maybe 23. Whatever the case, it’s a huge pike, and congrats to everyone involved for releasing it!
P.S. Be sure to "click to enter fullscreen" for best viewing.
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