Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 08/02) - Local ice anglers must have surely found this week's cold snap encouraging. Eight months of winter? No problem.

An angler patiently awaits thicker ice in anticipation of this winter's ice fishing season. - photo illustration by Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

"Yep, I just need ice," says ice fishing enthusiast Wayne MacDonald, who has a particular love for lake trout.

Most of the ice on lakes around Yellowknife is still a bit too thin to walk on safely but MacDonald hopes to get going by early December, although lot of trout lakes are still not ready for another month or two.

Smaller lakes may be ready in a week or so.

The one thing MacDonald can't stand are catching burbot -- an eel-like relative of the cod often found in trout waters.

"They go straight back down the hole," says MacDonald, acknowledging that he knows some people like eating them. "I just can't stand looking at them."

Ice fishing is not without other philosophical quandaries -- like whether one should use a power auger or more traditional means like chisels, axes, picks, or hand augers.

Simon Berube is clearly in the traditionalist camp. He uses a hand auger.

"It's cheaper and it's good exercise," says Berube. "After drilling the holes you deserve the fish you catch."

Cheaper is right. While a hand auger retails between $60 to $90, a power auger can cost upwards of $800.

But as MacDonald points out, you can't drill 18 holes in good time through a meter of ice with a hand auger or pick.

Mike Harrison is also sympathetic with the traditionalists, but as a guide for Enodah Wilderness Travel Lodge on Great Slave Lake's North Arm, his clients likely don't want to wait around in the cold for him to drill holes.

Most of the guests during the winter are Japanese, says Harrison.

"The big attraction for them is they want to eat the fish," says Harrison. "Sashimi style."

Of course, some of the fish -- particularly the Northern Pike -- get quite big around the lodge. It can sometimes pose a problem when bringing one through the ice hole.

"It depends on how big the hole is," says Harrison. "If you got an eight inch hole it (a 25-pound pike) just slips through but with a six-inch hole you might need a chisel bar.

"Hey, size does matter."