Ice fishing centuries ago and now in the present day.

Ice fishing is a popular activity in Lapland and there are various trips you can take where you can ice fish n a frozen lake and hopefully catch a fish. Most short trips very rarely end up with a catch especially if there are small children involved because it is so very cold in Lapland and children should not be kept on the ice and outdoors for too long.
Short ice fishing trips are just a taster to see what ice fishing is like and you get to drill down in the ice and attempt to catch a fish, some are lucky and do catch a fish, others are content with the experience.
The locals for centuries used ice fishing as a source of food and were very good at it because they had to be. Very often this was one of their only sources of food and they had to make it count, sometimes it could take hours for them to catch a fish and they would drill several holes and wait patiently in silence in order not to alert the fish. Many of the holes were drilled around the edges of the lake and the locals would sit for hours covered in Reindeer blankets to keep them warm.
Years ago the locals didn’t have the equipment we have today and would make their own ice fishing spears out of various materials and were very successful.
Today we have sophisticated equipment and can also be successful but like all fishing it takes time and there really is no guarantee that a fish will be caught. On many of the trips once catches have been made, you will be able to cook them for your supper around an open fire which is quite an experience and makes it all the more worthwhile because it has taken quite some time.
Many experienced ice fishermen insist that there is a strategy at hand and each have their own, some believe drilling lots of holes is the key and of course being patient but you also have to assess if you have the right place on the frozen lake. It may be that you will have to move from place to place several times, much like fresh water fishing until you find the right spot and many experienced fishermen can determine where the bigger and smaller catches will be.
Ice fishing is fun and there are many activities on offer in Lapland and if you get the chance it is well worth the experience to go on one of these trips and the children will absolutely love it.
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