The coolest kind of fishing

CATAWBA ISLAND — Ice fishing was fun while it lasted. The parking lot at Catawba Island State Park was packed with trucks and trailers earlier this month. Ice shanties could be seen in the distance. With all of their fishing gear, a father and son duo — Dwayne and Ben Davis — hopped aboard a four-wheeler and headed down a frozen path on Feb. 13. They were visiting from Ashland for the week. Dwayne said he's been ice fishing for 40 years. Naturally, Ben grew up around it and enjoys it also. "There's something about pulling a big fish through an 8-inch hole in the ice," Dwayne said. "It will bring you back every time. It's exciting." Ben appreciates the beauty of being out in "God's creation." "It doesn't even matter if we catch a fish out here. Just being out on this lake is beautiful," Dwayne added. "Absolutely amazing." One night, they didn't return to the parking lot until close to 9:30 p.m. "The stars were out, and it was just beautiful," Dwayne said. The Davises said they caught fish throughout their trip. It seems they had better luck than most. Ottawa County wildlife officer Reid Van Cleve said he's never seen the ice fishing so slow. He has worked in the county for about 16 years. He will occasionally see someone with a limit of six walleye when he checks fishing licenses, but a majority of fishermen return with nothing. The fish tend to be more active at dusk and dawn, and that's when the fishermen want to be out on the ice. However, the fish can be less aggressive in the cold compared to the warmer months. "You just need to find those fish," Van Cleve said. "If you get lucky enough to set up on fish, you'll probably have a good day." He mentioned how ice fishing picks up closer to March, but you can't count on the ice still being fishable then. Van Cleve, who also goes ice fishing in his spare time, said there's something special about reeling in a nice-sized walleye through the ice. "I think that's why everyone does it," he said. "If you ever go and catch one, you'll be addicted. It's that fun." He also has a boat that he takes out during the summertime. Van Cleve said he doesn't care if he catches a walleye when he's on a boat. There's something about ice fishing he can't explain. "It's a totally different feeling being out there on the ice on a four-wheeler than being in a boat," he added. Ice fishing brings in a ton of people to the area from out of town and even other states. Van Cleve remembered a time about 10 years ago when there was ice for a long time, and the fishing was great. The Magee Marsh area in Oak Harbor was loaded with people, he said. It was so crowded that traffic needed to be directed. "It was a wonderful time," Van Cleve recalled. This winter's run of below-freezing temperatures created nice ice for fishing. However, a recent combination of warmer temperatures, rain and wind made the ice unsafe. Van Cleve said ice fishing is over.