The perfect setting for an old-style holiday tradition

CRIVITZ, Wis. — And so it was, Christmas amongst the spruce and pines, with a fresh blanket of snow to remind me of how it was when I was a carefree kid.

The borrowed snowmobile slowly plowed its way through the mounds of white stuff until I found that special lake where time always stood still.

Richard pulled up next to me and we just sat there for what seemed like an hour, staring into the thick woods.

“Hasn't changed all that much since we were kids,” he whispered. I agreed with just a single nod.

As we dismounted, a white-tail doe and buck scampered a mere 25 feet in front of us.

“Let's hold off drilling holes for a while and wait and see what unfolds,” Richard said.

I was prepared to start catching crappies and bluegills through the ice but Rich wanted to scope out the wildlife that was all around us.

So I just sat there on the snow machine and waited.

“Slowly turn your head and look to your right.” Richard instructed.

Sure enough, a large mink came from the shoreline and picked its way through downed tree branches. So far we had a mini-zoo parade going on.

After a few minutes we dragged our gear to the lake and headed for a spot Rich said held some fat panfish. I drilled a dozen holes with the power auger and set up shop with a short jigging rod. There was a good 8-10 inches of ice on this spot.

My sonar unit showed a school of fish suspended off the bottom in 10 feet of water.

The first hit came right away. A beautiful, 11-inch crappie came through the hole. I sent the micro jig back down, and I would be understating things if I told you the bite was good. It was fantastic, with fish after fish grabbing the jig. Of course Richard and I only needed a half-dozen or so of crappies and the same of bluegills for the evening feast.

The live bait menu was the same I use back home on our lakes and ponds. I had small containers of wax worms, spikes (maggots), and a tiny bucket of pinhead minnows. My two reels were spooled with 2-pound line with a 2-foot fluorocarbon leader attached to the micro jig.

Experience has shown me that 1- and 2-pound, abrasion-resistant line works well when fishing super-clear lakes.

Rich was about 20 feet away from my location and we alternated catching fish. We were using our ice tents this trip because there was hardly any wind at all and the temperature hovered at 25 degrees.

Three years ago I made a point to find the best ice fishing boots I could afford. Both Cabelas and Bass Pro had good models at reasonable prices, but I found a pair of Danner high tops that were wide and comfortable, and rated at 30-below zero.

In two hours Richard and I caught nearly a hundred fish, but we only kept a total of 12, which was more enough filets to fill a cast iron frying pan.

I enjoy being on the ice on the Fox Chain and Bangs Lake, but in my book nothing beats the serenity of fishing on a lake surrounded by miles of thick woods, and knowing no one else is around.

Later, back in Rich's cabin, the cast iron stove was going full blast. He cleaned the fish and prepared a potato casserole along with a tomato and onion salad. He even brought out a bottle of wine and some wonderful cheese to whet our appetites.

Now I ask you, wouldn't you like to savor the woods, a snowy scene, and a meal like this? One never gets cold when memories are relived and experienced anew.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@att.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.