upper uwchlan >> It is 20 degrees outside with a nice brisk wind. Most people would rather stay inside where it is warm, but for a select group of people, they would rather be sitting out on a frozen lake; they are ice fishers.
“I love ice fishing,” said Bill Mendenhall of Downingtown, sitting on a plastic bucket in the middle of Marsh Creek Lake. It is usually a really short time frame that we are able to be on the ice. The first time he was out was Jan. 10, and last year at this time the whole lake was frozen.
Most of the fishermen will walk across the ice with cleats strapped to their feet, or the resourceful ones will put screws on the soles of their boots. Their gear will be pulled in a sled, a couple of rods and bait, a drill to get through the ice, something to sit on, possibly a fish finder and a small propane heater. Snacks or lunch are also carried in, and some days fishers might bring along a grill to cook hot dogs.
Yellow perch and crappies are the types of fish being caught at Marsh Creek Lake. Some days are luckier than others. Mendenhall said he caught 38 fish the other day, but only kept 3. Bob Newlin of West Caln says the yellow perch this time of year are the tastiest fish you can get.
Newlin also said that years ago ice fishers had to make their own fishing rigs. Usually, ice fishers would take an old rod thas was broken and glue it to an old broomstick. Now with the popularity of ice fishing growing, manufacturers are selling rods and reels designed specifcally for ice fishing.
According to Corky Schiro of Downingtown, “You can sit on the couch all winter long and think about things to do in the spring and the summer or come on out and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.”
Schiro, a retired plumber, is out most days. He enjoys it for the camaraderie. They are a group that sees each other every winter and after that they all go off in the spring and do their own thing through the summer and fall. Then they see each other again on the ice, and it seems as if there had been no time lost from year to year. The friendships start right over again; that’s what is unique about this.
