Snow Sluggers

I grew up with an old school dad that would sit in his car smoking while I was out on the ice working the lines trying to land some fish. Wearing 501 Levi's jeans (button-up fly) I would keep my hands in my pockets to warm them, however, my fingers were still too numb & cold to do up my fly -- but I did this so that I could at least hold my pants up and keep them from falling down in the twenty below weather. My dad would make his visits, instructing me on what I was doing wrong, telling me I should "change the bait", all while he worked on a unfrozen sandwich and drank a steaming hot cup of coffee.. Every year our family heads-out to kickoff the ice fishing season in what we think is the most beautiful place to do so -- the Canadian Rockies. Surrounded by mountains all around, we find ourselves spoiled with all the lakes at our disposal. Drilling, baiting, hoisting, and lashing -- we set-up before the winds pick-up as we lower down our tip-ups. With kids we carry more gear now, including a tent and a heater. We can last that extra hour if the bite is on, or hang-on a little longer after all the work of setting up. We always have hopes that the luck turns our way and we catch a fish. Everyone pitches in and has a job. Mine is to take pictures now. - Ramon