Now that the regular firearms deer seasons are over, it’s time to start looking at some other outdoor ventures — more specifically, I’m talking about ice fishing. Sure, there are still some hunting opportunities that remain, like the late archery season, flintlock hunting for deer, and of course, some small game hunting, but if weather permits, the “frozen chosen” will be making their debut soon.

I started ice fishing when I was in high school back in the ‘60s, and in those days, ice fishermen were few and far between, but over the years, that scene has changed considerably. More and more people are getting involved in ice fishing these days for a number of reasons. No doubt, one reason for the increase in interest is the much-improved equipment and clothing that adds a great deal to the comfort level when sitting out on a frozen lake. Today’s winter clothing is much lighter and much more efficient at retaining body heat and at keeping the wind out. To take it a step further, if you plan to get serious about ice fishing, I would highly recommend the ice fishing outfits that are not only light and comfortable in cold temperatures, but they will also keep you afloat if you go through the ice.

Today’s sled type pop-up shelters are also a must-have item. These sleds are relatively lightweight, easy to pull, and carry all the necessary gear. Once on the ice, they quickly pop open into a cozy shelter with very little effort, and just keeping the wind off can be a big improvement. Once in the shelter, comfort can be improved even more with one of the propane powered heaters-in the “old days,” we built a fire or just plain stayed cold.

Besides being more comfortable, the equipment has also improved and become much more efficient. Another item I highly recommend if you are going to get serious about hard water fishing is some type of sonar equipment. In the “old days,” we dropped our jig and bait down the hole and moved it up and down until we got a hit — that’s how we found a school of fish. Today we set up our sonar units over a hole and study the graph to see where the fish are and then target those fish.

Today’s rods, reels, and tip-up devices are also much more efficient and easier to use. I don’t have room to get into the details of this equipment right now, but I guarantee that it’s much better than the homemade stuff we used years ago when we stuck a broken rod tip in a piece of a broom handle and wound our line around a couple of nails sticking in the handle. By the way, if you’re looking at equipment, you should also add a pair of ice cleats-they really come in handy when there’s no snow cover on the ice.

While the vastly improved equipment and clothing have attracted more of us onto the ice, I suspect it’s also true that the year 2020, with all the emphasis on “social distancing,” might be adding to people’s desire to get out of their isolation and do something-maybe even ice fishing.

While I’m all for introducing new people to the great outdoor winter adventure of ice fishing, I would also like to advise newcomers to be very careful when you plan to venture out onto the ice. I would highly recommend that folks wanting to get into the activity should plan to go out a few times with someone who has experience on the ice. Trust me; lakes do not freeze everywhere on the lake at the same rate; wind, springs, and other factors may influence how much ice there is and where it forms. Make sure there is sufficient, safe ice, and above all, put safety first.