Pro anglers to present ice-fishing seminar

While comprising a relatively small portion of Pennsylvania anglers, the "Frozen Chosen" are among the most devoted.

Yes, they are the ice fishermen who live to walk on, rather than in, water to cast their lines. And the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has a special treat for these hardy souls Monday, Jan. 24, from 7-9 p.m., following the first day of the agency's two-day quarterly meeting at its headquarters, located at 1601 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg.

That evening, a special free seminar will feature professional ice fishing anglers from the North East Ice Tour. Pre-registration is required, however, by accessing the PFBC website at www.fishandboat.com for the "Ice Fishing: The Basics and Beyond" seminar by pro anglers and Pennsylvania residents Bob Griffith, Mike Kuna and Byron Eckardt.

They will discuss ice safety, apparel, equipment and tools and tips and tricks as they share their experiences as professional anglers. Griffith and Kuna topped last year's points race to earn Team of the Year honors in the North East Ice Tour, which is a series of professional level tournaments held throughout the Northeast, and Eckardt is the pro who operates the Northeast portion of the tour.

Griffith has been fishing since he was six-years-old, expanding his enjoyment of the sport from open water to include ice fishing in 1992 and fell in love with the sport. He quickly progressed from pure fun fishing to successfully competing in tournaments for the last eight years, fishing from Vermont to Minnesota, from Lake Erie to Maryland.

Currently, Griffith is a pro-staff member for Clam Corporation, Maki Plastics, Jason Mitchell fishing rods and Charlie Brewer slider grubs. And in addition to being teammates, he and Kuna are cousins and have teamed to compile multiple top-10 finishes in tournaments, including two first-place finishes.

Kuna has been an avid ice fisherman for seven years and has fished in ice fishing tournaments throughout the "Ice Belt" and the Northeast. He, too, is a pro-staff member for Clam, Maki, Mitchell rods and Brewer slider grubs, and along with Griffith is cofounder of The Keystone Crappie Association of Pennsylvania.

Eckardt has been ice fishing the lakes of central Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. In addition to operating the Northeast Ice Tour, he is a pro-staff member for Jiffy Ice Drills and publishes "The North East Ice Fisherman" magazine.

According to the three pros, the basic need for good ice fishing clothing begins with the proper footwear. Insulated rubber boots large enough for inserting felt liners is a better choice than snugger-fitting hunting boots, as they provide space for wearing extra socks and provide warmth by their loose-fitting design.

Outer clothing should be layered to trap air that provides more warmth than a single heavy jacket or parka. It is best that the outer layer be water and wind resistant, and many veteran ice anglers use bibs or coveralls.

Even if wearing a hooded outer garment or sweatshirt, it is important to wear a hat. As much as 80 percent of body heat can escape through the head, so the best all-around choice is a knitted wool cap, rather than a baseball-style hat.

Today, there are many styles of flexible, waterproof gloves on the market expressly designed for outdoors activities. Many ice anglers, however, still prefer wearing wool gloves when working on the ice, then covering them with large mittens or keeping their hands in a muff while waiting for a bite.

Compared to other forms of fishing, ice tackle is relatively inexpensive and can often be made from old or broken rods. Buckets with lids can be used to store gear and then double as a seat on the ice, and it is best to use a sled of some type to transport gear.

After that, the only consideration is whether to use propane or charcoal to cook the burgers and hot dogs.