It's been said that to be a true northerner you have to fish at least half of the time you're awake. This is definitely an exaggeration, but people certainly love to fish in the north country.

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Summer is usually when most of the fishing is done, however the fishing is still good during the winter months as well.

Native American tribes of the boreal forest relied on the forest and waterways to provide them with everything: clothing, shelter, transportation, and most importantly, food. Fish has always been a staple of Cree and Ojibwe diets. Sturgeon, walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and lake trout were usually caught during the summer months. The fish that wasn't eaten right away was smoked to preserve it for future consumption.

Relying on the forest for your food means you have to be prepared to run out of food. When this happens, you have to find more, or else pay the consequences. So, during the winter months, the Cree and Ojibwe, and later the voyageurs and fur traders, would have to supplement their winter food supply by ice fishing. Many Cree and Ojibwe people chose to fish where the water remained free of ice, like rivers.

To begin ice fishing, you need to cut a hole in the ice. Traditionally an ice chisel was used to break through the ice, now many people use augers or power augers. Ice chisels are about 7-8 feet long and have a small beveled head on one end. An ice chisel is an amazing tool. When used properly, an ice chisel can make a hole in 3 feet of ice in under 2 minutes.

Ice fishing essentially follows the same basics of fishing during the summer. There are a few differences, though. Ice fishers use much smaller rods. Ice fishing rods are only 1-2 feet long. Ice fishing also requires different strategies. Since you're limited to the area of your own hole, you can't really move.

Today, however, many people erect small houses on the ice, where they can fish more comfortably. Many of the ice houses have wood-burning stoves or electrical heat. Some even have television. I wonder what the native North Americans would think of that.