Warmth on the ice: Fishers cherish community that pops up yearly on frozen Manitoba lake | 24CA News
As the temperatures drop and the ice thickens, little communities pop up throughout southwestern Manitoba lakes.
Dozens of ice fishing shacks dot Lake Minnedosa, positioned about 220 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, stuffed with households, pals and fishing gear.
Steve Woychyshyn had an impromptu day on the lake with some pals Saturday. They needed to reap the benefits of the nice and cozy climate hovering round –10 C, Woychyshyn mentioned, as a result of it is often round –30 C in January which may make for chilly days on the lake.
“On a day like this you just can’t help but get out … It’s such a great atmosphere,” Woychyshyn mentioned.
“We don’t only fish here, but we snowmobile out here and have snacks and supper and meals and stuff like that.”
Ice fishing just isn’t solely about catching a fish, Woychyshyn mentioned. It’s about the neighborhood that emerges on the lake every winter.
Typically the ice is alive with smoke from the shacks and folks hopping between completely different fishing spots. He says he often takes his sons Alex and Lucas out on the lake as a result of it is a possibility to get recent air and revel in mom nature.
Dozens of ice fishing shacks dot Lake Minnedosa, positioned about 220 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, as individuals collect to ice fish and benefit from the hotter winter.
Woychyshyn has been out for the final couple of weekends. On his final journey they caught about eight jackfish, which he mentioned was thrilling for his youngsters.
“It’s, you know, the socializing aspect too … you get out here and enjoy the fresh air, camaraderie with friends and family,” he mentioned.
“It’s just a lot of fun.”
This sense of neighborhood and camaraderie encourages individuals to take satisfaction within the lake. He says they maintain it clear and take care of one another so everybody can benefit from the house.
Ice fishing is a improbable exercise for households, he mentioned. Woychyshyn’s sons have a “blast” on the ice whether or not they’re fishing, taking part in with the neighbourhood canine or racing round taking part in on the ice.
“At the end of the day you go home. You’re actually tired from all the fresh air and just having fun,” Woychyshyn mentioned.
“When I’ve got my boys and my family and friends around, the best part is just being out again in the fresh air and the socializing and just making memories.”
It is a tight-knit neighborhood on the ice in Minnedosa every winter season, mentioned Austin Taylor. The shacks are positioned shut collectively so it is easy to go to and everyone seems to be all the time prepared to supply a serving to hand when somebody wants it.
Taylor caught 4 fish within the two hours he had been on Minnedosa Lake, making it a “decent day.”
This winter season is off to a very good begin as a result of he caught about 27 fish up to now within the final month. He tries to exit as a lot as attainable — over the vacations he had every week off from work and was out on the ice nearly day by day.
Taylor has been ice fishing for in regards to the final 4 years.
He put his shack close to a pal who initially acquired him into the game. Taylor mentioned as quickly as they solid the primary reel, he was in love with ice fishing. He regarded ahead to being out on the lake along with his rods and was impressed to construct his personal shack about three years in the past.
“I would always come out here and you know watch him fish and hang out with him,” Taylor mentioned.
“He kind of just taught me how he did it … I took inspiration, so I built my own.”
He tries to maintain his ice shack clear so he can match as many individuals as attainable inside, and retains it heat with a robust little wooden range to allow them to take pleasure in their time ready for fish to tug at a fishing line.
“I like just being able to light a fire, putting rods down … and you just wait and then your fish pop up,” Taylor mentioned.
