Breaking the Ice
It ’ s a crisp and cloudy winter afternoon on Lake Bomoseen , and the owner and founder of Fish Hounds Outdoors , Captain James Vladyka , is in truly rare form . Although he is kneeling down on the ice in the middle of a frozen lake , his affect is warm and gregarious . Rising to his feet , he holds his graphite fishing rod in one hand , brandishing a recently-caught freshwater crappie in the other . As he stands near a narrow , circular fishing hole , a fleeting ray of sunlight casts faint shadows on his Vexilar electronic fish finder and Clam drill plate . It ’ s a scene that wouldn ’ t be out of place in an awardwinning outdoor sports documentary , but for Vladyka , it ’ s just another day at the office .
While the tools and techniques that he uses in his fishing quests may seem intimidating or complex to a casual observer , Vladyka prides himself in his ability to create enjoyable , accessible , and memorable experiences for his clients . Through his work as a fishing and hunting guide , Vladyka shares his passion for outdoor recreation with anglers and hunters of all ages and skill levels , providing them with critical instruction that helps them elevate their knowledge and mastery of their chosen sports . Vladyka has built a respected name for himself as an ambassador for Vermont fishing and hunting , and his ice fishing exploits have been featured on a number of high-profile media outlets , such as World Fishing Network and Outdoor Channel .
In the middle of the busy winter season , Vladyka stepped away from the ice to share some valuable gear and technique tips and fun fishing stories with VERMONT Magazine . Whether he ’ s out on the ice with his clients , enjoying the great outdoors with lifelong friends , appearing in televised features , or conducting informative
6 VERMONT MAGAZINE seminars at industry conventions , Vladyka applies the same spirit of adventurous joie-de-vivre to all of his endeavors . By the time he packs up his gear and heads home for the night , he always manages to break the ice in a way that leaves a lasting impression .
Good Gear , Great Preparation – Priceless Memories
Vladyka says that whenever he makes tentative plans to go ice fishing , there is a palpable feeling of excitement in the air . “ Whether I ’ m going out there to have a good time with my friends or I ’ m going out there to be serious and try to catch a big fish , I just can ’ t wait to get out there .” He adds that regardless of your experience level , it ’ s always incredibly important to properly prepare before heading onto the ice .
According to Vladyka , the ice in Central and Northern Vermont is usually thick enough to support ice fishers by January . “ It can get up to three feet thick on some of the lakes . Still , you shouldn ’ t judge the thickness of the ice by sight alone , even if you see someone else on it . The same body of water can freeze thicker or thinner in different spots . It depends on factors like currents and water depth .” Vladyka says that certain pieces of safety gear are absolutely essential — especially in the earliest part of the season . “ You never want to walk out there without a rope and some ice picks . That way , if you or someone else that you ’ re fishing with falls through , you can move to the edge of the ice and get pulled out more easily .”