VERMONT Magazine Winter 2023 | Page 13

Breaking the Ice
up and separates from the rest of the fish , the other fish are less likely to scatter when that fish gets hooked .” Vladyka adds that it is also important to use a subtle cadence and not move the pole back and forth with exaggerated movements . “ You don ’ t want to move it very fast , and you don ’ t want to completely stop moving , either . I always tell clients that it ’ s similar to a dog chasing a car . If you drive past your neighbor ’ s dog very fast , he ’ s not going to chase you back home . If you come by the neighbor ’ s driveway and stop in front of it , the dog ’ s not going to be interested in the car . If you drive at the perfect speed , the dog will follow you all the way down the road to your house . You have to find a happy medium . By the same logic , if you drop the line right above the fish and pull it back up very slowly , the fish will most likely follow you until it bites . You just have to read the situation correctly , which comes with time and practice .”
For ice fishers who are looking to camp out on the ice for extended periods of time , Vladyka highly recommends investing in a shelter . He touts the versatility of the Clam Flip-Over shelter , and says that it is a perfect fit for ice fishers who want to travel lightly . “ It ’ s basically like a sled that has a tent on it . You put all of your gear on it and drag it behind you . When you get to the place that you want to be , you drill your hole , flip it over , and you ’ re ready to fish . If you bring a portable heater with you , you can stay nice and warm in there when it ’ s freezing outside .” Fishers who are interested in setting up multiple tip-ups and cooking food out on the ice would be wise to purchase a Clam Hub Shelter . “ They ’ re good for bigger groups , and they ’ re very easy to set up .”
Many of Vermont ’ s most avid ice fishers build durable , solid shelters called “ hard houses .” Some hard houses are driven out by four-wheelers or trucks during the apex of the season . “ People build extravagant things ,” notes Vladyka . “ They ’ ll take old pop-up campers , take the
VTMAG . COM WINTER 2023 11