What does ice fishing entail?

Ice fishing specifically refers to the practice of catching freshwater fish by creating holes in a layer of ice that covers a body of water. This method involves employing various tools such as augers or chisels to drill holes into the ice, allowing anglers to fish directly beneath the surface. Unlike strategies involving open water or fishing from boats, ice fishing is characterized by the presence of ice as a barrier and typically requires specialized gear due to the cold conditions and the need to fish through a limited access point.

While taking fish through traps or using boats might seem related, they do not capture the essential nature of ice fishing, which focuses on directly accessing fish beneath the ice. The defining aspect of ice fishing is the technique of actively fishing through intentionally made openings in the ice.