Local ice-fishermen brave freezing weather, ice hazards

James Tasker carefully props a small fishing rod over a clean hole on Lake Bawbeese. The ice is only four inches thick. It's thick enough, but an ice shanty floating 100 yards from him serves as an eerie reminder of the dangers of ice fishing.
It's 19 degrees out; factor in the wind, and your fingers turn numb in seconds. Within minutes they're frostbitten. But still the icemen come.
"That's what usually really turns a lot of people off," Tasker said. "It's the cold. A lot of people think only crazy people do it. It's definitely not a game."
Over on the shore, two ice fishermen began pulling a metal wreck that was once a shanty out of the freezing water. But this is only a minor setback; they'll only be fishing without a shelter.
For avid fishers, the only problem with winter is waiting for the ice to freeze. Those hardy enough, however, are rewarded with a year-round supply of fresh fish. Perch, pike, blue gills and crappies are all available within Hillsdale County, and are all ready to be caught by those willing to venture outside.
Senior Joseph Stempien ice-fishes every year, and has fished on Lake Bawbeese before. He said Bawbeese was lacking in fish, and turned to Coldwater Channel Lakes, where he fishes now.
The equipment needed to ice fish is fairly basic. Stempien suggested a beginner take a pole, an auger or spud to break the ice and some bait, such as wax worms. Layered clothing is strongly suggested, especially socks. He said it's also nice to have a depth reader or fish tracker. Stempien said he used a camera to watch for fish on occasion.
"It's good to hang out with friends, get out and relax," Stempien said.
He said that bait matters too: wax worms and small bait for smaller fish, such as schools of perch which come and go, and minnows for pike and walleyes.
Beyond equipment, a fisher would need to get a license, and to keep the Department of Natural Resources from confiscating any fish you may catch. Stempien warned of a time when DNR rangers fined fishermen who caught two walleyes, one of them a prize fish, $500 for their extra fish.
Greg Morrison, who fishes with Tasker, said a little technique is needed to successfully fish.
"I usually start six inches off of the bottom and work my way up," he said.
Others use more basic methods.
Gerald Tremaine lays flat on the ice covering his hole with his face and hand. He's been fishing Bawbeese for the past week with nothing but a bucket, auger and a pole called a jig, which he constantly bobs over his head.
"Yeah, they're right there; right on the bottom," Tremaine said. "I see two of 'em. One's about 12 inches long."
A few minutes later he catches the smaller of the two. He hurries to get back down on the ice, pausing only to answer his phone.
"Hey I gotta go the fish are bitin," Tremaine said immediately. "Yeah, it's just me, I gotta go."
Tremaine plops back into prone position, and begins bobbing his jig again.