Background information
Penguin ski and snowboard clothing was born out of a passion for freeriding
by Siri Schubert
Good luck in the ski area
28.2.2020
Translation: machine translated
When I think of ice fishing, images of Scandinavia or Alaska come to mind. But here in the Alps, too, it's currently ice fishing season on frozen mountain lakes. I dare to step out onto the thin ice.
Ice fishing is new territory for me. Although I've stood on the lakeshore with a fishing rod several times, I've only ever thought of ice fishing in the far north and not in our Alps. To find out more, I take a trip to the Hoch-Ybrig ski resort in the canton of Schwyz. Five minutes' walk from the mountain station, at 1500 metres above sea level, lies the Seeblisee. Here you can fish on the frozen mountain lake from December to March.
Ice fishing: only under supervision
I meet Annemarie and Ernst on site. If you want to go ice fishing on the Seeblisee, there's no way around them. Only they can issue you with the necessary licence. As only a limited number of fishermen are allowed on the ice each day, you have to register for a date in advance on their website. In addition to the patent, they also make their mountain hut available. Here they take care of your physical well-being. A tasty meal is provided for all fishermen at lunchtime. If the winter temperatures are too cold for you, you can also warm up with coffee or tea in the heated parlour.
Your main task, however, is your safety. As the law states that the owner of the lake is liable in the event of accidents, they are always on site when fishing takes place. They look at the condition of the ice and decide whether fishing is allowed or not. "The ice is currently half a metre thick," Annemarie tells me. She also explains to me that there are two different types of ice: "Black ice is very compact and from 20 centimetres thick enough for ice fishing. White ice has to be at least 25 centimetres thick." She also recommends that I only go out on the ice with snowshoes. "At the moment, we only have a small pre-ice layer on the surface. There is a little water underneath until the actual layer of ice appears. You shouldn't get wet with snowshoes."
Annemarie tells me that the fish in the almost four-metre-deep Seeblisee have all been released: "The Seeblisee only has two small streams feeding into it. Natural reproduction therefore does not take place. We have to transfer the trout and char from a nearby farm around six times a year." For this reason, only three trout can be taken from the lake per patent. However, if you want to take more fish, you can buy another patent. The money earned from this is invested in the purchase of new breeding fish. The circle closes, so to speak.
You can stay at home in a breeze
As a general rule, the colder it is, the more inactive the fish are. I was also aware that fish are less hungry during the spawning season and that I have fewer bites on my bait as a result. I learnt something new from Annemarie: "Fish are very sensitive to air pressure. If there's a breeze, you can stay at home. You'll catch almost nothing."
The pro also has a few tips on bait: "As only fly fishing (artificial bait) is permitted on the Seeblisee in summer, natural bait works better in winter." Classics such as damsels and larvae work well. She does not recommend hegenen (several hooks on the line): "More than two hooks at the same time is not recommended. You'll quickly have a mess in the small hole with the hegene."
As the fish are on the move, you should also change your position occasionally. If you have no bites on different lures within half an hour, you can move on and drill a new hole. You can also return to a previous hole at a later time and try again. If you don't try, you don't win.
What does the future hold?
By now, even opponents of the climate debate should have realised that winters are no longer like they used to be. Higher temperatures lead to less snowfall and also less ice on the lake. "Thirty years ago, we had snow here until we dropped," remembers Ernst, pointing across the lake. Annemarie also remembers better times: "Normally the season runs from December to March. Last year, we had to close at the end of February because the lake had too little ice." It is impossible to predict how long ice fishing will still be possible here, but the coming years will tell.
Riding my motorbike makes me feel free, fishing brings out my inner hunter, using my camera gets me creative. I make my money messing around with toys all day.
Outdoor
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