Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 275 



Ice-fishing: One of the most interesting methods of fishing 

 practiced at Lake Maxinkuckee is that known as ice fishing, or 

 fishing through the ice. A rather careful study was made of this 

 method during the winter of 1900-1901, and a large amount of in- 

 teresting and valuable data secured. 



The apparatus and the method may be described as follows: 



The apparatus consists of a small stick about 15 inches long, 

 f inch thick, 2 inches wide at the reel end and tapering to one 

 inch at the smaller end. On the larger end is placed a spool, 

 usually If inches in diameter and If inches long, upon which the 

 line is wound. The axis of the spool projects on one side as a 

 handle, bent to the shape of the handle of the ordinary reel. About 

 4 or 5 inches from the spool is a hole through the stick through 

 which a round stick somewhat smaller than the hole is placed. An 

 oblong hole is cut in the ice, through which the lower end of the 

 stick is placed until the cross-stick rests upon the ice, adjusted so 

 that the stick stands at an angle of about 40 degrees from perpen- 

 dicular. A piece of red flannel is tied to the handle of the reel 

 which is adjusted so as to stand up. Live minnows are used for 

 bait. Each fisherman will have several, sometimes 15 to 20, 

 spools arranged in a circle in the center of which he stands, keep- 

 ing watch on all. When the red signal of any reel is observed to 

 be turned down he assumes that a fish has taken the minnow of 

 that line and, going to it, he takes the spool in his hand, gives it 

 a jerk to hook the fish, then winds it in. 



Another somewhat similar contrivance used to some extent by 

 ice-fishermen is the tip-up. This consists of a board 24 inches 

 long, f inch thick and about 2 inches wide. A hole is bored 

 through the board from edge to edge about 8 inches from one end. 

 This detached piece, upon the outer end of which the spool is placed 

 is supported by a wooden pin passing through the hole already 

 mentioned and is so balanced that, when the tip-up is properly placed, 

 a slight pull on the upper end brings it down. Usually a small 

 leather flap is fastened upon the frame at the lower end so as to aid 

 in holding the movable piece in place until pulled upon by a fish. 

 The tip-up is set in the ice at an angle of about 45 degrees and the 

 hook is let down through a hole underneath. Live minnows are 

 used for bait. When the bait is taken the movable piece tips, the 

 spool end going down. 



Sometimes the tip-up is simply laid flat on the ice over the 

 hole. The inner (or base) end of the movable piece is painted red 

 so that it may be seen the more readily when it tips up. 



