“It’s almost unbelievable,” I say out loud. Our group–comprised of Sean Casper, TGO video producer; Steve Oakley, our audio manager; Mike Rogers, friend and master angler; Gary Coulman, inventor of the famous Ice Rigger; and Scott Gangle of Fish Hunter Guide service–are gathered with me around a TV at Roy Lake Resort in Lake City, South Dakota, watching a local early morning weather report. For the last several days, temperatures have been terribly cold, suspended around 30 below (Fahrenheit), and strong Dakota winds have been adding significantly to the wind chill.
Today is different: A cold front is expected. It’s colder and the winds are blowing even harder, creating wind chills exceeding 50 below zero. Even here in the Dakotas, where the people are acclimated and know how to deal with dangerous cold, the message to them is dire: Don’t go outside unless you must.
“If just one component freezes up, our day—perhaps our entire trip—is over.”
It wouldn’t be so bad if we were going to sit back and jig pan fish or walleye from inside Mike’s temperature controlled Sno-Bear or Scott’s portable shelter with a warming propane heater. But our plan is to fish Ice Riggers–basically elaborate rod holders that feature a tip-up like flag that trips when a fish bites, then allow the line to free spool into the hole as the fish runs. Using this system in the extreme cold and snow blowing winds, our Ice Riggers will require special set-ups and continual monitoring, meaning someone will need to stay outside.
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