A few weeks ago, right before our trip to NH for Christmas and all the madness with our pets getting sick, the kids and I got to try ice fishing for the first time. If you know me, adventures are my jam. I always need something planned. I need something to look forward to, and I found out that the Department of Fish and Game was holding a beginners day ice fishing at Tanana Lakes. It was cold but not too cold, so we bundled up and off we went!
Trying Ice Fishing at Tanana Lakes
We’ve done a lot of fishing at Fort Wainwright, but we’ve never been ice fishing before, so this was going to be a first for us. Now, mind you, it’s also winter in Fairbanks, Alaska. I said before that it wasn’t that cold, and it wasn’t, but winters here are chilly. It was about -8F the day we went fishing, so we all bundled up, had hand and foot warmers on deck, and made our way to Tanana Lakes, which is about 15 minutes from where we live on post.
The Department of Fish and Game had a tent set up right on the lake and was hard at work drilling the ice fishing holes for visitors and – surprisingly (perhaps only to me) – people came. In fact, there were quite a few people there, all braving the cold just like us. The organizers provided little hand lines, bait, and all the jigs we’d need to fish, gave us some pointers, and that was basically it…off we went.
Ice Fishing with Kids
I’ll be honest here; I don’t think we actually learned a ton whilst ice fishing, barring a few little tips. For example, we now know where the expression “fishing in the hole” comes from. Because the ice on Tanana Lake was about 14 inches thick, we had to ensure we let out a enough line to get below the ice hole. We also learned that it’s less about casting, and more about sort of “bobbing” your line and trying it out at different depths.
Now, Spencer and Mieke don’t really love fishing because it requires patience, but Spencer actually enjoyed it a good bit. Mieke got chilly fast because we were sitting a lot, so she called it and sat in a warm car after about an hour. The rest of us continued for about 2.5 hours, had a blast, and actually caught a few tiny king salmon and rainbow trout.
Ice Fishing in Fairbanks, Alaska
I think the coolest part of this whole experience is that it was the absolute opposite of ice fishing at the trout festival in Pyeongchang (of course). It was so understated and fun, and honestly, you don’t need a ton of new, exciting gear. You need warm clothes, patience, and a good mindset. Obviously, there are things you can invest in like a fishing tent, warmers, your own drill, etc., but there are also ways to do it on the cheap, which we definitely will. Here are some ways to go ice fishing in Fairbanks:
- Fairbanks North Star Borough – Go ice fishing at Chena Lake (or Tanana) and rent a hut for the day
- AK River Tours – Enjoy “fish and cook” tours at Chena Lake, fully guided with gear provided
- Rod’s Alaskan Guide Services – Enjoy a guided ice fishing experience and add-ons like dog mushing and aurora viewing
Tips for Ice Fishing in Fairbanks, Alaska
- You need an updated Alaska Fishing License – minor children must be accompanied by a licensed adult
- Make sure you know your fish limits; many of these lakes are well-stocked, so the fishing is pretty good
- Wear the right gear; we’re novices and didn’t have proper waterproof fishing gloves for winter, so we got chilly
- Have fun!