BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 25, 2026
Ice fishing? Why would you want to do that? The north wind comes blowing across a frozen Maine lake and bites into your cheeks. You are cold most of the time. Frozen fingers are your reward for baiting and rebaiting hooks. You finally get a promising ice hole going and, before long, it skims over again. The fishing can be ponderous. So why do we do it? I have my reasons. Ice fishing has a gambling facet to it — an outdoor roll of the dice. You lose more than you win. But like a good day at the tables in Las Vegas, when Lady Luck finally tilts your way, it can be truly memorable. ~ V. Paul Reynolds