BARNARD, Vt. (WCAX) – Explorers took to the ice banks of frozen lakes for Free Ice Fishing Day in Vermont.
“We just wanted to come here because we’ve never been ice fishing before,” First grader John Zampieri said.
Hundreds of eager anglers like Johnny Zampieri drilled into the ice of Silver Lake State Park for Vermont’s Free Ice Fishing Day. Many braving the ice for the very first time.
“For a lot of people the really big deal today was just stepping onto the lake, that’s the big hurdle for a lot of folks,” Corey Hart, a VT. Fish and Wildlife Education Specialist said.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife move their ice festival to a new fishing hole each year, hoping to get new people to take some steps onto a frozen lake.
The chance to fish without needing to purchase a license gives chances for exploration.
“Little more freedom getting to the deeper spots on the lake ya know. You could be fishing off the bank of a shore without seeing anybody for hours but like when you’re out here you can see people all over,” Philo Rabion of Orange said.
With the chance to learn how to drill a hole, cast a jig and how to identify their catches – anglers of all ages spent the time on the ice learning both the techniques and safety requirements of ice fishing, with many hooking a small perch or two thanks to some borrowed rods.
For other across the state, they’re testing out deeper waters at different bodies of water throughout Vermont, as the event spreads all throughout the Green Mountain State but the Department of Fish and Wildlife said that there’s many different types of people from older to experienced to newer people trying to get into the sport of ice fishing.
“We do get a lot of people though that do have fishing experience that are bringing their families to this type of event because they have access to the equipment but also the educational stations that allow them learn in a more family friendly manner,” Corey Hart, a VT. Fish and Wildlife Education Specialist said.
For some other lucky folks back on Silver Lake, they managed to catch and cook an early lunch.
But others also tackled other avenues of fun besides the fishing.
“A lot of times you bring a family out there they might be building a snowman they might be ice skating its not just about getting out there and ice fishing,” Hart said.
