It appears that we could be in store for a more traditional winter this year.

We’ve already been “treated” to several weeks of cold, snowy weather, and that trend seems likely to continue. And after a couple of mild winters the past two years, it’s probably appropriate to say, “We were due.”

But not being a fan of winter personally, I’m looking forward to catching up with my reading and research while hoping spring gets here sooner than later.

Folks often ask me if I go ice fishing. While I have done some ice fishing, I freely confess that I don’t find it all that interesting. I really enjoy the casting component of fishing, whether with fly, spinning or bait-casting tackle. So dropping a bait down a hole in the ice doesn’t generate much gratification in that regard.

When I was in my 20s, however, two older friends who were very dedicated ice fishermen always took me with them a time or two each winter. They had plenty of extra gear so all I had to do was dress warmly enough and show up.

My contribution to those outings was bringing a thermos of hot soup and a portable stove to cook up some hot dogs or venison burgers. Those simple lunches were a welcome feast out there on the ice and a gesture that got me invited back each season.

My original ice-fishing mentors have both been gone for many years now. I still remember the special modified sleds they constructed to transport all their gear and other necessities over the ice. They took a great deal of pride in having everything they could possibly need during a day on the ice all organized and ingeniously stowed away on those compact ice carts.

I can only imagine how delighted they would be with all of the high-tech ice equipment available nowadays.

Of course, the ultimate in high-tech ice gear has to be some of the on-ice electronics available today. Sonar units designed for fishermen, often called fishfinders, have long been almost standard equipment on board almost any fishing boat. Now portable, battery-powered units have been adapted for use on the ice. Many of them are capable of giving accurate readings right through the ice.

That capability makes it possible for an angler who knows the water he is fishing to locate precisely specific underwater structure that is likely to hold fish, such as drop offs, old creek channels, weed beds or humps. And when on a new lake, an angler prospecting with sonar can usually learn more in one afternoon than in several years of trial and error.

One of the most remarkable technological advances in recent years might be the simple underwater TV cameras that have appeared on the market. These electronic gadgets are being embraced by both open-water and ice fishermen.

The ice guy can lower the miniature camera down a second hole a few feet from his bait or lure, an ice angler viewing a monitor topside can actually watch any fish that approach his offering. If he is getting more lookers than takers on a given day, that can be a good indication that changing baits might be in order.

The milder winters in recent years here in our part of the world so often don’t serve up much in the way of ice-fishing opportunities. Therefore, it’s easy to understand that most folks probably would have a hard time justifying the investment in sophisticated electronics that would just sit on a shelf most winters.

Officers wanted

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recently announced that the agency is recruiting applicants for the next class of Waterways Conservation Officer trainees. WCOs are the law enforcement officers for the Fish and Boat Commission, but their duties often include a wide variety of other functions along with enforcing the fishing and boating regulations of Pennsylvania. WCOs are involved in stocking fish and public outreach activities with clubs and conservation organizations.

An applicant for WCO Trainee must be a Pennsylvania resident at least 21 years of age. They must be a high school graduate or GED and have a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. Applicants will also be required to pass a criminal history background check, a drug test and a Civil Service exam.

Applications will only be accepted online. To view the announcement and apply, visit the Pennsylvania employment website at: www.employment.pa.gov. The State Civil Service Commission will begin accepting applications now through Feb. 3. Upon submitting an application for this position, applicants will be required to take the SCSC exam no later than March 5.

Those selected for trainee positions will undergo a comprehensive one-year paid training program at the PFBC’s H.R. Stackhouse School of Fishery Conservation and Watercraft Safety in Bellefonte, Centre County and various other training sites in Pennsylvania. Trainees will study law enforcement principles and practices, fish and boat laws, watercraft safety, environmental protection and other related content, along with training in law enforcement principles and practices, weapons use, defensive tactics and physical training. The class of trainees is expected to report for training later this year and graduate in the summer of 2026.

For more information on the position, visit the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com). On the homepage, click on “Newsroom” and then go to the link for Jan. 6, 2025, “PFBC to recruit new class of Waterways Conservation Officer trainees.”