By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
You are probably aware of local hospitals and media celebrating the birth of the first baby of the year. Those New Year’s babies and their families get some publicity and maybe some goodies. It is an event, and baby to be celebrated!
My “new year” does not start until I am ice fishing for the first time. This new year did not start until later than I would have liked, but this past week I finally got on the ice!
To commemorate the new year each year, I designate a “New Year’s Fish”.
Now I suppose the first fish through the hole should be the “New Year’s Fish”, but this is my little celebration so I get to pick the fish worthy of that title.
Most times a small panfish of one species or another would have been the actual first fish through the hole. This year a yellow perch of about 10 inches would have been the actual first fish to come through my ice hole. I did not christen that fish as “New Year’s Fish, 2025”.
Instead, the pike I caught later was chosen as this year’s New Year’s Fish! That fish was not a big pike by any means, but it was caught on a jigging pole with no leader. Any time I am able to hook a pike while jigging with no leader and eventually coax it through the hole without it breaking off, that is a notable catch. Therefore, that fish is featured in this blog post as this year’s New Year’s Fish!
Right now we have ice. I have been on the ice from one corner of Nebraska to the other in the past week. Several other fish have come through my ice holes, and I believe there are a lot more to come!
Have a great weekend! Hope you get on the ice, just make sure it is safe!