Many families ski together in the winter months, or go sledding or ice-skating as a clan, but another winter sport, ice fishing, is now safe and accessible.
Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan offers an all-inclusive, family ice fishing package. It includes a room overlooking Delavan Lake, breakfast in the new Frontier Restaurant and all of the supplies needed for ice fishing, including an ice shanty and a two-hour guide service to help guests find the best fishing spots and drill holes.
"We have a dedicated team that can accompany families out on the ice, help them find a prime spot and drill the holes," says Peter Zellmer, general manager of Lake Lawn Resort. "We make it very likely that your kids will pull up some fish."
The cost of the family ice fishing package is $249, and guests can upgrade their room for an additional $50.
Delavan Lake is one of the top fishing lakes in the region, stocked with northern pike, bass, muskie, bluegill, walleye, crappie and perch. Lake Lawn supports "catch and release" fishing, but families can keep their fish if they prefer.
"It's a great opportunity for you to teach your
family about the local ecosystem and preserving nature," says Zellmer. "But, if you
would like to keep your fish, our guides can help you clean them and
you can even make special arrangements for our chef to fry them up for
you."
For more experienced, already outfitted fishermen, the "Big Catch Getaway" package offers access to Delavan Lake and a selection of drinks for adults. This package starts at $149 and includes a room with a fireplace and breakfast in the Frontier Restaurant.
The locally owned Lake Lawn Resort has been open for more than 130 years and has more than 250 wooded lakeside acres in the Geneva Lakes region, 45 minutes from Milwaukee.
To ice fish with your family, remember these important rules provided by Lake Lawn resort:
• Seldom is ice uniformly thick over a large area; get measurements for the entire area surrounding your location.
• When bringing an automobile on the ice, try to park at least 50 feet away from others and move every two hours to prevent cracking or sinking; drill a hole next to your car and watch it; if water starts to overflow out of the hole, the ice is sinking and it’s time to move.
• It’s always a good idea to wear a life vest under your winter gear.
• Dress one layer warmer than you think you should.
• Keep hydrated; your body is working hard to keep you warm and needs water.
• Bring a first aid kit; hooks, knives, drills and other ice fishing equipment can easily cause cuts and other injuries.
• Bring a buddy, but wait on the booze; alcohol can speed hypothermia; it’s best to wait until the end of the day to have a drink and celebrate.
• Talk to children about ice safety before going fishing.
"We've heard from families that say they'd like to take their kids ice fishing, but didn't know where to start. Our goal is to make it easy, so there's no reason not to," says Zellmer. "That's what it's all about -- watching your kids beam ear to ear as they reel in their first catch from the ice."
