Lure of the ice
FRANKLIN TWP — The recent frigid temperatures have many people looking forward to spring and warmer weather.
But others have reason to appreciate what winter has to offer.
For the past several weeks, people have flocked to frozen Lake Arthur in hopes of catching a wide variety of fish — pike, walleye, muskie, largemouth bass and bluegill, to name a few.
While Lake Arthur is not the only site in Butler County for ice fishing, its sheer size makes it the most popular.
“We've had a lot of hard freezes recently,” said Brian Flores, assistant manager at Moraine State Park, which surrounds the lake. “There have been a lot of days when the temperature hasn't gotten out of the 20s, and this lake attracts people from all over.”
While the entire lake is available for ice fishing, Flores said the area near the bridge that carries Route 528 over the lake “is the most popular. Muddy Creek flows into the lake near there, and fish tend to migrate to that channel.”
At least four inches of ice is recommended, but the thickness can vary by the location. Sections of Lake Arthur have six inches of ice, while others have just three, which forced some people to leave Saturday and try their luck another day.
Despite this, Tony Civitarese believes Lake Arthur is the prime site in the region.“The ice was breaking up recently on Lake Erie,” said Civitarese, a resident of Franklin Township. “There's only a small portion at Pymatuning that's currently (thick enough). Right now, Lake Arthur is the best spot for ice fishing in Western Pennsylvania.“I moved to Butler County in 1990, but have been ice fishing here for about 40 years,” he added.After choosing a spot, fishermen drill a hole in the ice — up to 10 inches in diameter — using an auger, which can be manual, electric or gas-powered.Another piece of equipment is a shelter or shanty. Insulated, heated and often big enough for four or five people, it protects fishermen from the elements.For Civitarese, a shanty is as much a necessity as are an auger and bait.“It's not so much the cold that bothers me,” he said. “I've ice fished in Canada when it was 20 below. But when that wind picks up, even here at Lake Arthur, it's really tough if you aren't in a shanty.”Artificial bait can be used in ice fishing, but many choose live bait in the form of shiners or suckers. That's what Ron Hasychak prefers, and he's been ice fishing long enough to know what works.“I've been going out for 35 years,” said Hasychak, 59, of West Sunbury. “Me, my brother Keith and my nephew Kyle. What else is there to do this time of the year?“Everybody has fun things they like to do. This is fun for us.”
A tip-up is often used to let an angler know that a fish has been hooked. It's a wooden or plastic device placed underwater along with the line and bait. When a fish takes the bait, a flag pops up above the ice.Like many outdoor activities, ice fishing is often passed from one generation of a family to the next.Boyers resident Hunter Fitzingo, 20, was introduced to the sport 11 years ago by his father, Greg Fitzingo.“I fell in love with it right away,” Hunter said.The two were on the ice Saturday for the fourth time this season. As is the case with traditional fishing, patience is a virtue. Hunter snagged a 28-inch pike after a five-hour wait.“Bringing a fish in is more difficult when on the ice,” he said. “If you're using a tip-up, you have to hand-reel it in.”Locals aren't the only ones familiar with Lake Arthur this time of the year. An ice-fishing tournament was conducted there Saturday and attracted anglers from all over.People who love the sport welcome a winter as cold as this one. Last year, Lake Arthur saw very few days suitable for ice fishing because of mild temperatures.“We just sat around the house,” said Greg Fitzingo. “It's usually just me and Hunter out here, but we love it. We're coming back.”
