GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – If you live near Little Bay de Noc, you have likely seen dozens of people ice fishing on the frozen water over the last few days. An upcoming event intends to help female anglers feel more confident on the ice.
Corie Berrigan is the founder of Upper Michigan Women Anglers and the owner of Fishing 4All Seasons. In her time as a fishing guide, educator, and angler, she noticed a trend.
“I’ve been ice fishing out here for years, and most of the time, I just see men out there,” she said.
To get more females involved in ice fishing, she launched a Women’s Ice Fishing Clinic last winter. The free clinic returns January 9 – 11, and Berrigan says it is meeting a great demand.
“We had about 35 people attending the clinic last year, and I had ten instructors,” she said. “This year, the clinic is more than doubled, so it’s definitely been a need.”
Women will learn the essentials of ice fishing, including one aspect that makes many people apprehensive—ice safety.
“You don’t need to be afraid of it, but you do need to respect ice,” Berrigan said. “It’s always changing, so knowing what to look for, how to check ice.”
Delta County Search and Rescue will give an in-depth presentation on what to be aware of and share their expertise.
“We are very fortunate to have these people here to help us, you know, if there’s an emergency,” said Berrigan. “They’ll go through the gear, go through all the things with checking ice, and much more.”
The rest of the weekend will include sessions on fish habits, rigging and knots, and selecting the proper rod and line for each species.
“You have ultra lights, lights, medium, medium lights, to heavies and so on,” Berrigan said. “When to use monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid. How to attach a leader without a swivel. Basically, a lot of the ins and outs.”
On the final day, attendees will get to use the information and skills they’ve learned while ice fishing themselves.
“We’ll do some classes on ice Sunday morning, and then it’s free fishing all the rest of the day,” said Berrigan.
In addition to bringing a large group of women to the area, organizers get Delta County businesses involved in the clinic. Because of that, Berrigan says the event provides a nice boost to the local economy.
“We are at Bayshore Bait and Hideaway right now,” she said. “Down the road, we have Bay View Bait & Tackle. A lot of our ladies are staying at Hillcrest Motel, the Vagabond Resort. We’re going to stop for lunch at the Rapid River Pub. It’s a team effort, it really is.”
That collaboration enables experienced women anglers to help newcomers achieve independence on the ice.
“It’s about teaching women that it’s okay to go out on your own; it’s okay to go ice fishing,” Berrigan said. “Knowledge is really key, so it’s just helping ladies get out there and making fishing more accessible. It’s all about just helping each other.”
Although there is no cost to attend the Women’s Ice Fishing Clinic, registration is required. To sign up or to learn more, click here.
