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While most anglers hang up their rod and reel for the winter, those willing to dare freezing temperatures and sometimes perilous terrain, can enjoy not only an extended fishing season, but also a weighty catch.

Long popular in Europe and Canada, ice fishing offers a way to enjoy one of your favorite hobbies even during the coldest months. Venues for enjoying the sport exist throughout the Northern and Western United States. You might have heard of Houghton Lake in Michigan. It is such a popular destination for ice fishing that the frozen lake is often referred to as "Tie-Up-Town" because of the number of shelters erected by fishermen every year. Every winter, Lakes Erie and Michigan see a slew of hopeful sportsmen. Highland Lake in Maine and New York's Lake George are just a couple of destinations for ice fisherman in the Northeast. A good day on Lake George can give you a bucket full of perch, pike, salmon or trout. In Maine, you might catch some bass as well.

Plus, there are plenty of guides and outfits to help you arrange an ice fishing excursion. Because of the numerous safety concerns surrounding the sport, only the experienced ice fisherman should venture out on his or her own. After all, ice must be between eight and twelve inches thick to support the weight of a car, and at least four inches thick not to crack under the weight of a human being. Anyone unaccustomed to being on the ice should not set out over a frozen lake alone.

These same guides can also help you with the specialized equipment unique to ice fishing. While a standard fishing rod measures between five and seven feet long, ice fishing rods are a mere thirty inches long. It's also important to consider having an ice pick and tether to make sure you stay on dry land.

And while safety always comes first, we can't help but think the two most important pieces of equipment might be the stool that gives you a seat during those long hours in the cold and a thermos full of hot coffee.

For more information about ice fishing or to arrange a trip, check out Ice Fishing World or the Ice Fishing Directory.