When walking on the iced-over lake, the slippery ice competed to pull me down. The wind was starting to pick up as it kept trying to blow me away. I only had one ice cleat, an attachment to your shoe with rubber harnesses that have spikes that dig into the ice to keep you from slipping, due to someone else wearing the other. It was not a smart choice on our part, but we had to work with what we had. The walk across the Wyoming iced lake was challenging as I carefully determined where the best places to step were on the ice. However, I made it to where I wanted to be. I had found the perfect spot to go ice fishing. 

Over the long weekend, I flew to Wyoming to visit my brother, who goes to school at the University of Wyoming. My outdoorsy brother spends his free time going hunting and fishing. I was excited when he said that he wanted to take me ice fishing because it would be my first time, and I would get to experience his love for the outdoors. He drove me and his friend to Curt Gowdy State Park in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

While driving through Curt Gowdy State Park to get to the lake, we passed by locals getting their skis and poles ready to go cross-country skiing. I thought that this was fascinating to see because these locals cross-country ski in their free time during the winter, but in Kansas cross country skiing is not a popular activity to do. Many people were ice fishing in their bright-colored tents on the different lakes leading up to the lake where we were fishing. After the car was parked, we walked out of it and started to put warmer gear on. It was a challenge because the wind was intensely blowing. The car door was swinging open and close due to the wind. My brother put the red tent, an auger (a device used to drill a hole in the ice), fishing poles, folding chairs, and other essentials in the sled. Then, we were ready to start our trek on the ice. 

The ice was thick which made me feel more comfortable walking on the lake. One of the main issues was that the ice was very slippery, and I had to take the smallest steps when walking. We walked for ten minutes across the lake. Finally, we made it to the perfect place to start setting up for ice fishing. My brother, knowledgeable about ice fishing, used the auger to drill holes for ice fishing. While he was setting up the tent, I was doing a technique where I was jigging my fishing pole which involves slightly moving the fishing pole up and down. All of a sudden, the end of my rod was bending over and I started to feel a tug. I harshly pulled my rod up and reeled the fish in. Within an hour of ice fishing, I caught a fish. 

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Elesia Guerra

The first catch of the day was a rainbow trout!

After my brother set up the tent, the three of us each ended up catching a fish in the tent. It ended up being such a memorable experience for me. I gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom getting to take part in my brother’s life as an outdoorsman. My first time going ice fishing will definitely not be my last time. It is an adventure that I will never forget!