Darren Dawson has been ice fishing on Torch Lake. I thought you’d like to see what he saw that day. He writes: All of these pictures were taken with my phone from the North end access on Torch Lake. The fish are in about 45 feet of water. I used an underwater video camera (Aqua View) that is attached to a small TV in the shanty. So the pictures I took of the fish were of the TV screen, hence the lines. If I get any more good pictures I will send them your way.
People who are not from Around Here often ask me why on earth a person would want to go ice fishing. This is why.
Torch Lake Views 
Scott Thomas Photography
February 24, 2011
A neat way to peak in on the lives of fish. Just swimming away under the ice. Some of them would make for good eating.
Gerry
February 24, 2011
Isn’t that something, though? It’s as if Torch Lake were one great big aquarium.
P.j. grath
February 24, 2011
How is this possible? Kathy and Gerry have both posted about fish at the very same time, “one hour ago.” Coincidence or conspiracy?
What a slide show, Gerry! Yes, it does almost pull me out onto the ice. —Almost, but maybe not in freezing drizzle.
Gerry
February 24, 2011
It is not surprising that two people who live on a Great Lake might write about fish on the same day, even in winter. What is really surprising is that you did not write about fish! But you did write about a book–OK, that is not a surprise either–and I have spent the better part of the last two hours reading the reviews and comments on the reviews and thinking deep thoughts. And I’m not done yet, either!
I’m glad you liked the slideshow. Me too. (I know, I know, that’s ungrammatical, but it’s the way I really talk.)
kiwidutch
February 24, 2011
Wow what a view, I never realised that fishing took place like this.
It’s incredible that you can see the fish so clearly under the ice.
Is the water below moving enough to be oxygenated? (Stupid question: the fish wouldn’t be there if it were not, right?)
I suppose the TV runs on a generator… amazing what technology allows us to see.
Gerry
February 24, 2011
The camera has lights on it. I don’t know if Darren runs his outfit on a generator or just on batteries, but I’d guess the latter.
Torch Lake is very deep and clean, and is part of a chain of lakes and rivers that empties into Grand Traverse Bay. There is plenty of oxygen in it for all the fish that live there.
If I believed questions were stupid I’d never learn anything.
I’m glad you liked the view!
Kathy
February 24, 2011
Look at that whitefish! Wouldn’t you like whitefish for dinner, Gerry? mmmm….we usually only get lake trout around these parts. Yep, it sounds like we both have ice fishing on our minds. Which isn’t unusual, as half the rest of the community does, too. (All everybody can talk about is our ice blowing out. Instead of chit-chat, it’s ice-chat!)
Gerry
February 24, 2011
I’m holding out for muskie.
Nye
February 24, 2011
I hope Sucker is the name of the fish. 😉 I don’t think I would like ice fishing but do love fishing in other seasons, just not in the cold.
Gerry
February 25, 2011
Yup. That’s the fish. We figure we’re going to be cold anyway. Might as well fish. 🙂
Dawn
February 25, 2011
Wow! As a little kid I always thought the fish were frozen in the ice down there. As an adult I didn’t think about it at all. Now I can say I’ve SEEN big fish far below the ice! How cool!
Gerry
February 25, 2011
Yes indeed, the Cool Factor is very high in northern Michigan.
Anna
February 26, 2011
That is way cool to be able to take photos with the aid of an underwater video camera. Neat! Enjoyed the photos of the fish and that is a gorgeous photo of Torch Lake! 🙂
Gerry
February 26, 2011
Thanks, Anna. I think Darren had a pretty good time out there.
Lois
February 27, 2011
Hi Gerry, I’ve been following the comments made on Darren’s photos, you feel like you could be right down there swimming with the fish. He delivered a nice whitefish to us, it was great. Yesterday he sent me home with burbitt, I don’t know if that’s the correct spelling, I’ll try that tonight.
I have asked Darren to take me ice fishing with him often, but I think the thought of Mom in his “man cave” would change his whole outlook on ice fishing, Hmmm.
Darn that kid. Lois
Gerry
February 27, 2011
Well, you know me. If I have to choose between admission to the Sacred Man Cave and the provision of excellent treats, I’ll go for the treats every time. I think it’s burbot, but I like your spelling better. It has metaphoric possibilities.
I’ve only been ice-fishing in the open—no shanty at all. But it occurs to me that you and I could design our own. I sincerely hope that it is too late to get one built and out there for this year, unless we build it on a raft, but it’s something we could think about on a hot summer afternoon while we sit on the beach sipping nice cool drinks. Then we could retreat into the garage and build it when the days grow shorter.
Sometime I will have to tell you the story of how Sue, Mother of the Lady Alicia, and Sue’s Sisters redecorated the Sacred Hunting Cabin of the Brothers of Sue.
flandrumhill
March 1, 2011
A window on the underwater world. That is cool. So is that view of the sun above the lake.