Last Sunday, I entered the ice fishing contest amongst fellow residents of Abisko. Early in the morning, the organizers drilled hundreds of holes in the ice on a little bay on Lake Torneträsk. The competition ran from 11 am to 12:30 pm, and you could move around to use any hole you liked. Fish longer than 20 cm could be included in the count.
Most people lie down while ice fishing. It looks super funny. Lake Torneträsk is really clear, so the fishermen watch for fish at the same time as they jig. I looked down the hole as well and it was pretty cool, though I never did see a fish. A friend told me that he doesn't have to watch, but he would be super disappointed if he caught the biggest fish in his life and didn't get to watch it bight the hook! Most people were fishing for arctic char with maggots on a hook and a flashy spoon attached to the line a foot above the hook.
I still want a spark. I mostly see huskies around town, but I guess the fishing companions include other breeds.
Waiting for the judges to tabulate the results... This building is the field station's wood fired sauna and boat house.
Check out this guy's purple and red snow suit!
I think these men (left) are wearing Sami belts and knives.
Note the reindeer skin rolled up on this person's backpack. A lot of people were laying on the reindeer furs while fishing.
I didn't catch or see one fish. No one did that great. They had to draw names for some of the final prizes - not enough people caught fish! In the end, 12 people won prizes for catching fish, and first prize went to someone who caught 626 g (1.38 lb.) worth of fish.
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