Adirondack Traditions: Ice Fishing

On March 7th and 8th, the Cure Porch on Wheels could be found at Lake Colby Beach outside the weigh station for the Colby Classic Fishing Derby. Ice fishing is an important tradition in the Adirondacks. This was the 36th annual fishing derby, and many of the fishermen attending had been to all 36!

Kayt Gochenaur, the Cure Porch on Wheels project coordinator, used the opportunity to interview the local fishermen about their traditions, the "hard-water" communities that form in winter, and the changes in the local fish populations. Inside the Porch we featured a mini-exhibit on the architecture of ice shanties.​

Hear the interviews

Ice shanties might not be used year round, but they are an important part of local culture and community life! These temporary shelters are often built by hand with whatever materials are available. They are designed to be practical, but they have lots of personality. In recent years, tents have become more popular than ice shanties. Where the Colby Classic used to see dozens of shanties on the ice, this year only a couple could be spotted, surrounded by a village of tents.

All across the world, communities form on top of the ice. By the time the ice melts, all traces of these communities have gone. These hard-water communities spring up and disappear in a matter of days. ​With a series of recorded interviews, Historic Saranac Lake is capturing the history of these transient communities.