ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It has been a good season for fishing on the ice in New York parks and on lakes.

“You see over there is just a little bit of the slush that was caused by the rain, but we're on a solid probably 14 inches,” said Bay Bridge Sport Shop sales associate Peter Mayo.

The consistently cold temperatures and snowfall have made it great for ice fishing. For Mayo and Janelle Hunt, it's been pretty good for business, too. 

What You Need To Know

  • Ice fishing is permitted on many waters in New York, but not all; consult the freshwater fishing regulations for specific waters, as well as the general ice fishing regulations

  • If you’re planning on walking on pond ice, the generally accepted rule is that four inches is barely safe; snowmobiles or ATVs need a solid seven inches, while a small car needs a minimum of eight inches of ice, and larger vehicles need even more

  • Bay Bridge Sport Shop urges outdoor enthusiasts to practice ice fishing safety strategies before heading out

“This year, we have ice for the first time in a couple of years,” said Hunt, Bay Bridge Sport Shop's owner. “So we've seen a lot of traffic through. We had a derby last weekend, so literally hundreds. They come get their bait in the morning and disperse throughout the bay.”

They know their way around a fishing pole. Bay Bridge Sport Shop has been in business for 50 years.

“We rent pontoon boats, fishing boats,” Hunt said. “Bass season is really big here. Pike fishing is really big here in Sodus Bay. It’s just kind of a one-stop shop.”

They know more than a thing or two — not only about how to ice fish, but also the safety surrounding it. 

“We like to tell everybody there is no such thing as safe ice,” Hunt said. “Spuds, hand picks, spikes, especially for early and late ice.”

“I thought I was on good ice before and I've actually gone through,” Mayo said. “Luckily, I wasn't in that deep of water. I was only in about three feet of water, but that was enough to shock me.”

Mayo has been on the water for as long as he can remember.

“I started with my dad and my grandpa when I was about three years old,” Mayo said. “I caught one of my first northern pike through the ice with my dad. I'll never forget it, and that thing was like a monster to me.”

He's passing the family tradition on to his own daughters.

“I see the excitement [on] all their faces, and that just makes me happy,” Mayo said. “You know, and then working here in the shop, getting to see again like I was three generations ago when I was growing up. I’m able to see the same thing coming in here. It’s very humbling and touches my heart.”