Popular Guide Dies in Ice Fishing Tragedy

The fishing community suffered a great loss this past weekend, when popular guide Jim Hudson died after he fell through Lake Superior ice on his snowmobile.

 “Jim was special to us,” said Teeg Stouffer, executive director of Recycled Fish, a conservation organization. “He befriended and coached me, made inroads for our cause in the ice fishing community, championed, legitimized and supported us.

“He is on the cover of our Stewards "On Ice" booklet, and we gave away a fishing trip with him that he donated to the 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon this year.
“Part of his legacy is having been an advocate for stewardship of Lake Superior, and he had such an impact.

“Over the past few days, Facebook has been awash with people remembering and celebrating him. He lived more in his 34 years than most do in a lifetime, and his family will never have to wonder if he made a difference in the world.”

Hudson was leading a fishing trip in Bayfield when his snowmobile broke through the ice on a channel. Rescue crews reported that he was in the 33-degree water for at least 30 minutes before he was airlifted to Essentia Health in Duluth, where he was pronounced dead.

Read more here.

And go here to learn about a memorial fund set up in Hudson’s honor.

Frabill Follows One Award Winner With Another for Foul Weather Clothing

For the second year in a row, Frabill won in the Best New Apparel category at the prestigious New Products Showcase during the ICAST fishing industry show in Las Vegas.

This time around, the winner is the Frabill Suit, clothing designed to keep you warm during the coldest days on a frozen lake. The bibs and parka set is billed as being windproof, waterproof, and breathable.

Frabill says:

“The trophy was delivered in the dead of summer, but ice fisherman will have to bide their time until the Frabill Suit becomes available in October. In fact, you can go to the Frabill website and sign-up for automatic notification when it hits the warehouse.”

At the 2010 show, Frabill won with its FXE Stormsuit.

KVD Keeping Cool for Classic

According to B.A.S.S. : Kevin VanDam was on his father’s small Michigan lake for a day of ice fishing. Forget those sit-and-wait, heated ice shacks. His technique was to move fast, to hunt for the fish.

 

This, mind you, was relaxation.

 

“It’s the first time I’ve been out all winter,” VanDam said via cell phone from the ice. “I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to do any fishing. I’m trying to tune my skills for the Bassmaster Classic by ice fishing.”

 

Continued