Ice Fishing | Snuitide

Ice fishing is the classic Norwegian winter form of fishing — jigging (pilking) through a hole in the ice for sik (whitefish), røye (charr), trout, perch and burbot. It is an activity with deep traditions in the mountain villages and in Innlandet, and one still practised by thousands of Norwegians every winter. Classic ice-fishing grounds are Mjøsa, Femund, Tyrifjorden, the Hardangervidda lakes, and mountain lakes in Trøndelag and Northern Norway.

The difference from summer fishing is not just the season — it is an altogether different rhythm. You sit or stand at a hole in the ice, you carry minimal kit, and the fishing happens in a stillness that is almost meditative. Many who go ice fishing do it as much for the experience — being out on a frozen lake, perhaps with a flask and a small open fire (bål) — as for the catch.

For the newcomer, ice fishing is the simplest winter variant of fishing. You need a jigging rod (pilkestikke), an ice auger (isbor) and a jig (pilk). The sub-discipline calls for local knowledge of ice safety more than fishing skill — knowing when the ice is safe is the difference between a pleasant day and night out in nature (friluftsdøgn) and a disaster.

How ice fishing works

The structure of an ice-fishing session:

Assess ice safety — a known and reliable source, and ideally local information. Never trust ‘it ought to be fine’.
Drill a hole — a hand auger (50–80 cm deep) or a powered auger for thick ice. Diameter typically 15–20 cm.
Set up the jigging rod — a short rod (40–80 cm) with a reel or fixed line, hook and jig.
Jigging (pilking) — you work the jig up and down to attract the fish. The classic ‘jigging style’ with short pauses.
Bite and retrieval — the fish takes the jig, you feel the tension, you bring in line and land the fish through the hole.
Dispatch and storage — the fish is put in a sack or bucket with snow as a coolant.

For a good ice-fishing session, 2–6 hours is typical. Many bring a flask and light food to make the day more comfortable.

The main species

Ice fishing gives access to species that are active in cold water:

Sik / whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) — the most classic ice-fishing species. It lives in lakes, gathers in shoals, and can be taken in large numbers on a good day. Femund and Mjøsa are the main areas. Sik is a classic traditional food.

Burbot (Lota lota) — active in winter (it spawns in January–February). The only member of the cod family that lives in fresh water. Classic on Femund and in inland waters.

Perch (Perca fluviatilis) — winter-active, especially in well-fished lakes. Smaller than in summer but in higher concentration.

Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) — active all year, caught in mountain lakes above the treeline. Classic on Hardangervidda and in the mountain lakes of Northern Norway.

Trout — less common in winter than in summer, but can be taken in specific areas. Classic through the ice on mountain lakes.

Lågåsild (a small salmonid in the whitefish genus) — on Mjøsa, classic winter fishing.

Smelt (krøkle) — forage fish for large trout, but also caught in its own right.

For the newcomer, sik is the easiest to focus on — it occurs in shoals that give a better chance of a catch, and it is classic within Norwegian ice-fishing culture.

Ice safety — the critical part

Ice safety is the precondition for ice fishing. At least 10 cm of solid, clear core ice is reckoned to bear one person; thicker is required for several people or for a vehicle. But ice safety is not just thickness — it is also the type of ice, local current conditions, and day-to-day variation.

Different types of ice:

New, clear ice (black ice) — solid and reliable. 10–15 cm holds one person standing still; 25–30 cm is safe for movement about.
Snow ice — a looser structure. Requires 50% more thickness than clear ice.
Melting ice (spring) — can be thick but porous. Very unreliable.
Current ice — affected by an undercurrent. Can be dangerously weak despite its thickness.

Factors that weaken ice:

Areas exposed to current — near river outlets, sounds, or deeper channels
Snowfall on solid ice — can insulate and prevent further freezing
Mild spells — even a short mild spell can ruin previously good ice
Local heat (warm springs, urban influence)
The spring sun in March–April — even though the temperature is still cold at night, the surface melts during the day

Safety rules for ice fishing:

Never alone — go at least two together, and stand spaced apart on the ice
Ice picks around the neck — let you pull yourself up out of a hole if you fall through
Light clothing under the jacket — so you float if you fall in
Rope — for rescuing others
Phone in a waterproof bag — for emergency communication
Local information — ask local people who know before you set out on new ice

For the newcomer: go with an experienced ice angler the first few times. You learn ice safety better through one weekend with an experienced mentor than through several months alone.

Where in Norway

Norwegian ice-fishing areas are distributed by climate and stock:

Mjøsa — Norway’s largest lake. Classic for sik and lågåsild. A common ice-fishing tradition in the surrounding municipalities — Hamar, Gjøvik, Lillehammer.

Femund — Norway’s third-largest lake (and largest unregulated one). Sik dominates. Classic wilderness ice fishing.

Tyrifjorden — sik and large-trout ice fishing. Local fishing associations.

Hardangervidda — mountain lakes with trout and charr. Requires a longer approach, often on ski or snowmobile.

Femundsmarka, Trollheimen, Dovrefjell — mountain lakes with a varied species stock.

Northern Norway — the large mountain lakes in Troms and Finnmark have classic ice fishing, but also strict safety requirements because of the shorter daylight and more variable weather.

For those who want to plan: the local NJFF branch or fishing association has up-to-date information on ice conditions and catch reports.

Season

The Norwegian ice-fishing season:

December–January — early season in the mountains, often in the lowlands in cold years. Ice safety is the primary focus.
February–March — the core of the season. Stable ice, milder weather, longer daylight.
April — late season. The spring sun starts to weaken the ice; you must take care.

Climate change has made the season in the lowlands more unstable. Mjøsa and Tyrifjorden do not always have reliable ice from December; often not until January. Mountain lakes above 800 m as a rule have a more reliable season.

For those who want to secure a season: plan for mountain fishing or Northern Norway, where the ice is more reliable.

Kit

Ice-fishing kit is simpler than that of most other fishing disciplines:

Jigging rod (pilkestikke) — a short rod (40–80 cm) with a simple reel or fixed line. Price from 200 kr new.

Ice auger (isbor) — manual (50–80 cm deep) for typical winter ice, powered auger for thick ice. Price 600–2,500 kr.

Jig (pilk) — heavy lures with a hook that glint in the water. Classic patterns — the Pilken (Norway), Russian (the classic Russian jig), single hook or treble hook. Price from 30 kr each.

Bait — maggot, worm, or pieces of fish. Varies by species.

Clothing — adapted for winter, layered as for a ski trip. Winter gloves or mittens, a hat, warm boots.

Ice picks around the neck — to pull yourself up out of a hole. Price 100–300 kr.

Bucket or bag for the caught fish.

Flask with a hot drink — unusually important for comfort.

Possibly an ice-fishing tent — a small tent with an open base that you set over the hole. It shelters you from the wind. Price 1,500–4,000 kr.

For a complete starter pack: 1,000–3,000 kr new. The second-hand market is favourable.

Ethics

Ice-fishing ethics:

Release small fish — often out of the habit in ice fishing, where quantity is taken, but good principles still apply.

Dispatch — quick and humane. On ice it is easiest to strike hard and precisely on the head with a stone or a purpose-made dispatch tool. Letting the fish suffocate or freeze to death on the ice is not a humane method of dispatch and should be avoided.

Use of the catch — sik is a classic traditional food (smoked, gravlax-style). Use what you catch.

Disease control — disinfection when moving between watercourses, particularly across county (fylke) boundaries.

Keep your distance from other anglers — at least 30–50 metres between holes, less in crowded areas.

Pack out everything — particularly fishing tackle and rubbish. Plastic on ice is one of the most visible environmental problems in local fishing.

For more detail: Fishing ethics.

Safety — extended

Beyond ice safety there are other risks in ice fishing:

Hypothermia — you sit still in cold air temperatures for hours. Layering and a flask are not optional.

Frostnip in the fingers — the most common minor injury. The right gloves or mittens prevent it.

Snow blindness — sunshine on snow reflects UV. Sunglasses are recommended even on grey days.

Loss of kit — jigs that fall down the hole. A classic problem; the solution is to attach a jig marker to the reel before you lower it.

For longer mountain ice-fishing trips: local knowledge and information about weather and snow conditions are critical.

Next steps

If ice fishing is new to you: join an experienced ice angler the first time. The local NJFF or fishing association usually runs group outings.

If you have done a season and want to go further: extend to larger mountain lakes or more exposed areas. A winter mountain trip combined with ice fishing is a fine Norwegian form of friluftsliv.

For related activities: winter camp and overnighting goes through winter overnighting if you are planning longer ice-fishing trips.

For other forms of fishing in the same season: some salmon rivers are also open in winter for closed-season sea-trout fishing, but most are closed.

Learn more

Text: Snuitide (2026).