Ice Fishing Take 2: We get it now

We went to the kid's ice fishing derby at Range Pond State Park on Friday, a day before the ice deterioration reported on Sebago Lake happened for the regular derby. Range Pond was frozen solid and although we stayed close to shore, it was perfectly safe for the hundreds of families at the derby Friday morning.

This is only our second time ever ice fishing. Our first experience was not well-researched by moi about how to prepare for the activity.

I left the house for this second round of ice fishing (two years later) well-prepared. The mini-van was packed with chairs, blankets, hot cocoa, lots of games and the assurance that a few of our friends would meet up with us at the state park.

Here are the highlights of our morning on the ice.

L. got some help from an experienced ice fisherman and 4H leader about setting up her trap.

And it was L.'s job to bait her own hook, which she willingly did.

Then when faced with the prospect of waiting around for her flag to fly, she pulled out her ribbon wand to play with her friends.

Then more waiting around prompted another game.

After another half hour of playing the kids decided to sit and have some hot cocoa.

Then there was more waiting before the decision to play another game of toss, this time on the beach...

... which kept the next half an hour entertaining while waiting for that flag to flip skyward.

At some point G. got tired of the games - and waiting for the fish - and decided to take some photos of the cloud formations instead.

Then the decision was made by the kids to check on traps and re-bait hooks.

A while later the kids were prompted to sing a "here fishy fishy" song by a friend in hopes our group might get a nibble.

Unfortunately, there was only one kind of fish caught after our three hours on the ice.

But the kids didn't mind. We left thinking we could learn to like ice fishing and make it an annual winter event now that we know how it's really done.