"There are dozens of great panfish lakes," he said. "Hogback Lake is particularly good for crappies, but claiming one is much better than any of the others is a stretch. Just have people stop in or call before heading this way and I'll gladly give them the latest reports."

Sounds like a good strategy to me. Call Steve at (260) 665-5522 and stop by to thank him when you get there -- and buy a little bait.

COMFORT IN THE 'ICE ZONE'
Ice-fishermen north of Indiana seldom venture out without the comfort of some sort of icehouse to shield them from the cold. Many are large enough to comfortably hold several anglers and have to be towed with 4x4s or snowmobiles.

There are not many of those semi-permanent shelters found on Indiana lakes. What are becoming more popular are collapsible shelters made of plastic, fiberglass and canvass. These shelters can be pulled out on the lake and transformed from a cargo sled to a one- or two-person icehouse in a couple of minutes. Inside, a propane heater or Coleman lantern quickly warms the interior into the comfort zone.

Besides the expense of the initial purchase, the downside to these is the lack of instant mobility and the fact you are not totally outdoors when you are inside one. Some days it's just great being outside, even if it is winter. That is, until you get cold. No matter how good the fish are biting, it's no fun if your feet feel like frozen blocks of ice.

These days, there's little excuse having to "endure" a day outside in all but the worst weather Ol' Man Winter dishes out. Modern lightweight outer garments, water-wicking underwear and space age layers in between can all team up to keep ice-anglers warm as toast.

The secret is to stay dry. Not dry because you don't fall in the lake. Dry from the inside. Don't pile on the winter gear until you get to the lake, and even then don't pile it all on at once. Put on your rubber-bottomed boots to ensure your feet don't get wet on the hike from the car to the fishing spot, but leave most of the insulated apparel packed away.

In Alaskan wilderness survival camps, one of the concepts taught is no one freezes to death while they are walking. Just the amount of effort needed to walk generates body heat that needs to vent away to the atmosphere to prevent overheating and the formation of sweat. And don't suit up until the holes are drilled and you actually start to feel a bit of the chill. Only then should you start adding layers.

The body doesn't adapt well from going from shedding heat mode to conserving heat mode. Painfully cold feet or hands while you are almost sweating from walking out on a lake to your fishing spot is a sign you are overdressed to begin with and your body's heat-regulating mechanism is conflicted.

The key to all of this is layering. Remove layers of clothing when you are traveling or active. Add layers when you stop or begin to feel the chill. Each layer adds another thickness of insulation and the air between each layer conserves heat, as well.

Avoid cotton since it absorbs water like a sponge and requires heat to dry out. Instead, choose a synthetic material, such as polypropylene, as a foundation layer. Moisture easily passes through this material into the outer layers where it can escape to the atmosphere.

Ice-fishermen may be a crazy breed, but with modern gear, good information and equal parts of luck and determination, an excursion into Indiana's "ice zone" can make a memorable outing.