Ice Fishing the Mississippi River

The airboat's 650 h.p. Marine Power engine roared to life, its fan blades cutting through the frosty morning air as I, Captain Jarrad Fluekiger, secured the fishing gear. The Mississippi River stretched out before me, its mighty flow a mix of open water and frozen patches. It is a maze of opportunity for the adventurous angler.

- Article and photos by Captain Jarrad Fluekiger

Unlike most fishermen confined to the popular, accessible spots, I have the ultimate tool for exploring the river's hidden treasures: an airboat from Patriot Airboats out of Vidor, Texas. The airboat skimmed effortlessly over the open water, cutting a line through the icy mist. The advantage was clear — while others trudged across limited stretches of ice, I had access to isolated backwaters, tucked away behind islands and in shallow, low-flow areas where fish congregated in the winter.

With the setting sun peeking over the horizon, I steered the airboat toward a narrow inlet shrouded by frosty cattails. The the Patriot Airboat hull transitioned seamlessly from water to ice; gliding smoothly onto the frozen surface. I slowed the engine to a gentle hum and stepped out to drill the first ice fishing hole. These small, low-flow areas are gold mines. The limited water movement beneath the ice meant fish could gather here without expending too much energy, a perfect spot for Jarrad to drop his lines.