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THE LAKE — Everyone should try ice fishing at least once. When you're sitting in a comfortable shelter eating beef jerky and sunflower seeds, the world is truly your oyster. You can even bust out an iPad if you want to be extra spoiled, because who doesn't want to watch "Jaws" while they're out on the water?
Then if luck strikes and you catch a fish, the experience is elevated to a whole new level. It's a blast to battle a fish on an ultralight rod. You'll catch fleeting glimpses of the fish through the hole, but it's hard to know just how big it is. So, the grand unveiling that comes as you bring them up through the ice is thrilling.
This video sums up the experience perfectly.
The boy in the video knows he's got a big fish. But when his family member reaches down and pulls the giant catfish through the ice, reality smacks the boy like a chunk of cold jerky.
It's hilarious to see his stunned expression.
"I caught a monster," he exclaims. "Look at this thing!"
Then an enormous smile bursts across his face and he covers his mouth to contain his glee. It's a safe bet that this kid will be back out on the ice sometime again soon. But the chances of landing such a big fish aren't quite as good.