Ice fishermen seem to be some of the most resourceful people to use our lake. They fish in all kinds of miserable weather using their vehicles as temporary shelter. Some erect portable canvas ice fishing tents and others tow portable wooden huts behind their vehicles to their special spot, taking them home each night.
Almost two weeks ago this beat-up old camper arrived and I wondered if it had been abandoned by someone. It wouldn’t be the first time a thoughtless person dumped some trash on the frozen ice hoping it would fall to the bottom during spring thaw. But, on closer inspection, this camper appears to be someones cache for ice fishing. Peering through the windows I saw the inside stocked with fishing gear. Unfortunately for these enterprising folks, our lake doesn’t allow for structures to remain for more than two weeks in one place, at then end of this time they must be moved two miles from their last spot which would move it entirely off this lake.
It is hard to find the regulations regarding portable structures on the lake. These folks called Alaska State Parks and the Mat-Su Borough to find out if there were any codes or rules prohibiting setting up a fishing camp and were told that there were “none”. They tried to follow the rules. This lake is governed by the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Alaska State Parks and Mat-Su Borough should know this and be able to direct people to the proper source of information. This is not the first time that I’ve found government entities not communicating with each other, these days it seems more and more common. The DNR regulates portable camps on state owned lands not governed by any other entity. Confusing? Yes.
Anyway, when approached these guys were very nice and will move the camp at the end of two weeks. They are doing an elderly friend a favor and helping him fish. Too bad they don’t have one of those nifty portable pop-up fishing tents that most folks use today. It would make their experience much easier and moving to another hole a piece of cake. The way they are doing it with the camper is a lot of work. And, from an artists point of view, an ugly eyesore in this beautiful environment.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska painter
I don’t usually publish unsolicited ads, but these are the ice fishing tents that most folks use today. Hope those guys can get one and ditch the camper. Gail