SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- It may still be summer but outdoors people are already planning for ice fishing.
Ice Institute organizer Todd Heitkamp said today at a news conference that now it's way more than sitting on a bucket staring into a hole in the cold like it was back in "the day."
"The "new school" of ice fishing is more technology based," Heitkamp said. "I mean GPSs, ATVs, all that stuff is part of someone's arsenal if they want to go in full force."
But you still have to find the fish.
"I'm a really good fisherman, but if they're not below me, I can't catch them," said Dennis Kassube, a professional fisherman with ice fishing equipment provider CLAM. "Then you can catch them."
The news conference stressed that tourism is South Dakota's second largest industry and outdoors activities are a big part of that. However, while the legislature has addressed some issues concerning non-meandered waters, it isn't completely clear how out of state anglers will know where they can ice fish and where they can't.
"I think that's incumbent upon the Department of Game, Fish and Parks," said state Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen. "It's incumbent upon our department that we're messaging, letting people know where they can and cannot fish."
The big Ice Institute will be November 10 through 12 at the Sioux Falls Arena, featuring new gear and experts on how to use it.