I don't like to be bored. And I don't like to be cold. That means ice fishing doesn't exactly top my list of winter outdoor activities.

For those of you with more patience and fortitude than me, however, there's good news when winter grabs Connecticut in its icy grip. Ice fishing opportunities abound statewide, and the state's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has programs to encourage families with kids to embrace the sport.

In 2012, Connecticut revised its regulation limiting children under 16 to ice fishing with only two devices (tip-ups, floats/bobbers or hand-held jigs). Now, kids can monitor up to six devices, each with up to three baits--just like adults--increasing their chances of success and of developing a life-long passion for the pursuit.

The DEEP's Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) Program holds Ice Fishing Classes at locations around the state during the month of January to introduce the sport to new enthusiasts of all ages. Kids can also try ice fishing at two fun winter events: the Family Ice Fishing Derby at Patriots Park on Coventry Lake in Coventry, Connecticut, on January 31, 2015 and the No Child Left Inside Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park in Torrington on February 7, 2015.

The Connecticut ice fishing season begins when ice on lakes and ponds reaches a safe thickness of at least four inches, and it generally runs until the end of February (some lakes can be fished until the end of March).

Where Are the Best Places to Ice Fish in Connecticut?

Popular destinations for winter anglers in eastern Connecticut include:

• Beach Pond in Voluntown on the CT/RI state line (trout, broodstock Atlantic salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, sunfish, yellow perch, walleye)
• Black Pond in Middlefield/Meriden (trout, largemouth bass, calico bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, sunfish, channel catfish)
• Cedar Lake in Chester (trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, sunfish)
• Crystal Lake in Ellington/Stafford (trout, broodstock Atlantic salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, sunfish, yellow perch)
• Mashapaug Lake in Union (trout, broodstock Atlantic salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, sunfish, yellow perch, walleye)

In western Connecticut, try ice fishing at:

• Mohawk Pond in Cornwall/Goshen  (trout, largemouth bass)
• Mount Tom Pond in Morris/Litchfield/ Washington (trout, broodstock Atlantic salmon, largemouth bass, calico bass, chain pickerel, sunfish, yellow perch)
• Stillwater Pond in Torrington (trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, sunfish)
• Tyler Pond in Goshen (trout, largemouth bass, calico bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, sunfish, yellow perch)
• West Hill Pond in New Hartford (trout, kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, yellow perch, rainbow smelt)
• West Side Pond in Goshen (trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead, sunfish, yellow perch)

Lake Maps are available online.

If you are new to the sport of ice fishing, it is important to keep some safety basics in mind. Ice thickness varies due to a variety of environmental factors, so be sure to check the ice on each lake carefully before setting out each time. Be sure to dress for the weather conditions, and never ice fish alone.

Ice fishing requires a valid Connecticut fishing license, which may be purchased at town halls, bait and tackle shops and many stores that sell outdoor sporting equipment (find locations). Resident and nonresident fishing licenses may also be purchased online.

For complete information on Connecticut fishing regulations and destinations, download the Connecticut Angler's Guide in .pdf or digital book format, or call the DEEP Inland Fisheries Division at 860-424-FISH to request your copy.

Still Don't Know Where to Start?Book a guided ice fishing trip in Connecticut with Captain Blaine Anderson. All you have to do is bundle up and bring hot beverages, food and your camera. He'll provide instruction and top-of-the-line gear.

Catch a big one? For the eighth year in 2015, Connecticut Outfitters in Wethersfield, Connecticut, is sponsoring a statewide, season-long Ice Fishing Tournament with prizes for the largest perch, bass, crappie and trout. All entrants are eligible for a grand prize drawing for a $500 shopping spree. Pre-registration is required, and tournament rules must be followed to the letter. Good luck!