The 2023-24 ice fishing season will go down as one of the worst in history. The season wasn’t terrible for portable ice anglers but it was a very short wheelhouse season in most places in the Upper Midwest. Unseasonably warm temperatures kept the ice thin and wheelhouses in the driveway.

But what if it wasn’t? What if it was the greatest ice season in centuries? The Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg are well-known as top ice fishing destinations. But what if the ice season was so good, we could ice fish in places never imagined before? Through the power of AI, I explored that question. There are AI tools that can create images of just about anything you can dream of. Here are some of my favorite ice fishing destinations if making ice wasn’t a problem.

The Alamo

They say everything is bigger in Texas and when it comes to fish, that statement holds true. The state record largemouth bass in Texas is over 18 pounds. Ice hasn’t formed on a body of water near San Antonio since well before Davey Crockett said to "remember the Alamo" but the idea of ice fishing in this area would make any tipup fisherman giddy.

The Grand Canyon

Speaking of big, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Grand Canyon. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon was carved out over millions of years by the flowing waters of the Colorado River. If the Colorado River froze solid enough to put a wheelhouse on it, we would likely be targeting brown trout and rainbows.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States. Many people believe the view from the Canadian side of the falls is even better. Niagara Falls has the highest water flow rate of any waterfall in North America. Water leaves Lake Erie, makes its way down the Niagara River, and eventually ends up in Lake Ontario. The Niagara River fishery is one of the most diverse river fisheries in the world. It’s home to amazing bass, walleye, northern pike, musky, lake trout, brown trout, steelhead, king salmon, coho salmon, and more. It’s an amazing place to fish. And if there’s ever a time that we could get a wheelhouse out there, we’ll be there!

The Statue of Liberty

We travel from western New York to New York City. Lady Liberty has stood tall in New York Harbor since 1886. It was a gift from the French to the United States to commemorate our nation’s independence. But what about the fishing? The harbor is where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean and it’s home to some awesome stripers.

Times Square

As long as we’re in a New York state of mind, let’s go to another iconic tourist destination. Times Square is nestled in the heart of Manhattan and is one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the world. This is definitely the place where someone else would pull their fish house right next to yours and drop lines on your fish. Let’s hope they have a quiet generator!

Willis Tower

It was once known as Sears Tower, this Chicago landmark was the tallest building in the world when it was built in 1973. Now it’s the 23rd tallest building on Earth, but the fishing is second to none. Lake Michigan is home to incredible fishing for salmon, trout, perch, and more. The harbor does freeze for a short time during hard winters and there is a great brown trout bite. But we would probably be the first to fish out of a hard-sided shack in this area.

The Gateway Arch

Also known as the Gateway to the West, the Arch is a monument to celebrate westward expansion during the 1800s. St. Louis, Missouri sits on the banks of the Mississippi River so a diverse fishery is right on the doorstep of the Gateway Arch. We just need some freezing temperatures to make this ice fishing road trip a reality.

Walt Disney World

Now we’re really getting crazy. Not even the ice age could bring ice to Central Florida. But a guy can dream. After all, this is the most magical place in the world. The Seven Seas Lagoon separates the parking lot from the front gate of the Magic Kingdom. Believe it or not, there is some great bass fishing on this lake. I’ve actually fished it. For you panfish aficionados, the Seven Seas Lagoon is home to some giant bluegills. But they call them bream down there.

Kennedy Space Center

As long as we’re in Florida, let’s head east to the Kennedy Space Center. The home base to America’s space program, the KSC is located on Merritt Island and is virtually surrounded by water. Head off shore a bit and we would be experiencing some wild ice fishing. Mahi, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, and sharks frequent the waters just off Cape Canaveral. This would be an epic ice fishing adventure. We’re definitely going to need a bigger auger.

Washington DC

Our nation’s capitol gets some frosty weather occasionally but our fish house will likely be the first on the hardwater in this neck of the woods. The fishery is similar to what you’ll find in other places along the Eastern Seaboard. Stripers, largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, and more. Snakeheads are rough to look at but would probably be a lot of fun through the ice.

Golden Gate Bridge

Let’s head out west. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most iconic structures in the United States. The nearly 9,000-foot-long bridge is believed to be the most photographed bridge in the world. San Francisco Bay is famously known for being shark-infested. While there are definitely sharks in the bay, they’re not as thick as advertised. Striper fishing in the bay is legendary. But you can also find king salmon, white sturgeon, and more.

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign was originally built in the 1920s and has been pictured in movies hundreds of times. It’s often destroyed in apocalyptic movies. It would take some end-of-the-world type of weather to allow us to go ice fishing in Los Angeles, but thanks to AI, we can dream. There isn’t a lot of water inland in the LA area but you can find some great bass fishing on some small ponds. Go offshore and there is incredible fishing for yellowtail, skipjack, and bluefin tuna.

Space Needle

Let’s head up the coast to Seattle. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River at 605 feet tall. While it hasn’t iced over completely since the ice age, Puget Sound is one of the most legendary fisheries in the world. The waters are home to several salmon species, steelhead, halibut, ling cod, and more. You would never get bored with a fish house on Puget Sound.

Las Vegas

Get out your Rattlesnake Reels, we’re going to Vegas! The Entertainment Capital of The World is plopped right in the middle of a desert but Lake Mead is about a half hour away. Lake Mead produces stripers over 40 pounds on a regular basis and also has some great bass, crappie, rainbows, and bluegill.

I hope you enjoyed this trip down the AI rabbit hole. The juxtaposition of a fish house in places like Florida and Los Angeles is a brain teaser to me. These illustrations were a lot of fun to create and I hope you had as much fun as I did.