I'm not a real fan of magicians. David Blaine can freeze himself in ice or whatever other stunts he dreams up, but I'll pass. Just the same, I can relate to magicians, if only in one way.

Catching a fish is like pulling a rabbit from a hat. Whether ice fishing, spin casting, trolling, or fly-fishing, you're essentially making a vibrant aquatic life form appear from beneath the glassy surface by means that seem, well, magical. Sure, there are times when you cast to a visible fish, but that isn't the norm. Like a magician, you wield a wand (ok, a rod) and make the unseen appear.

This time of year, many fishermen aren't using their rods (though some do jig through the ice with a short jigging rod). Instead, ice anglers are using traps (tip ups).

For those unfamiliar with ice fishing, the setup is essentially a reel mounted to a vertical shaft that is in turn connected to an x shaped or crossbar design set of arms that support the trap as it sits over the ice hole.

The reel is in the water, where the line, weighted by a sinker, hangs down into the water column. Depth is set by how much line is spooled out. In this approach, bait, such as shiners, smelt, or even worms, is required to lure in the fish.

The "magic" of waiting for baited traps to catch fish is a tougher sell to those who aren't already fans of ice fishing. But, for me at least, the wonder and excitement is still there. Ice fishing is no different than any fishing -- it can be slow. When the fish do bite, though, there is a beautiful sight. A fish pulling line away from the reel sets off a spring-loaded piece of aluminum with a red or orange flag attached to the end. A flag above your trap means that there may be a fish waiting on the end of your line.

Upon approaching a trap with a flag, a spinning reel and/or line pulled out to the side is good news. Both are signs of a fish on your hook. A fast spinning reel, as Martha Stewart might say, "is a good thing."

With angling through the ice, there is a moment when mystery, in a flash, vanishes and presto -- a fish emerges into the ice hole. The fast spinning reel and strong pull on the line (which is played by hand) could be a big pickerel, a fat trout, or a variety of other fish. As a fish comes nearer the hole, excitement builds, until the fish shows itself.

Looking out across a frozen lake, a reflective river pool, or a babbling brook, it is wondrous to imagine that there are such interesting, dynamic, well-designed creatures lurking unseen within the water. Yet, they are there, in places and at times, at least.

It is a simple yet amazing gift of nature. For this reason, fishing has all the imagination of magic -- without the sequins and white tigers.

n AUTHORS NOTE: anyone interested in experiencing ice-fishing might want to stop by Maranacook Lake this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 pm. Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed, along with the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute (my employer), will lead demonstrations and give how-to advice for those new to ice-fishing. Parking is at the Winthrop American Legion across from the Winthrop Public Beach. A snow date, if needed, is set for Feb. 24.

Rex Turner is the Director of Education for the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute and resides in Augusta. E-mail: rturner@mlci.org.