Densmore on fishing

This [fishing] is an industry which continued almost the entire year. Under some circumstances the people moved directly from the sugar camp to their gardens, but more frequently they went from sugar camp to a place where they could fish. Sometimes this was near the site of their summer camp, and they remained there until it was time to plant their gardens. The autumn was a special fishing season, as it was during that time they secured the supply of fish for winter use. It was said the fish "seemed to come near shore in November, just before the lakes froze." At that time the women set their nets. Sometimes they took up the nets in a snowstorm, and sometimes they net full of fishes froze so that it was necessary to take the net into the house and thaw it before taking out the fish. Much are was taken with this industry, as fish, both fresh and dried, constituted an important food of the Chippewa. Fish were secured by the following means: (1) By the use of seines; (2) by spearing at night with a torch; (3) by spearing through the ice with a decoy; (4) by traps; (5) by the use of bait; (6) by fishhooks; and (7) by trolling.

from

Frances Densmore, Chippewa Customs (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1979) 124-125.