Don Wilkins’ 15-Minute Battle on the Ice
February 11, 2026 by Angela Montana
Fishing Montana Fishing Reports Montana Ice Fishing Reports
What started as just another drop through the ice quickly turned into something much bigger for angler Don Wilkins. Almost immediately into the fight, he knew this wasn’t the lake trout he expected.
“Surprise, surprise. Knew it wasn’t laker about 4 seconds in,” Wilkins shared. What followed was a tense, drawn-out battle on the frozen water, with the fish making strong runs and keeping him guessing. “A full 15 minutes of anxiety later, I got my hands on the prize,” he said.
In the end, patience and persistence paid off, turning an ordinary outing into a memorable moment on the ice with a big, beautiful salmon.
