The Unbelievable Moment a Little Boy Catches a Fish That's Bigger Than He Is Dan SmithSeptember 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM 0 When 6yearold Drayden Nelson ventured out with his family to fish through the ice on Alaska's Kotzebue Sound, he probably didn't expect to pull up a fish as tall as himself.
- - The Unbelievable Moment a Little Boy Catches a Fish That's Bigger Than He Is
Dan SmithSeptember 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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When 6-year-old Drayden Nelson ventured out with his family to fish through the ice on Alaska's Kotzebue Sound, he probably didn't expect to pull up a fish as tall as himself. But that's precisely what happened. While standing beside the icy hole, bundled in cold-weather gear, Drayden hauled up his very first sheefish, which was a shimmering, silvery giant measuring 46 inches long.
Drayden's proud father captured the entire moment on video and shared it on Reddit, where it quickly went viral. The post racked up more than 112,000 upvotes and admiration, education, and cultural reflection in the comments.
The Cultural Significance of Subsistence Ice Fishing
Many viewers immediately recognized the deeper meaning behind the catch. Drayden and his family were likely participating in traditional subsistence fishing, a lifeline for many Indigenous communities in Alaska and Canada. In these communities, ice fishing is a seasonal ritual rooted in survival and connection to the land.
According to research, in East Greenland, locals describe sea ice as bending with ocean swells rather than cracking suddenly, which helps support safe winter travel and ice fishing in coastal areas. Local guides use long poles to test sea ice thickness and open fishing holes, where species like cod, halibut, and redfish are commonly caught. On deeper excursions, it's sometimes possible to target the Greenlandic shark, too.
Popular Ice Fishing Catches Across the North
While some people guessed the species in the video was a lake trout or pike, others, more familiar with Alaska's ecosystem, identified it as a sheefish, a food staple often found in northern Alaskan rivers and estuaries.
Sheefish, sometimes called "the tarpon of the north," can grow over 40 inches long and thrive in cold, oxygen-rich waters. The size and shape of Drayden's catch matched sheefish profiles shared by fish biologists and locals alike.
Aside from the sheefish, within the terrain of Vermont, East Greenland, and Northern Canada, ice fishing yields a range of popular varieties depending on location and depth. In Vermont's frozen lakes, yellow perch are one of the most commonly caught fish during winter, prized for their golden color, bright orange fins, and sweet flavor.
Panfish such as pumpkinseed, bluegill, and black crappie are also widespread and easily identified by their flattened shapes and vivid markings. Anglers targeting larger fish often go after northern pike, a powerful predator that thrives along weed edges and deep structural drop-offs, or walleye, known for their reflective eyes and nighttime feeding habits.
In East Greenland, subsistence fishers focus on codfish, halibut, redfish, and occasionally the Greenland shark, whose meat must be fermented to be edible. Cold conditions in remote lakes across Canada and Greenland reward patient anglers with different types of fish like lake trout and whitefish, particularly when fishing over ledges, shoals, or mid-lake humps.
Where Can You Go for an Unforgettable Ice Fishing Adventure
Image via iStockphoto/stockphoto52
For those seeking the thrill of ice fishing beyond their backyard pond, several northern regions are highly recommended for their natural beauty, cultural tradition, and fish-filled waters.
In East Greenland, the frozen fjords near The Red House in Tasiilaq offer a unique experience where locals use conventional poles to test ice thickness and cut fishing holes. Visitors can fish for cod, halibut, or even Greenlandic shark, with full-day excursions by dogsled or snowmobile that take you deep into remote fishing villages.
Vermont has countless lakes like Lake Champlain, and inland ponds that host a variety of fish species and attract both beginners and seasoned anglers. Organizations like the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department guide locals through identifying and targeting kinds like yellow perch, rainbow trout, and northern pike.
Meanwhile, in Alaska's Arctic communities, such as Kotzebue, ice fishing is a way of life. Families head out onto frozen sounds and estuaries to harvest subsistence staples like sheefish and whitefish, often using methods passed down through generations.
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