Thanks for the tips bro.
One of the reasons I've been thinking about dabbling with hunting small game is because it's a skill I don't have (both the shooting and the dismantling of a woodland critter) and one day eating one might be the key to my survival...and that's not the right time to learn. The other reason I that I hear they're good eating!
Back to the fishing I couldn't imagine a worse place to be than on a lake at -48C. No shelter, no wood for fire, and killer wind potential. The night before last there were areas in Alberta gusting to nearly 100kmh...the lakes must have been lethal cold.