I saw some people fishing the other day in 16 degree Fahrenheit (-9 Celsius) weather at 4:30AM. They were not ice fishing with a little hut, but standing at the base of a bridge with no shelter or campfire. People are at that bridge fishing regularly when it is cold but that was the coldest temp I have seen so far. Why is it so appealing to them?
Exactly this.
I still go “fishing” a few times a month over the summer and I usually just put a pole in and read until I hear the bell on my pole.
I usually toss them straight back after I catch them.