hether you're a novice angler who hasn't tried
ice fishing before or an experienced pro who
has spent a lifetime pursuing fish over the
winter, there are a few basic strategies that can
significantly improve your success rate. In
Ontario each year more fishermen are turning
their attention to the opportunities that Mother
Nature provides us with due to hard water
conditions. Many open water anglers are
amazed at how productive ice fishing can be.
The old excuse used to be that it was much
more comfortable sitting in an easy chair
watching sports on television than freezing to
death on a snowy northern lake.
Modern technology has done much to assist the
winter angler not only in terms of comfort but
also in equipment. Having spent over forty
years on the ice pursuing a variety of gamefish,
I've personally seen many changes that have
taken place. What we now know about winter
ice fishing equipment, strategies and hot spots in
Ontario can only serve to enhance continued
growth and enjoyment in this seasonal form of
angling.
1. Ice Conditions:
Freezeup in Northern Ontario lakes usually
starts to occur in early December and in
Southern Ontario two to three weeks later.
Small takes freeze first with larger lakes
freezing later as a result of water depth, wind
and current. Most, but not all lakes are usually
ready to fish on by early January. But based on
yearly weather conditions, bodies of water such
as the Bay of Quinte, Lake Simcoe and Lake
Nipissing might not be adequately frozen until
the middle of January. A phone call to the local
tackle shop will usually produce a good
overview of ice conditions.
In general four inches of blue ice is safe enough
for a couple of anglers on foot with six inches
usually the minimum for a group of people.
Always cut a hole near shore and on the way
out the first time on a new lake early in the year.
Shoals, points of land and areas near islands can
all produce current and much thinner ice.
Follow existing paths if unfamiliar with a new
area.
2. Clothing:
One of the best purchases is either a floater suit
or jacket. Manufactured by Mustang and Buoy-
O-Buoy, both provide the warmth of a
snowmobile suit and the floatation of a life
jacket. They are also semi-watertight and will
help keep out cold water should you fall through
the ice. A number of years ago, a freak breakup
of Lake Simcoe created a major problem for
people on the ice.
For myself it was an ideal opportunity to test the
merits of my new Mustang Floater suit. I spent
over five minutes in the water moving from one
large section of ice to another until I reached
shore and really was none the worse for wear. I
don't go anywhere now on the ice without
wearing it.
Since most of your body heat is lost through the
head, wear a warm toque or hood. Hands
should be protected by mitts or gloves with
Thinsulate or down. I wear a pair of wool
fingerless gloves under mitts so that I can
remove the mitts while fighting a fish. Footwear
is a matter of choice between felt packs with
leather uppers and rubber boots with felt liners.
If the lake is prone to slush then opt for the
rubber boots, especially in mild, late season
conditions when rain and substantial melting
can occur.
3. Shelter:
Although fishing in the open increases mobility,
an extremely cold day calls for some exterior
protection. Renting an ice hut from an operator
is a good way to gain an introduction to ice
fishing in a comfortable environment. Most huts
are heated by propane and offer shirt sleeve
weather inside as well as the ability to make
coffee and eat heated meals. There are also a
number of portable huts for sale such as The
Clam and The Trophy which provide warmth
and shelter from the wind but are light enough
to be disassembled and pulled to a new location
or carried in the back of a truck to a different
lake each weekend.
4. Ice Augers:
A manual ice auger is more than sufficient for
most situations. A six inch blade is easier to cut
with than an eight inch blade but it's definitely
easier to get a large fish up an eight inch hole.
To start the hole, clear the area of all snow and
apply pressure to the top of the auger while
turning. When the blades first break through
continue turning for a few seconds to trim the
bottom of the hole. Then pull the auger straight
up to remove the slush out of
the hole. Ice scoops, which are like large
perforated spoons, are then used to finish
cleaning out the hole. It's a good idea to cut a
new hole rather than trying to cut through an
existing frozen hole. After cutting the hole
don't leave the auger in the snow since water
will freeze on the blades. Cut down three or
four inches so the auger can stand up
vertically. A final hint is to leave a small
branch in the hole if you are planning on
coming back the next day. Drifting snow can
obliterate your location ovenight.
5. Ice Fishing Equipment:
There are two types of equipment that are
used for ice fishing: either stationary lines, or
jigging lines. The simplest form of stationary
line is the set-line. A two to three foot slender
willow or dogwood branch is anchored in the
frozen slush so that the smaller tip is centered
over the hole. After attaching a small elastic to
your line by means of a couple of loops, it will
be hung near the tip of your branch or twig. A
minnow is then suspended under a sinker about
one to five feet off bottom. If a fish hits, the
elastic cushions the strike and pops off the
branch. After the fish is landed, the elastic will
hold the bait at exactly the previous depth.
Floats can also be used to hold a minnow off
bottom.
Tip-ups provide the opportunity to move the
bait as well as detecting a strike. Commercial
tip-ups usually have a small reel to hold the
line and a flag mechanism to indicate the
presence of a fish. The best type to purchase
are those that allow the reel to sit under the
surface of the water. Some tip-ups
manufactured by Windlass have a metal or
plastic vane that catch the wind, jigging the
minnow. These are very effective since they
offer increased visibility and action of the bait
under water. Another type of tip-up which is
extremely sensitive is utilized inside ice huts.
A balanced stick carved out of cedar is held in
a wire cradle on the top of a wooden stand.
The line on the stick is attached to a spreader
which consists of a lead weight and two to
three hooks. The spreader sits on the bottom
and dropper lines are positioned at various
depths off bottom. Any movement of the bait
causes the tip-up stick to move indicating the
presence of a fish.
Jigging equipment consists of a reel either
spinning or baitcasting matched with a short
rod. Rods are usually 24 to 32 inches in length
and feature a variety of actions from light to
medium heavy. Most ice fishermen use line in
the range of 8 to 14 pound test. A good quality
line is Trilene XL, Ultra thin, or Cold Weather.
Since ice can be abrasive it makes sense to use
line of approximately two pounds greater
strength than you would use in warm water
conditions. The most popular jigging spoons are
Luhr Jensen Crippled Herrings, Mr J's, Swedish
Pimples and Williams Whitefish.
6. Where To Find Fish:
For any body of water look for the magic
feature called structure. Hydrographic maps are
available of most lakes and show depth
contours. The Ministry of Natural Resources has
maps of the lakes in Ontario for sale. These
maps show bottom depth and all associated
underwater structure. In most instances look
for shoals, underwater humps, stepped dropoffs
around islands, saddles and just about any
irregularity in the bottom contour of the lake.
The easy rule of thumb is to look for areas
where other fishermen are set up. An area of
buts or a group of fishermen in the open are a
dead giveaway to a good location.
7. Ice fishing Strategies:
In Ontario you are allowed two lines for ice
fishing, Use this opportunity to the maximum.
Most fishermen use one line jigging with a rod
and one set line. If there are three fishermen in
a group, six holes can be drilled in a 'V'
formation to intercept migratory fish. If a fish
misses one hole it still has the probability of
swimming near one of the other lines.
There is no question that sunrise and sunset are
the best feeding times of the day. However,
don't be caught by the misconception of waiting
too long for the fish to arrive. Anything more
than an hour, requires a new set of holes on
different structure. Once you connect with fish
stay put. The action may stop at ten in the
morning but the fish will show up again before
dark. Good locations will produce fish, year
after year. If you've purchased a portable G.P.S.
lately as I have, save the way point coordinates
for future use.
The debate as to choosing live bait or lures is a
simple decision; use both. On set lines either
emerald shiners or dace are a good choice.
While using jigging spoons, add a minnow
hooked through the head. The minnow may take
away a bit of the action from the spoon but it
adds scent attraction. If fish are hitting short on
the spoon/minnow combo then add a stinger
hook imbedded in the tail of the minnow. Fish
often show an orientation to the bottom. In
general, speckled trout are found in 5 to 15 feet
of water, walleye and pike in 5 to 30 feet and
lake trout and whitefish in 30 to 80 feet.
Sometimes different species are suspended and
this is why a sonar unit is an important asset.
8. Hot Spots:
There are any number of prime destinations in
Ontario but some stand head and shoulders over
the rest. Lake Simcoe is located less than an
hour north of Toronto and is well known for
lake trout, whitefish, pike, herring and perch.
Popular spots are Barrie, Jackson's Point
(Sutton), Pefferlaw, Port Bolster and Beaverton.
Over 3,000 ice huts can be found on Simcoe
during the winter.
The Bay of Quinte is walleye heaven for
devoted diehards. An inland bay of Lake
Ontario, Quinte is famous as one of the prime
destinations for both quantity and quality. Ten
pound fish don't create more than momentary
excitement. Trenton, Belleville, Napanee and
Deseronto are all prime areas. Jigging is the
favoured strategy for the big fish.
Lake Nipissing is four hours north of Toronto
and offers a jump start of at least two weeks
over southern locations for good ice conditions.
Callandar Bay at the cast end of Nipissing in
North Bay offers some of the best winter fishing
in the area. Many operators here offer on-ice
bungalows which can sleep four fishermen
overnight and for weekend accommodations.
Walleye are the preferred species with pike,
herring, whitefish and perch making up the
remainder of the catch.
Lake Temagami's season starts during Christmas
vacation and continues until mid-April. Although
the trout season doesn't open until February 15,
whitefish are plentiful during first ice conditions.
A number of lodges offer full American plan
packages. Snowmobile excursions are available
to a number of nearby lakes with lake trout
opening on January 1.
Editor's Note: Bob McGary is a freelance
outdoor writer and former fishing guide who
pursues different gamefish species throughout
Canada.
