Not too shabby, by the end of December the east-end ice-fishing Mecca that is Petrie Island already saw a smattering of ice huts!
As is the norm, the first huts to be set-up are located in shallow water where the ice is the thickest – and safest. As the winter moves on, though, these huts will slowly migrate outward toward deeper water, hoping to intercept with schools of foraging walleye.
ASIDE: Man, I need to stop watching Ice Road Truckers on History Channel, or I’ll be too paranoid to drive on the river this winter!
If you happen to be one of the early bird ice-anglers out there, please drop me a line so we can put together an early season report on ice and fishing conditions. Its something I’ll be keeping an eye on all winter long.
The only river report I’ve heard is the Polar Bear Dippers at Britannia – now we need to hear from the fishermen!
Outdoorsguy
Hey Jeff, did some fishing over the holiday. Christie Lake, no fish but there was about 8 inches of ice. Mississipi Lake, no fish about the same amount of ice. There are fish being caught in the Shanty community so they are biting, just not my line. Bob’s Lake, got a couple here and lost a couple. There was only about 5 inches of ice where we were and many parts of the big lake and Green Bay are wide open so be careful there. At a secret spot we visited a couple of times we ended up with 5 in total but experience tells me the bite was slow which can me the norm with walleye as you know.
Just thought I would offer up my 2 cent fishing report.
Tks Johan…that sounds quite encouraging!
Thanks so much for the great ice-fishing and ice-condition info..it will surely come in handy for those heading out this weekend.
Yup, better keep that secret spot under yer hat…I had a secret lake once too..in the Kawartha’s, when I was living in Lindsay.
We’d drive up towards Minden and fish a great little lake we found that no one else fished..the walleye would fly outta the holes, and big ones too..up to 5 pounds!
All was great till one day a cottager informed us that ice-fishing had, in fact, been closed on the lake for nearly 10 years..hehe..sort of explained why it was so good…as I say, some spots are best kept under yer hat…and some fishing stories too….lol
Thanks again
Outdoorsguy
Where was that lake Jeff ? The Kawartha Lakes are open for ice fishing now…(not for walleye though) 🙁
See Bill, the prob was we (wrongly)thought the lake was in Mindon district because it was on the district map, even though it was technically still part of the Kawarthas – and closed for ice-fishing.
We were getting tired of the 10 inch long walleye in Scugog, and wanted a change. The Kawartha Lakes are open for winter fishing now, but not for walleye? Muskie and bass are closed during the winter, I suppose its open for perch then?
By the way, can you stil get in trouble for something you did 20 Years ago?
Outdoorsguy
you’re safe regarding provincial offences. As for the Kawartha Lakes being open for ice fishing I believe it’s just for perch and pan fish.