Ice fishing
Loughborough Lake Lakers
My Ice fishing season has started slow this year and without any real success. Hence the lack of posts on the blog. Thankfully I have had some recent success and am able to post an update on my recent goings on with some actual results and juicy fish pics for all to enjoy.
Verona Lake
The second our corner of Southern Ontario had safe, fishable ice, my work mates and I were out looking for the early season bite. Our first trip was to Verona Lake, which is, surprise surprise, right near Verona. We didn’t end up catching much but was it was a good way to brush the rust off our gear and get back into the swing of things on a new lake in the area.
Long Lake
I followed up the first outing of the season with a trip to my friend Dave ‘s Cottage on Long Lake. we managed a few decent perch and marked quite a few decent sized fish on the finders. Unfortunately we weren’t able to coax any of the lakes elusive walleye into biting.
Despite the lack of eyes, The trip was still very enjoyable as we were treated to an amazing sunset. Sometimes thats all it takes to make a fishing trip worth while.
Little Clear Lake
The third trip of the season was to Little Clear lake for some Trout action. Once again, caught lots of perch but no trout. There was lots of ice on the lake but a tough slog hiking in due to a thin layer of crust which made walking very tedious and tiring.
Deadman’s bay / Loughborough Lake
Once again, Dave and I found ourselves with some time on our hands so we gathered up the fishing gear and headed out. Our first stop was at Deadman’s Bay located just south of Fort Henry. Although we didn’t catch any fish we enjoyed an amazing view through 6 – 8″ of clear black ice through 10 to 20 of crystal clear water.
Pretty awesome.
Since things were dead ain deadmans bay, we made a snap decision and headed up to Loughborough Lake hoping to get lucky with the Lakers. Upon arrival we headed out to the laker grounds in 80 – 90 FOW and punched a few holes through the ice. It was a beautiful afternoon with near 0 degree temperatures and very few fisherman on the ice. Our lure choices included silver jigging shad raps, cleos and wobblers all jigged a varying depths throughout the water column.
Id estimate the fish to be a solid 2lbs.
With the first real success of the season achieved I am looking forward to the next outing.
The plan is to hit up the Bay of Quinte in a couple weeks for some monster Walleyes. Here’s hoping they cooperate!
Cheers from the Wild
Albert
The Untapped Resource – Fishing Forums
Getting started with a specific fishing technique can be difficult. What colour of lure? What trolling speed should you use? Live bait or artificial?
I am sure at one point or another we have all asked similar questions. Even the professionals had to start somewhere.
Im my experience, the ultimate way to get a leg up in the fishing world is to reach out to other, more experienced anglers. The best way to do this? Aside from being in any Tim Hortons at 4 am on a Saturday, Fishing Forums can be a close second. Fishing forums are great places to make connections with fellow anglers, discover previously hidden resources and ask virtually any question under the sun. In my experience, if you can ask it, some one can answer it. Almost always someone will reply with a tip to get you on your way to mastering a technique or species. If your lucky and polite, they may even take you out for a one on one demonstration!
Below are a list of great forumns which have a strong Ontario base:
Fish Ontario: http://www.oodmag.com/ – very good resource for all things hunting and fishing. This was the very first forumn I joined. Filled with great people who are friendly and helpfull, I have made many friends on this forum over the years.
Ice Shanty – http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?board=26.0 – dedicated to ice fishing in Ontario. This is a great resource for the Kingston Area.
Bay of Quinte Be ‘N’ Brag Fishing Forum http://forum2.quintefishing.com/viewforum.php?f=1 – you guessed it, specific forum for both soft and hard water fishing in the Bay of Quinte Area. Also includes several members who are well versed in the brown trout fishery on Lake O.
Hawk Talk – http://www.fish-hawk.net/index.php?i=forums&mode=forum – Also a great forum for Ontario. Also includes great information including fishing maps for specific lakes with directions on generic ways to fish specific lakes for beginners.
Lake Ontario United Forum http://www.lakeontariounited.com/fishing-hunting/ – all the gab on salmon, rainbows and browns that you can handle!
I Wonder What is in that Lake…. – Fish ON-Line GIS Tool
If you are like me, every time you pass a lake, river or any body of water you cant help sneaking a peek and wondering, “What fish live in there?”
Maybe you see a weedy bay and think, probably largemouth bass, maybe pike. Or maybe while driving along Lake Ontario you fantasize about intense battles with chrome beasts or with giant bronzeback smallies on the depths of some remote shoal. Maybe you have absolutely no clue what species live where and feel discouraged.
Well, thanks to our tax payer’s dollars and some GIS technicians over at the Ministry of Natural Resources, you no longer have to wonder.
The fishing Explorer, otherwise know as Fish ON-line is a handy web based, free to use GIS delivery site that displays which specieis live where in Ontario. Data is summarized by each lake and can be searched via parameter or by zooming in on a specific lake using the site map interface.
Searches can be conducted by proximity to a lake, species or town or just by species. As an added bonus to all you trout and walleye fans, stocking information is also provided for some lakes.
Fish ON-Line Link:
http://www.web2.mnr.gov.on.ca/fish_online/fishing/fishingExplorer_en.html
Please keep in mind this service is fairly new, and I imagine it is always under construction. That being said some lakes lack information on a specific species or for that matter, any information at all.
Cheers
Al
The Wilds of Ontario 