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Post by smokeeter on Feb 16, 2009 22:22:28 GMT -5
Finally got around to post the ice fishing results on one of our favorite Southern Ontario Lakes, Lake Simcoe. This lake has a wide variety of freshwater game fish, among them are trophy class whitefish and lake trout. The cold weather has supplied us with a good amount of ice to enable anglers to access some of the lakes hot spots. Our group are notorious nomads who fish strictly in open ice in virtually all weather conditions (within reason). Here's a pic of my #2 son and myself with todays catch.  |
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Post by petev on Feb 16, 2009 22:43:27 GMT -5
I feel like I've been fishing for minnows after seeing that picture! Can you provide some details- do you mostly catch them on tip-ups or jigging, minnows, or jigs, and last but not least how thick is the ice up there, and is a power auger necessary?
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Post by smokeeter on Feb 17, 2009 10:55:31 GMT -5
I feel like I've been fishing for minnows after seeing that picture! Can you provide some details- do you mostly catch them on tip-ups or jigging, minnows, or jigs, and last but not least how thick is the ice up there, and is a power auger necessary? All of the above mentioned tactics are used but we primarily use short stiff rods with ultra lite reels wound with 6Lb test line or smaller to enable us to entice the fish with artificial bait presentation and the ability to fight and tire out the fish, we use jigs and bump the bottom which can be greater than 100 ft depth. We use gas augers and the big jiffy is our first choice, ice thickness has been in excess of 30 " at times ( currently we have 14-16 "s). They aren't completely necessary but when you cut as many holes as we do it sure gives you more time to actually fish. My partners nick name is Swiss cheese for obvious reasons. Simcoe is producing some lunker sized fish, the lake trout have exceeded 25lbs and last week we caught one whitefish that netted 12lbs. This lake is quite large and has big northern pike, walleye ( haven't really seeked them out yet) both large and small mouth bass, crappie,catfish,carp and jumbo perch , pretty much have it all. It's approx 300 sq. miles in area,Lake Simcoe is southern Ontario's largest body of water excluding the Great Lakes. |
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Post by youp50 on Feb 19, 2009 14:27:04 GMT -5
Quite a mess of whitefish.
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Post by KerryB on Feb 22, 2009 10:20:34 GMT -5
Man, that sure looks fun! Those are some beauties...........and i bet they are mighty tasty coming out of that ice cold water. Fun times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by smokeeter on Feb 24, 2009 22:07:32 GMT -5
My two boys got out yesterday, I couldn't make , they did alright without me.  |
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Post by ET on Feb 24, 2009 22:41:57 GMT -5
Great catch again smokeeter. Bet they missed the Old Man being out there with them.  To clean catches like that must take a little time for sure. Just out of curiosity are you near the Marina or Shanty's bay? Ed |
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Post by youp50 on Feb 25, 2009 4:57:06 GMT -5
That is almost enough to have me loaded and on my way. I have yet to see a vehicle in any of the pictures, You guys walking on 16 inches of ice? What kind of jigs do you use? Did you ever try spider wire or such and a 10 foot flouro carbon leader? It might not be fair to the fish for you guys to use it. I think it allows me a better feel and hookset.
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Post by smokeeter on Feb 25, 2009 6:04:18 GMT -5
That is almost enough to have me loaded and on my way. I have yet to see a vehicle in any of the pictures, You guys walking on 16 inches of ice? What kind of jigs do you use? Did you ever try spider wire or such and a 10 foot flouro carbon leader? It might not be fair to the fish for you guys to use it. I think it allows me a better feel and hookset. We give the fish every chance ,until they bite then the gloves are off. we fish all over the lake wherever the action is so to speak our scouts are everywhere. this is up on the west side of the lake ( Oro , area) we can walk out at this spot its' only about 3/4 mi. out , the ice is safe for machines but sometimes there's not enough snow for the sliders so we drive out also. Some of the guys are using spiderwire but I'm using what works for us, and I'm use to it.Mostly rapala type jigs and some guys using williams, no live bait, there are the minnow guys but they cannot compete ( not that there is any compitition) By the way, not everyone catches fish. that's a fact. but we've been pretty lucky. Going out today to give it a whirl, trying to locate some perch for some guys that are coming over for a visit. where you from youp? |
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Post by youp50 on Feb 25, 2009 20:48:13 GMT -5
Upper Michigan. I was out on a Lake Superior bay yesterday. I am glad I had good company. The fish were not very accomodating, as in zero point nada.
You could see the whitefish and Lakers on electronics, no dice. Sometimes electronics let you know that nothing is worse than knowing they are there and not biting what you are offering. Yesterdays fare included salmon eggs, wax worms, and Swedish Pimples for the whitefish and glow in the dark lead heads tipped with sucker meat. I think next time I will go catching instead of fishing.
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Post by KerryB on Feb 26, 2009 22:00:47 GMT -5
Those whitefish remind me of a restaurant in Bayfield, Wisconsin called Greunke's where i always enjoy the fried whitefish livers. I sure love those beautiful lakes of the "North Woods" and Superior is just stunning. I really envy you northern boys!
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Post by Al on Mar 8, 2009 7:37:30 GMT -5
My two boys got out yesterday, I couldn't make , they did alright without me. think I met that fella in the stripped suit.   |
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Post by KerryB on Mar 10, 2009 10:11:01 GMT -5
I can't tell if those are all whitefish, or if there are some lakers (Mackinaws) mixed in? Either way, those are some dandies!  |
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