ONTARIO’S ICE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
Plenty of fish to catch under the hard water
When Old Man Winter locks up the water and turns it to ice, boat anglers are out of luck. But for those that don’t mind a little fresh air, ice fishing can be a great adventure.
Not only does ice level the playing field and let people without watercraft access the best spots, it can also be a great time to catch fish. Good ice fishing opportunities exist across the province, including within an hour or two of the GTA.
Here are the six top targets for anglers on hard water.
Walleye
Ontario’s favourite open water sport fish, the walleye, is also a big ice fishing draw in parts of Ontario. The walleye is known for its white, flaky flesh and delicious flavour. Many anglers will drive a long way to catch a feed of walleye and spend a lot of time and effort getting their limit. These fish are not known for great aggression in the winter, but will generally bite well at first and last light. On some clear-water lakes, winter walleye will bite through the night. Most walleye are caught while fishing near bottom, at the base of reefs or drop offs. The top techniques for catching them include setting a live minnow below a tip up or jigging a Swedish Pimple. Top spots for walleye include the Bay of Quinte, Lake Nipissing and Lac Des Mille Lacs, northwest of Thunder Bay.
Pike
Sometimes known as the water wolf, the northern pike is a predator known for its mouth full of sharp teeth. They can provide great sport in the winter, as they can attain both a large size and are quite active under the ice. Pike like shallower bays and rock reefs in the winter, and are often found not far from the river mouths where they spawn. Top techniques for catching pike include hanging a frozen Portu- guese sardine on a treble hook beneath a tip up, or jigging with a large minnow. A steel leader is a must as pike have razor sharp teeth. Pike are expanding in southern Ontario, and are common throughout the northeast and northwest of Ontario.
Perch
Although common across the province, perch don’t always get the winter fishing attention they deserve. That’s too bad, as they are both relatively easy to catch and delicious. In fact, when perch fillets are rolled in flour and thrown in hot oil, few things are more delicious. Perch are found in a variety of habitats but generally like deep holes in lakes, and in late winter, shallow bays. Perch are not generally difficult to catch but require downsized jigs and spoons and light-action tackle. Rods should be light and line in the four-pound test range is about right. Small minnows tipped on jigs work great. Top spots include Lake Simcoe, Lake Nipissing and Black Bay on Lake Superior.
Lake Trout
Of all the fish species that can be caught in the winter, lake trout are the most fun. It seems the colder and clearer the winter weather, the better these big fish bite. Lakers are denizen of deep water and thrive in Ontario’s Great Lakes, and many of its larger water bodies such as Lake Simcoe and Lake of the Woods. Lake trout anglers catch a lot of fish jigging, as the flash of a silver spoon like the Hopkins or Krocodile looks a lot like the silvery smelt and herring they eat. Another great winter bait is a four-inch white tube jig. Lake trout are also good to eat and are a good source of Omega 3. Although lake trout average about three pounds, they can grow up to 30 pounds in larger waters. Top spots include Lake Simcoe, Lake Temagami and Lake Superior.
Brook Trout
These beautiful fish are native to many parts of Ontario and thrive in clear, cold water. In winter, the season is closed for most of the wild, naturally reproducing populations of this spe- cies. However, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and forestry stocks hundreds of lakes with hatchery raised brookies that can be taken through the ice. Stocking lists are available from Ministry of Natural Resources district offices and online. Brook trout are an aggressive winter species and will generally hit well once located. The trick is to find them.
Usually, brookies are in less than about three metres of water and relatively close to shore. They like to root around in the sticks and rocks looking for nymphs, leeches and even hibernating frogs. Jigging a small spoon or Rapala minnow is a great way to trigger bites. Brook trout lakes are normally small and sensitive to pressure, so naming one lake would create a disaster. But top areas for stocked brookie lakes include the Bancroft area, Ottawa Valley, Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa districts.
Whitefish
This silvery fish is both delicious to eat and challenging to catch. Although they can be very aggressive, the whitefish has a small, under-slung mouth that makes it tricky to hook.
Many anglers use small shiner on a hook and sinker to catch whitefish. On the flip side, a jigged spoon like the Hopkins or Piilki will often be struck hard by a whitefish.
Although they normally weigh two or three pounds, exceptional specimens can top 10 pounds. Top spots include Lake Simcoe, Lake Temagami and Wawa Lake. There is also a huge ice fishing derby on Wawa Lake each March with big prizes for the best whitefish.
More Ice Fishing information: Fish-OnLine
Although there are a few fishing spot suggestions here, there is a great tool from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources called the Fish-OnLine tool. This web-based product shows you stocked lakes, sanctuaries, lake depth maps and much more information. You can zoom into the areas you fish and see what lakes are open for ice fishing, as well as the regulations. It’s a fantastic, free tool for the ice fisherman. ontario.ca/page/fishing.