Ontario Fishing

Rocky shoal areas and mass amounts of weeds make Pigeon Lake home to a variety of sport fish. To access the northern part of the lake, Bobcaygeon is near the northwest shore. If looking to fish by boat, the eastern and western shorelines host boat launches. If looking to visit the south part of the lake, you need to travel through a town called Omemee.

Due to the largeness of the lake, Pigeon Lake is great for walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Most people who visit Pigeon Lake fish for walleye.

Walleye

The southwest side of Big Island area and Gannon’s Narrows hosts many shoals which make this lake a prime spot for Walleye.

Muskie

If you are looking for a bigger fish to catch, Pigeon Lake contains many muskie. To have better success with this fish, one should fish in the later season. Weedy areas during overcast periods or at dusk are best for fishing. To increase your success of catching, you should use larger plugs or lures.

Bass

For the angler who is entertained by smallmouth and largemouth bass, this lake will provide you with the action you crave. All the typical bass lures can be used for both types of these fish. To catch largemouth bass, try fishing in the weedy areas of the southern part of the lake. A tube jig or weedless spinner will work best for catching. Underwater rock piles, cottage dock or launching areas provide hiding areas for smallmouth.

Camping and Accomodations

If you are in need of supplies, they can be found in Bobcaygeon or Omemee. Although these two towns are fairly small, if you are looking to stay overnight, you can try taking advantage of the well-known Emily Provincial Park located just north of Omemee.

Looking for a place to fish for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass in the Orillia area this summer? Lake Couchiching is predominantly known for these two types of fish. Located off Highway 11, the southern shore of Lake Couchiching can be reached by any number of cutoffs of this highway. Other areas of the lake can be reached via Mariposa Beach, Wilson Point and Washago. Mariposa beach is located along the eastern shore, Washago is near the northern tip of the lake and Wilson point is closer to the southern shore.

Largemouth Bass
Once you’ve accessed Lake Couchiching and have zeroed in on some traditionally good bucketmouth spots, you will be able to enjoy endless hours of great largemouth bass fishing. The key to catching this plentiful fish is by using a soft plastic bait such as a senko, working it slowly either in a slow jig or dead-stick action along the weed lines. Slowing your presentation down in this manner will help you get more frequent strikes as bass in this lake tend to be spooky and lure shy due to the high level of boat traffic that Lake Couchiching is known for. This lake is a part of the Trent Severn Waterway and many boaters use it as a stopping point for any necessities, including supplies.

Smallmouth Bass
If you are looking to fish for smallmouth bass, go with the percentages and try fishing off any of the small islands.

Walleye
If you have had your fill of bass fishing and are looking for another sport fish to catch, Lake Couchiching is also known for walleye and northern pike. Due to the large size of the lake, finding a good spot to fish is difficult. During the earlier times of the season, walleye will swim the shallows until summer comes. Shoal areas are the best place to catch these fish since walleye prey on bait fish which linger in these areas. The shoal areas vary in depth and the walleye tend to move to these various areas depending on the day.

Northern Pike

If you are looking for northern pike which are also difficult to catch, your best time for fishing is at dusk where they can be found in the weedy shallows. To hook some larger fish, try trolling a spoon or rapala along the weed lines or a top water fly or lure.

Accomodations

If you reside away from the area and need a place to stay, it is easy to find a hotel or motel in the area, especially near Orillia. Some of the marinas on the lake provide for accommodation and dining. If you are more of the outdoorsy type, there are three provincial parks located just outside of Orillia which are Bass Lake, Mara and McRae Point.

The Bay of Quinte is now frozen and big Walleyes are coming through ice fishing holes. That’s right folks, the Bay Of Quinte Ice Fishing season is in high gear. With the cold temperatures of the last couple of weeks, the bay now has good ice in most areas.

We’re getting reports of very safe ice conditions on the crossing from Point Anne to Big Island Shoal. Please check with a local ice hut operator before you go out as conditions can change. If you plan on ice fishing an area of Quinte that has currents, always be weary as under-ice water currents can erode ice making it unsafe. Again, check with a local operator if you are unsure.

Bay Of Quinte Ice Fishing hot spot, Big Island shoal

A general rule of thumb is that Big Island has the earliest safe ice, whereas places with current like the bridge area at Deseronto are notorious for treacherous unsafe ice conditions.

The walleye bait of choice is the mud minnow as many locals will tell you. But you have a few good lure choices that you should stock up on before you head out to the Bay of Quinte. Big spoons like a 2 ¼” silver Hopkins, oversized Swedish pimples, Little Cleos in blue/silver hammered finish, 2 ¼” silver plain finished Williams are all notorious for icing trophy walleye. Jigging Rapala’s tipped with minnows catch their fair share of big Quinte Walleye as well.

Big Island Shoal pin-pointed on the map below:

The ice thickness on Cook’s Bay, Lake Simcoe is now 18 inches according to a local Keswick Ice Hut operator. The snow is about 8 inches deep with some areas seeing drifts of up to 12 inches of snow.

Ice Fishing on Cook's Bay, Lake Simcoe. Keswick, Ontario

Look out for some slushy areas caused by pressure cracks, particularly one major slush area about 100 feet wide, caused by a pressure crack running north and south on the Bay. Rick Arsenault aka “Whitey” of Simcoe Fishing Adventures tells us that you shouldn’t have a problem with ATV’s or sleds, but you may want to pack a shovel or have a buddy to push you if you’re towing anything heavy should you run into a slushy area. These areas are reportedly safe, but may cause an inconvenience according to Whitey. Your best bet is to simply back up and go around these wet spots if you do encounter them.

Whitey sent us an email report today, and he tells us that he moved his whole camp last week away from a newly formed slushy area. His new location is in 18 feet of water with a sandy bottom, and they’re seeing non-stop perch fishing action with a maximum of 10 minutes between bites.

The trick to consistent catches of Jumbo perch has been to occasionally change up your presentation when the action slows down. A simple change like switching up to power bait on your jig or half a minnow can keep the bite going while other guys find themselves waiting for the next flurry of perch activity.

For ice hut rentals in the Keswick area, or for up to the minute updates, contact:

Rick

Simcoe Fishing Adventures:

(905) 476 2652

Well folks, over the past 2 days the weather has been cold, but the ice fishing action on Lake Simcoe is hot. Reports of good jumbo perch fishing continue to pour in.

Lake Simcoe Ice Fishing at dawn. Pefferlaw, Ontario.

This cold snap is doing wonders for the ice. We spoke today with Jerry from Peninsula Resort and Pefferlaw Fish Huts. He reports that 15 out of his 20 huts are out on 15 inches of ice.

If it’s jumbo perch you’re after, by all accounts the action has been good. You may even get into some bonus whitefish. According to Jerry “We’re getting good perch catches in about 25 feet of water with a few whitefish too”.

For more up to the minute Pefferlaw ice fishing reports, or to book, give Jerry a call:

Peninsula Resort and Pefferlaw Fish Huts

705-437-1890 or 1-800-565-LAKE

Ontario Steelhead Fishing, Introduction - Part 2

What is the difference between a Rainbow Trout and a Steelhead?

If you check the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource’s (OMNR) fishing regulations, you will not find Steelhead listed. Instead you’ll simply find Rainbow Trout. The distinction between Rainbow Trout and Steelhead is often a source of confusion among novice and casual anglers.

Resident Rainbow Trout or Steelhead?

Steelhead are often referred to as “sea-run”, or as is the case in Ontario, “lake-run” Rainbow Trout.

A Steelhead is an “anadromous” Rainbow Trout. In other words, a Steelhead is a Rainbow Trout that migrates from the tributary waters where it hatched, out to sea, or in this case, one of Ontario’s Great Lakes to mature. Once in the large body of water, Steelhead growth rates rapidly accelerate. They are able to attain much larger sizes than would be possible had they remained in their birth stream.

Non-anadromous Rainbow Trout or “Resident Rainbow Trout” on the other hand, remain in their native rivers and streams throughout their entire life cycle and do not migrate out to the Great Lakes. Because of this, Resident Rainbow Trout remain small relative to Steelhead. Steelhead and Rainbow Trout are however genetically the same species of fish.

Steelhead offspring are capable of converting into Resident Rainbow Trout if an event occurs that blocks access to the larger body of water, such as the erection of a dam. Similarly, Resident Rainbow Trout offspring are capable of migrating to a larger body of water if it becomes accessible and/or if conditions in the resident stream become unfavorable.

One parent of each type, Steelhead and Resident Rainbow Trout, can produce offspring of both types.

Steelhead fishing in Ontario is highly underrated. It is one of the only types of trophy fishing you can do where you don’t need a boat, nor do you ever have to travel far from home to have a great day catching one of the prettiest fish the world has to offer. That’s because no matter where in Ontario you reside, chances are there is a Steelhead river nearby.

Ontario Steelhead Fishing

Contrary to common perception, Steelhead are relatively easy to catch.  These voracious feeders will readily inhale almost any bait that drifts past their noses, making them easy targets for beginner and experienced anglers alike. Don’t be fooled by  expensive specialty Steelhead gear you may see some trout fanatics sporting - If you’ve ever fished with a worm and a bobber, you too can catch your fair share of these highly sought after game fish. With just a little basic know-how, you’ll be yelling “fish on” in no time… Of course later on, if - or should I say when you become addicted to Steelhead fishing, there will be plenty of time to purchase expensive rods and reels as your new hobby becomes an obsession.

The popularity of Steelhead fishing in Ontario has exploded over the last decade due largely in part to the vast number of quality Steelhead rivers in close proximity to urban areas, as well as the dissemination of this information made possible by the internet. Emerging is a new generation of avid Steelhead fishermen hungry for knowledge, and in the next few articles I will attempt to satisfy that hunger.

In this series of articles, my goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Ontario Steelhead Sport fishery. I will begin with a basic introduction and then delve into more detailed aspects of the Ontario Steelhead Fishery as the series of articles progresses. The topics that will be covered will include Steelhead fishing techniques as well as an exhaustive look at Steelhead Rivers and Tributaries found across Ontario.

According to a local ice hut operator, there is currently “a minimum of 8 inches of ice” on Cook’s Bay out of Keswick, Ontario. You’ll find about “8 to 10 inches of snow” on top. There are the odd “slush holes here and there due to pressure cracks”. The conditions are green light for snowmobiles, but be cautious if you are taking an ATV out onto the ice.

Last week’s ice fishing on Cook’s Bay saw its up’s and downs. The week started off with a bang early in the week with some great perch ice fishing being reported. Later on in the week the fishing slowed down.

A great day perch fishing on Cooks' Bay, Lake Simcoe

We talked to Rick Arsenault from Simcoe Fishing Adventures, an ice hut operator out of Keswick Ontario. He has some interesting theories as to why the bite can be up and down at times. Rick tells us that one of the reasons for the fishing slow down last week was due to “a full moon cresting”. The good news is that we expect the fishing to pick up again this week.

If you do find yourself in the middle of a slow bite, Rick has some good advice that can help you get into some perch during these adverse conditions: “downsize to tiny teardrops with a 14 or 16 size hook. It’s a good idea to tip your presentation with a perch eye or a piece of a minnow”. He told us that a common mistake that people make is to always jig their offering, when often a still presentation is the ticket.

If you’re heading down to Keswick for some Lake Simcoe ice fishing on Cook’s Bay, there is plenty of parking on the ice at the Glenwood Ave ramp as the ice is over 14 inches thick.

For up to the minute conditions, or to book, contact:

Simcoe Fishing Adventures

Keswick, Ontario

(905) 476 2652

Simcoe Fishing Adventures ice hut Shuttle from Glenwoods Ave Ramp. Zoom in on map below for exact location.

Ice fishing for Jumbo Perch in Cooks Bay is heating up folks. In most cases the real question isn’t ‘will you catch perch’, it’s how many, and how fast?

I’ve recently had the pleasure of reading some Lake Simcoe ice fishing reports that would make Bob Izumi drop what he’s doing and immediately head up to Gilford to get in on the Jumbo Perch bonanza that is now underway. Hey, you may not even need to bring 2 rods - because many are having the kind of outings where they don’t have time to tend to 2 rods due to non-stop jumbo perch ice fishing action. Not a bad problem to have indeed.

Cook's Bay Ice Fishing. Jumbo Perch caught by an OFF member.

Reports like this one from last season are beginning to come in again this week. That means we should have another good 8 weeks of solid perch fishing on Cook’s Bay. Make sure you check the ice conditions in advance as we’re getting reports that some sections of Lake Simcoe are thin as of yet. If you’re going out this week, Gilford is a safe bet as of right now.

With the ice fishing season now kicking into high gear on Lake Simcoe and across most of Ontario, I would just like to remind everyone to please be safe and sensible this ice fishing season. Always be aware of the ice conditions.

For inexperienced and seasoned ice-fisherman alike, remember that safety always comes first and you can never be too cautious. Every year we lose fishermen in Ontario through the ice, irrespective of skill level.

The bare minimum safe thickness of ice to walk on is 2″ of “black ice” (ice that is clear and you can see through). If you’re taking a snowmobile on the lake, the minimum safe thickness is 3″ of black ice.

"Clear Ice" or "Black Ice"

Remember that white ice is only half as strong as black ice . So, when you are determining the ice thickness, treat 4” of white ice as only 2” of black ice.

If you find a mixture of white ice and black ice, assume that it is all white ice and divide the measured thickness in half.

Ice must be supported by water underneath. If you hear a hollow sound when poking the ice, this is an indication that the water level may have dropped since the ice sheet was formed. This ice cannot support a load and is unsafe.

Know your body of water. Some lakes have areas of current from warm water inflows or springs that create areas of thinner ice. Also keep in mind that ice may be thinner or thicker near shore. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, never go out by yourself.

Air temperature affects the strength of ice, especially bare ice without a layer of snow on the ice surface.

• A sudden large drop in temperature can cause ice to become brittle and unsafe. In this case, the ice may not be safe for up to 24 hours after the temperature drop.

• Air Temperatures above freezing can weaken ice. If the air temperature has stayed above freezing for 6 of the prior 24 hours, you must multiply the minimum safe thickness by 1.3 to account for weakening. If the air temperature has stayed above freezing for 24 hours, the ice can no longer be considered safe even if it has an adequate thickness. This is due to weakened ice, and is usually the reason for treacherous spring ice conditions.

Enjoy the Ice Fishing season, but do it safely!