Outdoors

Hut operators look to make most of abbreviated season

For those ardent ice anglers hoping to wet a line on the frozen surface of Lake Simcoe for whitefish, lake trout and, in some cases, jumbo yellow perch, it’s a case of better late than never.
What has been a disappointing start to the season due to the unseasonably mild temperatures and patches of open water gave way to some hope last weekend when Mother Nature brought in some much-needed below-freezing temperatures.
That was the impetus required to erase fears of 2002 when the lake did not freeze over and the ice fishing season was nonexistent.
With reports Lake Simcoe is now frozen over, with centre ice depths from four to five inches and 10 to 16 inches of ice around the edges, some hut operators have begun to place their shanties in deep-water areas.
“We’re now open for business,” said Bob Sharp, proprietor of Dave’s Fish Huts in Jackson’s Point (1-905-722-3372).
“Usually we have our huts out on the lake around mid-January. This year, though, it’s a late start. If I get five weeks in, it’ll take me to March 15 (when ice huts have to be off Lake Simcoe). But most of the operators are out there now.”
Operators who have their huts out are reaping rewards, Sharp said, especially those pursuing perch.
“Fishing is excellent now,” he said. “This year, I’ve had customers catch more perch than I’ve ever seen and we’re also getting lakers and whitefish.”
What had annoyed Sharp in recent days were media reports he feels tend to sensationalize accidents in which people have fallen through the ice on Lake Simcoe. He said they have deterred people from spending a day fishing when, in fact, it is safe to do so. What the reports fail to reveal, he said, is why accidents take place.
He was quick to point out he and other seasoned ice hut operators know when it is safe to venture out.
Some operators though, have elected not to put their huts out this year due to the late start.
Among them is Bonnie Boats in Jackson’s Point.
“We’ve decided to call it a year,” Bob Avery said. “Some operators are only putting half of their huts out or are staying on the older ice. We’ve got too much to lose if someone gets wet.”
As a rule of thumb, Avery said not a lot of ice is created in February and, when March rolls around, it can be dicey as the sun’s rays are stronger.
Bonnie Boats is instead referring customers to other reputable ice hut operators.

Simcoe ice season for walleye closes March 15

If you liked to go after walleye on Lake Simcoe, one of the best times to do so has traditionally been near the end of March.
Providing ice conditions are safe, that’s a time when the species, which can tip the scales at 10 to 15 pounds in this province’s sixth-largest inland lake, would congregate in the outflow of the Talbot River near Gamebridge before moving upstream to spawn.
But things have changed and if you have plans on going after these fish in March, be sure to read current Ministry of Natural Resources’ fishing regulations.
The regulations have cut the winter season for walleye on lakes Simcoe and Couchiching and their tributaries by two weeks, now ending March 15.
The move was made to protect walleye when the mature fish congregate at the mouth of tributaries, a time when they are most vulnerable.
The new regulation results from consultation with local angling groups, other stakeholders and the public and is intended to maintain angling opportunities while ensuring a sustainable and diverse fish community, the ministry said.

Ministry wants public input for proposed regulation changes

The Ministry of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on proposed fishing regulations changes for the 2007 season.
The proposed changes are part of the ministry’s new ecological framework for recreational fisheries management in Ontario announced last year. This includes managing fisheries on a zone basis rather than an individual lake basis and reducing the number of fishing divisions to 20 zones from 37.
Nine of the new zones are proposed for southern Ontario (those being 12 to 20). The new Fisheries Management Zones are based on ecological and social factors and easy-to-find boundaries.
Also proposed is extending  the bass season by six weeks and extending the northern pike season by four weeks in the new Fisheries Management Zone 18 and year-round fishing opportunities in stocked lakes in Fisheries Management Zone’s 15 and 18.
The ministry has set out recommended seasons along with creel and size limits for all regulated sport fish species for 2007 for the new zones.
Most anglers will not notice much difference, but in some areas the new boundaries will mean changes in fishing seasons and limits.
“We are streamlining the regulations and simplifying the large list of exceptions which were difficult for anglers to know and follow,” Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay said. “We are also creating more fishing opportunities by extending seasons or removing unnecessary season closures where there aren’t sustainability issues for native fish populations.”
The proposed fishing regulations for the new fisheries zones will be posted for the next two months to allow public comment. To view the regulations, Click Here and enter Registry Number XB06E6001.
To see a map of the new zones and to get more information on the ecological framework for recreational fisheries management, Click Here

Check that ice before heading out

Is it safe to go out on the ice to do a little ice fishing or not?
There isn’t a year that doesn’t go by when even the most ardent ice piscator asks the above-mentioned question in their quest to get out for a day of fun on frozen pond.
While it’s an obvious question to ask when another ice fishing season is about to commence, ice conditions are something anglers must always keep in mind, regardless of what the outside temperatures are.
After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
When in doubt, anglers can turn to several sources of information.
If you don’t know anyone in the area familiar with conditions, call a local tackle shop, angling club, ice hut operator or Ministry of Natural Resources office.
Numerous angling websites offer angling conditions.
If you intend to try your luck on a frozen surface you’re totally foreign with, there are tables on ice thickness and conditions.
Warning. They’re just a guideline, said ice enthusiast Wil Wegman.
“To say that three or four inches of ice is fine for a person to walk on, may well be the case on one side of the lake. But on the other side, those three inches could see that same person fall through almost right away. For this reason, when you see ice safety tables, it is important to understand that they were meant as a guideline for ideal ice conditions,” he said on the website www.fishonlineca.com
Ice colour, clear or blue, is more crucial, he said.
It’s ice that’s usually created at the start of the winter and is formed with a string of days and nights of below-freezing temperatures and a minimal amount of wind. As well, there’s little or no snow covering it.
Snow acts as an insulation barrier that slows down the freezing process, Mr. Wegman said.
“You need calm, cold nights with little or no snow to get things going. In fact I recall a few years ago in early January on Lake Simcoe when I fished out from Keswick during the morning on a solid five to six inches of ice. The main lake far to the north was still open and by noon the northwest winds were howling so bad I elected to get off in a hurry. By supper hour that very same day, the ice exactly where I was fishing had already broken up … making me realize how dangerous things can be out there if you’re not careful,” he recalled.
For one person to travel on clear or blue ice, it is suggested that at least four inches of thickness is required.
For a small group that is spread out in single file, four to five inches is required.
For an ATV or snowmobile, you’ll need seven to nine inches.
For a car or light truck, it’s 12 inches.
Don’t go out on ice alone.
When travelling on ice, it’s best to do so with at least one other person.
And there are several important items to have in your possession in the event that the unthinkable takes place.
A floatation suit, including those manufactured by Mustang or Buoy O Boy, are the winter version of a personal floatation device and can buy you added time if you fall through the ice.
Mr. Wegman also suggests bringing ice picks, such as those made by Rapala and cost around $10, and a throw rope in case you have to pull someone out of the drink.
“ I make my own by using the same throw rope I have in the boat. But instead of a light buoyant float, I use a small orange plastic bottle filled with a bit of sand to give it enough wait to throw to a potential victim. This comes with me during early and late season outings or whenever I am on new hard water,” said Mr. Wegman.
Other items of necessity should include a lighter or water proof matches, to build a fire if necessary when travelling in the dark, a lightweight emergency blanket, a change of wool socks and a cellular telephone.
If you elect to travel out on the ice in your vehicle, be sure to check with your insurance company beforehand to see if you are covered in the event an accident takes place.
While most are common sense, these precautionary measures will help make your ice fishing outing more enjoyable and, more importantly, a safe one.