Ice Fishing Weekend 2009

If it’s one thing you can count on throughout the Southern Ontario winter it’s the fact that you can never depend on the weather. Each year we plan an ice fishing trip to Smed’s (name altered to protect the guilty) cottage near Owen Sound. We usually head up sometime between mid and late February so we can enjoy a few more hours of fishing as the late winter sun rises a bit higher in the sky and stays out a bit longer.

Food was bought, travel arrangements made and then it happened; an early morning message from Smed saying that all the highways heading north were closed. So now what? Do we pick another weekend or play wait and see.

Finally by late morning the winds started to die down and the sun peeked through the clouds. Smed started out first and was to let us know if he thought he could make it. Well after another 45 min we got a message saying that he was making slow but steady progress. Sam started out from Ayr and was to pick me up in Kitchener on the way along. After waiting longer than it should have taken I get a phone call from Sam. “I’m on the side of the road; @#$%$ car died!” After another hour and a few bottles of gas line antifreeze, we were on our way.

Other than a few minor whiteouts, the trip was relatively uneventful. Handshakes all round, a toast to the fish gods, and off onto the ice where his ice hut, affectionately know as Red/Green was waiting. Sam soon had a roaring fire blazing in the stove as the temperature continued to plummet. After a couple of hours and no hits we decided that the sudden change in temperature had the fish all messed up so we fired up the ATVs and headed back to the cottage for supper, only to find that Smed had forgotten that he had agreed to provide supper. Oh well, a bit of fussing and some scrounging had us sitting down to a fine feed of barbequed pork chops, chased down by some rather good French wine.

With the exception of a short break for lunch, Saturday found us back on the ice for the whole day but still with only one reasonable pike to show for our efforts. Well, back to the barbeque and some nice thick T-bone steaks. So thick in fact that we only had steak; that’s right nothing else just steak, a true meateterian delight.

The weather called for blizzard-like conditions again on Sunday so we only spent a few hours on the ice, most of it in a screaming blizzard, and then quickly packed up and headed south. I should mention that I did manage to land one reasonable sized pike on Sunday morning. The drive home was even more unpleasant than the drive up, but some good conversation and CBC radio got us through.

So there it is, a whole weekend and only two fish. So why bother you ask? Well to me it’s always about the journey and not the destination. It’s the memories, the companionship of good friends and the warm glow after a couple of drams of good scotch that makes it all worthwhile. Why not drop us a line and let us know about your own ice fishing adventures.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Ontario Family Fishing Weekend

This is the weekend to grab the kids, get out in our Southern Ontario fresh air and become part of Ontario’s Family Fishing Weekend. February 14 – 16 is one of only two weekends each year set aside to introduce residents to fishing in Ontario.

If ice fishing is something you’ve always wanted to try this weekend is your chance; and its license free. That’s right, as an added incentive to get out and explore our frozen winter landscape the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has waived the need to purchase a fishing license for this weekend only.

You can read more about Ontario Family Fishing Weekend at http://www.familyfishingweekend.com/ where you will also find a list of special events being held across the province to add to the enjoyment of the weekend.

Note: Because of recent rains and warm spell in Southwestern Ontario it is wise to call ahead to the park or lake where you intend to fish. I know that events that were planned for several GRCA parks have now been cancelled due to poor trail conditions and unsafe lake ice.

Don’t let that discourage you from getting out this winter. The lakes will harden again and although it’s nice to save a bit of cash yourself you should note that kids under 16 don’t require a fishing license at anytime and you can buy a temporary license and most tackle shops.

Get up, get out, and enjoy our great Southern Ontario Outdoors this winter.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

How Thick is Safe Ice?

Winters in Southern and Southwestern Ontario can be fickle. I’ve seen years (although not recently) when we were ice fishing on Long Point Bay before New Years. I’ve also seen winters where much of the region had as little as three weeks of safe ice for the whole winter.

This year winter weather arrived on November 15 but a series of heavy snowfalls left lakes and rivers with slushy ice that was well insulated by a thick layer of snow. Then we had the Christmas rain and thaw, just when it was looking like ice was becoming safe, dramatically postponing ice fishing in many lakes and most reservoirs due to fluctuating water levels. The longer term affect of the rain and thaw may not be all that bad. It did reduce the snow cover and allowed the recent cold weather to form much harder and safer ice.

I know people who hop out of bed grab their ice fishing gear and they’re off on the ice with little or no thought to current ice conditions. I look at these people and think to myself, “I hope you’re lucky again today.” You can never anticipate every possible situation but with a little knowledge and forethought you can minimize your risk. And yes, you’re taking a risk every time you venture onto the ice.

So just what is considered “safe ice”? Well, as you have likely already gathered there is no definitive answer and many factors come into play when you consider whether or not to venture out onto a frozen body of water. Here are some of the generally accepted guidelines for ice thickness:

Thickness (cm)---------------Type of Load
5 – 8 cm --------------------One person on foot
10 cm ---------------------Small group (single file)
20 cm ---------------------Snowmobile or ATV
30 cm --------------------Light vehicle

Note: These estimates are based on solid “blue” ice. White, slushy, or honeycombed ice may not be safe at these thicknesses.

My personal preference is to have a good 8-12” of solid ice under my feet. I have fished on as little as 6” but I must admit that I wasn’t particularly comfortable the whole time I was out.

Here are a few more things to take into consideration before heading onto the ice:

• Ice freezes unevenly, especially early in the winter.
• Ice is often thicker closer to shore.
• Currents will affect ice thickness.
• Double the estimates and treat river ice with caution at all times.
• Consider honeycombed ice to be unsafe.
• Double the thicknesses in the above chart if ice is “white” or opaque.
• Snow is an insulator; heavy snow cover can mean unsafe ice and variable thickness.

Take responsibility for your own safety, talk to local bait shop owners, talk with local fishermen, and always proceed with caution. Above all get out and enjoy winters ice fishing bounty in Southern Ontario.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions