Joeytier

People have been ice fishing north of 17 for 2 weeks now.  Big lakes are firming up nicely now, too.

Yeah, the cold came early! 

Mostly small lake trout and a crack at a big pike.  If you have a sled there's some good backlake options, but you should be able to scrape up some fish on Lowell.  It's a highway-side lake with a lodge and a few camps on it, so don't expect lights out fishing, but if you know how to catch lakers you'll be able to get into a few.  Very pretty lake too.

I know people trap them this time of year in Ontario, don't think I've ever spotted one.

Thanks guys

I suggest buying an ice fishing specific jacket.  Skidoo jackets tend to be a little cramping for long days on the ice.  FXR and Frabill both have awesome coats better suited to sledding and ice fishing.

Cool that you got a shot of the fisher.   Saw one crossing the lake last weekend...slinky is right.

17 hours ago, S.M.05 said:

Congrats on the new P.B. What a Beau-T!

So jealous. Still waiting on some consistently cold nights, first ice specks are what winter is all about.  

December into early January is absolutely the best time to be on the ice.  I won't be able to get back out until mid-week next week, so I don't mind this milder weather...keep the early season bite hot ?

Awesome machine!  Perfect for lake and bush cruisin!  Those 600 ACE motors are ridiculously fuel efficient from what I've read. 

52 minutes ago, irishfield said:

Lookin good  !! Quite the tank in that first shot!

20.5x13...used an online calculator that put it at 4.3 lbs

2 foot trout from small lakes sounds kinda fun!  That was a nice morning read...thanks for posting.

Spent the weekend in the bush enjoying the early onset of winter in certain parts of the north, broke trail through some fresh powder and punched a lot of holes on a few lakes that we were lucky enough to be the first ones out onto this season.  Fishing was mostly excellent, as first ice almost always is, and my first landed fish happened to be an absolute beast, and my PB brook trout by a pretty large margin.

I am not endorsing widespread safe ice in northern Ontario, don't be an idiot. 

https://imageshack.com/a/rhbl/1

20171125_142235.mp4

4 hours ago, 16 Footer said:

Thanks to everyone's reply.

We are thinking about an over night hut. Are there any over night huts on the main lake?

There are a bunch of operators who have ice bungalows on the lake.  Bear Creek gets consistently great reviews.  I stayed in one of Rob Hyatt's sleeper huts, and they are very nice as well.  Personally, I'd prefer to come back to a warm cabin or motel room on land, but the sleepers definitely have a fun novelty to them if you've never done it before.

There are a few options scattered throughout Northern Ontario that are placed centrally within a chain of good brook trout, splake, and rainbow trout backlakes, and of course walleye lakes.

I'll send you a PM with some of what I would consider the better ones.

On 21/11/2017 at 1:35 AM, Chuck Enwinde said:

Ha!  This coming from the only guy in the province still out crushing largemouth this weekend lol.

 

Good times as always Chris.  Funny story, had a chance to meet Chris' mom and she casually asked what lake we were going to?  Just as I was about to respond Chris cuts me off with a made up lake name!  He explained later that his folks talk to too many neighbors up there.  If ever there was a truer sign of a trout guy, I haven't seen it. 

That's hilarious.  Great job, splake of that calibre are far from common in most parts of Ontario. 

Awesome Simon. Looks like we'll be out and about on the ice around the first week of December, if not a bit sooner. The sled comes out of hibernation next weekend! Go get some crappies!

Nice birds. Flushed 5 today, todays snowfall seemed to get them active

YouTube has complex algorithms based on not only views, but how many repeat views, how much of a video people watch etc

Revenue stream is based entirely on advertising as I understand it.

I bet I bet could put some summer brookies in the boat with that bad boy. I understand the appeal, but I just don't think I'm anywhere near wanting to tie my own flies. At 2 bucks a pop, I'll gladly shell out for someone else's creation

Good luck Simon. I have excercised the thought of maybe attempting something similar down the road, so I am interested in seeing how this pans out.

November is a month I really look forward to for open water trout fishing, some of the best of the year, with grouse hunting in the mix. I couldn't imagine not taking advantage of that.

I was in haliburton last week and actually seen trout spawning in 5-10 feet of water was kinda cool to see....they will cruise the lake in shallow looking for suitable sites and group up for sure even the stockers will do that weather or not there is suitable spawn sites or not....caught many lakers while droppshotting for smallies so many that I have had to leave an area as the trout just keep hitting ..... cool either way man and some nice trout you guys got......cheers

Yep, the stocked fish will still spawn, whether or not they're successful depends entirely on the lake. They're still the same fish.

Awesome job, the lakers and splake have been on fire up here too.

Sounds like New England hasn't had great Atlantic returns for a few decades. Maine seems to be the last stronghold for wild native salmon and trout in the east. NE used to have huge runs of Sea-run brookies too, but they're all but extirpated now I believe. Sounds like there's been a big wave of homegrown conservation groups doing some great work with habitat restoration down there, I'm sure there's still plenty of hope still.

Nice sled. Haven't heard a bad thing about the 900 ace yet. Did you get the wide track version?

Awesome pair of bows