icefisherman

Well then I think we should concentrate on the boat access...I have a feeling if we manage to do it there are lot of whities waiting for us....and with so few of them been caught this season...imagine the show ha ha ha....the ones I got last weekend were very fat too Cheers, Ice Fisherman

hahaha Sinker brother...if you now tell me there are also whities there...I am game

OK guys...10 days left in this "ice season" ...I hear lake is open in the middle and chunks of ice keep braking off the shore line and floating East...anyone know if there are any launches (preferably on the West side) that are free of ice? Thanks. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Not open water but just a skim ice on top. Few guys went to check it out...I didn't want to get too close to it Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Well right when I kind of gave up on the hope to get enough ice on SImcoe to catch some whities ...bammmm...a great friend of mine gave me the urgent call this morning...how could I decline it ha ha ha....quick organizing with the kids and we were fishing by 12:30pm...never in my life I went fishing at 12:30 but hey....not that many days left in this ice season and ice is not getting any better so we jumped on the opportunity.... Meegs did all the damage today...some very fat healthy whities for sure....my younger boy (won't you know it) despite all the warnings not to do his annual trick of jumping in the hole decided to do precisely that....so there we had it...right foot wet...whities biting what do you do?!?!?.....talk the kids into running, restyling arround....checking onto all the other people in the area....anything to keep them moving....which they did pretty good up until the last 30 min when the cold Finlay got into them...hence the picture is not very smiley but they did get into their usual mood on the way back to the car as bodies warmed up from the walk... Anyhow....fantastic day out there...whities were cooperating...5 nice ones today...lost the 6-th half way up the hole at the end of the day but decided to leave as the kids were getting cold but they managed to catch some themselves so they were happy campers after worming up....110 fow...ice is not very good and getting worse for sure...we were at 4-5" but half of that was white ice....some spots have more than others...not sure if it will stay there until the end of the seaosn...I doubt it.... Here are couple shots for your viewing pleasure: Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Well you are probably right...but they can run and can't hide from me...boat is ready so let them go to the BZ....my favorite spot Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Nice day today so what better to do then check the rivers for active stealhead....they sure were active...one of my best days this season....8/9 final score...most fish were silver clean and very healthy...just one was colored...some larger then the rest but all full of energy and willing to play and show some pretty good acrobatics...Sorry for the picture quality but again not easy to take good pictures when you are alone with a cell phone, frozen fingers and trying to get the fish back in the water ASAP. Still better than nothing I think.... Few shots from the day for your viewing pleasure: Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Nice report and lovely pictures brian. I've been thinking about going out myself but also can't decide on what the water condition will be...may just have to go and try it...can't believe the huge size of roe bag that one fish has gone after Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Great job Bruce. Was there enough ice where you were and how is the ice down to the spot we catch those smelt each year? I'll be suprised if ice is good but who knows....maybe we should go get some crappie instead of smelt this winter?;-) Jordan was asking me about the smelt the other day so I though I should ask you.... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Depending on the body of water...some are tagged many are with clipped fins....the ones caught this time were all naturals with all fins present. Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Decided to go and check how the steelies are doing today....they were there....ready and willing to play....6/8 for the day....lot of natural fish which is good to see. Fish was hiding in the deep pools....largest about 8 Lbs....water and air were cold though....I guess it is to be expected in February....but not cold enough to get enough ice on Simcoe....those whities are getting fat for sure....May 15 can't come soon enough ) Few shots from the day....not easy to take pictures with cell phone when you are alone.... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Thanks guys...that is what I've heard yesterday but am looking for up to date info as of tonight if someone knows as it might have changed since yesterday....would hate to drag the boat all the way to IBP only to find out launch is blocked by ice tomorrow morning./ Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Does some one know if there is any launch ramp on Simcoe free of ice where I can launching a 17.5' boat? Had enough waiting for the ice to cover the main lake and it seems it may not happen at all this year....so maybe getting the boat out an early boat season is the solution Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Good looking boat Mike! Should I be looking for you while trolling Lake O. in the spring, instead of along the river banks? Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Thanks guys! Love your funny comments Cityfisher, hope we get some ice on Simcoe as we do have some unsettle business with the whities from last year so keep in touch please... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

After some good intelligence I've decided to try new for me river today and the risk was worth it....Got to love winter stealheading...only for the real hardocre fishermen ha ha ha 4/6 for the day with some real nice fresh steelies but it was cold....pictures bellow don't do justice....tired of clearing my line/float/guides from ice every couple minutes....I am quite used with the clearing exercise on the ice but it is one thing to clear ice of 30" ice rod and much trickier to do it with the 13' float rod. One of the fish I got came with a bonus Rapala attached to it ha ha ha....hooks were not rusted so it wasn't swimming with it for long....anyhow fish went back in the river swimming much happier now without the extra drag on the side of its mouth ha ha ha...and I got s tiny rapala ha ha ha...if someone wants to claim it as their own they can have it ;-)) Lots of ice floating in the river very hard to find a spot away from the main current to cast in without landing my float on top of ice blocks...those things were everywhere....zillions of them....took about 5-6 hours before they all cleared...still a nice day considering ice fishing for whities and lakers on Simcoe is still weeks away.....the steelies will have to do in the meantime.... Here are few shots for your viewing pleasure: Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Well since ice is absent and weather is nice what better to do today than go check how the steelies are doing....and they sure were ready to play....6/9 today my best day so far since I started this new to me type of fishing a month or so ago...lots of bites and all were nice clean fresh silver fish....I know they are not whitefish from Lake Simcoe but for now it'll have to do....few shots bellow for your viewing pleasure....lots of power and energy in those fish few good acrobats did 7-8 jumps each...fun fun and more fun ...ha ha ha My first day fighting with icebergs and shore ice...definately trickier and more challenging than without but doable. One fish had a nasty and fresh lamprey wound on its side ..... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Saw a window in what otherwise would turn out to be a rainy messy day and took it...got to the river and fished it right before the rain made it too dirty/too high ...it actually started as a very nice sunny day....but quickly changed to the oposite...the "usual" 2/6 day...landed the bigger and lost the smaller ones....one of them had a nasty lamprey mark on the side....anyhow....decent start of the year...in the absence of any ice around the steelies may have to do it for a while longer....couple shots bellow... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Was a nice day so why not doing one more trip for steelhead...fish was there but spread in different pools...water was bit dirty first thing but got cleared later on...2/7 today...kept loosing the bigger fish for some reason...still lots of fun playing them for a while.... couple cell phone shots bellow: Cheers, Ice Fisherman

sorry to read this bad story Bruce...sure was a very nice friendly dog.

Tried my luck again this morning...started with a kick...first two drifts - 2 fish on shore...photos bellow...after moving a bit got 3 more but lost them half way...the highlight of the day was second last fish...I casted almost to the other side of the river....started fixing my line not even looking at my float for a half a second....and suddenly something smashed my rod big time and almost pull it out my hand...very violent attack...this guy was angry big time....the bow probably hit it as soon as it touched the water...I've lost that fish but had it on for about 5-6 second enough to see it jumping almost on the opposite shore trying to escape...ha ha ha what an adrenalin rush...never had fish hit me so quick, half a second after casting and never expected it ....good thing I save my rod ha ha ha.... Anyhow...was a nice day with some fish willing to play...what more can one ask for ;-) Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Simon I knew it will not take long to see you with some eyes at the end of your line But I do think you need a good camera man...if I was there I would have got you one of the action shots right when the bobber goes down...priceless Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Simon, can't believe my eyes ...you and skunk in the same sentence hmmmm.....I thought it is impossible combo....but the little guy picture sure make up for the lack of eyes flipping on the ice...I can see your shack offers full continental breakfast too box of screws just in case the need arrises...always fun seeing your photo reports bud! Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Decided to beat the rain today and went to the river in the morning....not a bad day...very warm almost no wind....very clear water....not many other fishermen first thing, but that soon changed...had to go find where fish is hiding as they were passing in small groups and not staying long....ended up 2/6 not great landing ratio but all the lost ones were big heavy fish and kept braking my Izumi 8# fluoro leader....may upgrade to 10# Seagur.... Few shots from today...some stocked and some natural fish as well... Cheers, Ice Fisherman

Now Simon I knew you'd be among the first to post eyes ice fishing report ...and you didn't mislead me But I've noticed one problem my friend - you seem not to have a good photograph out there...should I come by and help taking photo shots for you and the eyes ha ha ha Cheers, Ice Fisherman