Has Ice fishing declined?

[Orca]

Im guessing many have given up on ice fishing on Lake Nipissing, maybe due to the 2 fish limit on Walleye, and the near unatainable slot (40-45 cm) lenght.
I've recently retired back to my home town, and really noticed the lack of activity on this lake. There used to be a long string of truck headlights and snowmobiles returning off the lake at dark coming home to Sturgeon from across the lake.
I made a significant investment in new gear including shelter, auger, etc.  I managed to hook a couple of fish, but they were either too small, or a little too big.
I may sell everything before the start of next Winter, to recoup my losses.

Edited March 13 by Orca

[AKRISONER]

good luck getting any value out of your gear. The economy is in the tank and ice fishing specifically is a dying game. Every year the season gets shorter and ever year the price of gear gets higher. I along with many friends whom I would call "hardcore" ice guys are basically done investing in it, the ROI just isnt there anymore,

[Fisherman]

Late ice, sometimes early spring, miserable weather all adds up.  I didn't get out this year, not fighting with massive snow dumps and then the slush.

[Orca]

5 hours ago, AKRISONER said:

good luck getting any value out of your gear. The economy is in the tank and ice fishing specifically is a dying game. Every year the season gets shorter and ever year the price of gear gets higher. I along with many friends whom I would call "hardcore" ice guys are basically done investing in it, the ROI just isnt there anymore,

Shame.  Didn't realise back then (?) how good we had it.

[Orca]

There's always next year. LOL.

[Moosebunk]

This was a banner year for ice! Friends are visiting Temagami this week, Nipigon and even some are just finishing up on parts of Lake O that froze over well this winter. 

Agree that costs are stupid for everything now but if you've already made the investment for gear, then it's just up to you investing getting yer arze in gear to go.

[glen]

The lakes aren’t managed properly.  
did you catch any nice perch ?or other fish you can eat?

[Big Cliff]

It really does seem that there's a decline, the zone limits, weather conditions, and cost are all factors. My daughter lives in North Bay and has changed their focus to fishing smaller lakes and targeting different species. If you are trying to put food on the table the slot limits on Nippissing do make it a real challenge. Living in Sturgeon you have countless opportunities close by if you want to fish and put food on the table, just not walleye.

My favorite is lake Simcoe and because of my age I only use commercial hut operators, last year they had a short season because or mild conditions, this year they had to pull their huts early because of snow and slush conditions. I remember fishing on Simco and there were lots of cars and trucks out on the ice miles from shore,  not anymore,  only a few fools dare to venture out with those modes of transport.  Global warming is definitely happening and we can only adapt as conditions change. 

[Orca]

10 hours ago, glen said:

The lakes aren’t managed properly.  
did you catch any nice perch ?or other fish you can eat?

No Perch, and only a couple small Walleye.
The spot fortunately is very accessible, right on the Sturgeon River.

I struggled with setting up the portable ice shelter on my own.
I enjoyed using the 40 volt lithium battery, 8" power auger.  I sold the brand new (cut 2 holes) 8" offset handle hand auger for $75.  It went within an hour or so after posting on the buy and sell want-ads.

I met some nice people while fishing, so that made up for it.
I wanted to fish my old stomping grounds in Cach Bay, but the water level was so low prior to freeze up, that there probably was no water to mention under the ice this year.

Edited March 14 by Orca
spelling

[Orca]

1 hour ago, Big Cliff said:

It really does seem that there's a decline, the zone limits, weather conditions, and cost are all factors. My daughter lives in North Bay and has changed their focus to fishing smaller lakes and targeting different species. If you are trying to put food on the table the slot limits on Nippissing do make it a real challenge. Living in Sturgeon you have countless opportunities close by if you want to fish and put food on the table, just not walleye.

My favorite is lake Simcoe and because of my age I only use commercial hut operators, last year they had a short season because or mild conditions, this year they had to pull their huts early because of snow and slush conditions. I remember fishing on Simco and there were lots of cars and trucks out on the ice miles from shore,  not anymore,  only a few fools dare to venture out with those modes of transport.  Global warming is definitely happening and we can only adapt as conditions change. 

I made quite a few trips to Simcoe while residing in the GTA.
At least I have some memories.
You're right about other opportunities (relatively) close by.
It would help if I had someone to go with and share the load of dragging the sleds loaded with equipent.  My 69 years are starting to show.  Gotta stay off processed foods to alay the soreness caused by imflammation.

[Orca]

I remember reading your posts, Moosebunk.  You have accumulated many memorable outings.

[akaShag]

On 3/14/2025 at 8:39 AM, Orca said:

My 69 years are starting to show.

Same here...but we have had an excellent year for ice, only a couple weeks when the slush (from heavy snow) made travel pretty tough.

A small Rapala ice tent is dandy for one angler and works fine for two, and sets up and takes down in maybe a minute.  It is also light and comes with six ice anchors for when the breezes blow.  The only thing I do not like about it is the anchor grommets for the floor are on the inside, so you cannot (easily) install a floor anchor if the wind is a bit gusty, before setting up.  In that case if I am solo, I put an anchor in the ice, pop up the tent and get a side wall guy line onto that anchor, then get an inside anchor installed.

We are still fishing on safe ice around Kingston, although the shoreline will probably go soon.  And even if there is a foot of good ice out there, six feet of water from shore to ice edge is more than I care to attempt. 😮

Keep the faith!

Doug

[CrowMan]

On 3/14/2025 at 8:39 AM, Orca said:

My 69 years are starting to show. 

Ice fishing has definitely declined in my life...and it's just not the shorter season.

As I get older, I'm becoming more of a pu$$y. My tolerance for the cold and staring down a hole for hours is declining as the years go by. I still get out on the ice a few times a season...mostly to target Crappie at the cottage as the slot sizes  make a Walleye meal  difficult. Lake Trout is closed in winter on my lake, but occasionally I luck into a Whitefish or Burbot..

I also do a trip on Simcoe with my grandkids for Petch...that's with an operator so it's a pretty cushy affair.

However, now that I've retired I find myself (and my wife) spending more of the winter down south. We've never liked Florida (and certainly wouldn't spend our money there now, given the politics), so we rotate between renting places in Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica...as a bonus the Cdn $ still goes relatively far in these countries.

We're down in Cancun right now...kids and grandkids came down to visit last week..my son and son-in-law got out on a charter to load up for some fish dinners..

 

 

By the time I return, it should be ice-out fishing season.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16 by CrowMan

[Orca]

1 hour ago, akaShag said:

Same here...but we have had an excellent year for ice, only a couple weeks when the slush (from heavy snow) made travel pretty tough.

A small Rapala ice tent is dandy for one angler and works fine for two, and sets up and takes down in maybe a minute.  It is also light and comes with six ice anchors for when the breezes blow.  The only thing I do not like about it is the anchor grommets for the floor are on the inside, so you cannot (easily) install a floor anchor if the wind is a bit gusty, before setting up.  In that case if I am solo, I put an anchor in the ice, pop up the tent and get a side wall guy line onto that anchor, then get an inside anchor installed.

We are still fishing on safe ice around Kingston, although the shoreline will probably go soon.  And even if there is a foot of good ice out there, six feet of water from shore to ice edge is more than I care to attempt. 😮

Keep the faith!

Doug

I had difficulty setting up a Canadian Tire Outbount insulated hub.  Decided I have to pay more on a Clam C360 because yhey looked a lot easier to handle on the Youtube videos.
Then there is the takedown.
Still can't get it right after about 4 times.
It's rolled up loosely in stotage. the nice black cloth carrying case is beside it.
You have to picture this on every outing, as I did not want it stolen.  So I haul all my gear to and fro.
Thankfully it's only a three minute walk!  I wound up hauling in two lots.  That way I only need 2 days to recupperate, instead of the 4 when doing it all in one go.  More than once I had to remind myself that this is fun, and a privilege.  Otherwise it was great!

[limeyangler]

6 minutes ago, Orca said:

I had difficulty setting up a Canadian Tire Outbount insulated hub.  Decided I have to pay more on a Clam C360 because yhey looked a lot easier to handle on the Youtube videos.
Then there is the takedown.
Still can't get it right after about 4 times.
It's rolled up loosely in stotage. the nice black cloth carrying case is beside it.
You have to picture this on every outing, as I did not want it stolen.  So I haul all my gear to and fro.
Thankfully it's only a three minute walk!  I wound up hauling in two lots.  That way I only need 2 days to recupperate, instead of the 4 when doing it all in one go.  More than once I had to remind myself that this is fun, and a privilege.  Otherwise it was great!

Have you considered the Otter shelters?

[Orca]

Just now, limeyangler said:

Have you considered the Otter shelters?

They're nice.  You get what you pay for. 
I just got back from driving to our storage locker to put away all the ice fishing gear including the Clam.  Tried different ways of folding it so that you can get that strap around it to snug it down enough to squeeze it into the carrying bag.  Once things dry up more, I will go back and persevere until I get it.

[akaShag]

9 minutes ago, Orca said:

I had difficulty setting up a Canadian Tire Outbount insulated hub.  Decided I have to pay more on a Clam C360 because yhey looked a lot easier to handle on the Youtube videos.
Then there is the takedown.

The Outbound weighs 32 pounds, the Rapala weighs 22 pounds.  I have no idea how the Outbound goes up, But with the Rapala, pop up the roof, then one wall, the next wall, the next wall and the final wall, time elapsed way less than a minute.  To collapse it, push the roof down, then one wall BESIDE the one with the door, then the next and the next, and the door wall last.  Pick up one corner of the flat shelter and it all folds easily into the middle.  Gather up the sides and roll it up, put on the strap, and it's done.  About two minutes, by myself.  But putting it back into the bag.............I don't even try out on the ice, it is too tight a fit.

I also have skis on my two ice fishing sleds, with small blocks of 2x4 from the sled down to the skis.  It makes a world of difference hauling the sleds on skis.

No reason for us "MATURE" anglers to give up something we enjoy........

Doug

[Orca]

3 minutes ago, akaShag said:

The Outbound weighs 32 pounds, the Rapala weighs 22 pounds.  I have no idea how the Outbound goes up, But with the Rapala, pop up the roof, then one wall, the next wall, the next wall and the final wall, time elapsed way less than a minute.  To collapse it, push the roof down, then one wall BESIDE the one with the door, then the next and the next, and the door wall last.  Pick up one corner of the flat shelter and it all folds easily into the middle.  Gather up the sides and roll it up, put on the strap, and it's done.  About two minutes, by myself.  But putting it back into the bag.............I don't even try out on the ice, it is too tight a fit.

I also have skis on my two ice fishing sleds, with small blocks of 2x4 from the sled down to the skis.  It makes a world of difference hauling the sleds on skis.

No reason for us "MATURE" anglers to give up something we enjoy........

Doug

That's a good idea, it would make things easier.

[lew]

18 minutes ago, Orca said:

 Tried different ways of folding it so that you can get that strap around it to snug it down enough to squeeze it into the carrying bag.  

Save yourself the aggravation, go to CTC and buy a cheap hockey bag big enough to fit everything in you'll be a much happier camper. All those things are folded by machine when made but they never fit in the original bag.

[Essox]

In NWO at Clarks they had banner ice fishing season for walleyes and some good trout as well. Still plenty of ice for the time being. I's tend to say no. With this having the best ice in 10years it really got things rolling derbies, etc. back in full swing.

[waterfrontdinning]

6 hours ago, Orca said:

I had difficulty setting up a Canadian Tire Outbount insulated hub.  Decided I have to pay more on a Clam C360 because yhey looked a lot easier to handle on the Youtube videos.
Then there is the takedown.
Still can't get it right after about 4 times.
It's rolled up loosely in stotage. the nice black cloth carrying case is beside it.
You have to picture this on every outing, as I did not want it stolen.  So I haul all my gear to and fro.
Thankfully it's only a three minute walk!  I wound up hauling in two lots.  That way I only need 2 days to recupperate, instead of the 4 when doing it all in one go.  More than once I had to remind myself that this is fun, and a privilege.  Otherwise it was great!

I'm trying to make buying decision on the outbound hut. It is on sale in a starter kit combo for 249 right now. Some youtuber also mentioned the difficulty he faced when setting the outbound hut. 

[akaShag]

10 hours ago, waterfrontdinning said:

I'm trying to make buying decision on the outbound hut. It is on sale in a starter kit combo for 249 right now. Some youtuber also mentioned the difficulty he faced when setting the outbound hut. 

See my note above about the Rapala "2 man" hut.....

[waterfrontdinning]

5 hours ago, akaShag said:

See my note above about the Rapala "2 man" hut.....

Canadian Tire dont have them anymore. Its a classic vintage you have there.

[akaShag]

4 hours ago, waterfrontdinning said:

Canadian Tire dont have them anymore. Its a classic vintage you have there.

Looks like they have a new model:

https://shopfreds.ca/root/rapala-shack-sherpa-m3/?srsltid=AfmBOoqe5T6tTutbDBAmQ5WtjfY339fWJOiNneBmyxDt9ycn3ydE1ywM

But it is heavier, at 12 kg...........

[waterfrontdinning]

1 hour ago, akaShag said:

Looks like they have a new model:

https://shopfreds.ca/root/rapala-shack-sherpa-m3/?srsltid=AfmBOoqe5T6tTutbDBAmQ5WtjfY339fWJOiNneBmyxDt9ycn3ydE1ywM

But it is heavier, at 12 kg...........

Thx, I will take it into my consideration.

 

How much is your load out usually?

Edited March 18 by waterfrontdinning