Ice Fishing: What You Need to Know
By Guest Writer, Caillin Rosario
Ice fishing is the next step for anyone who adores fishing.
ICE FISHING is a gruelling sport even for the most dedicated. It requires absolute patience while the glacial air makes every attempt to freeze your nerves solid. All this effort only makes the feeling of successfully reeling in a fish that much sweeter. As any experienced ice fisher will tell you, there are some amazing locations for this sport all over the world, but in no other country are there as many as in Canada. Titled the ice fishing country of the world, Canada boasts some of the most famous ice fishing spots globally.
Where to go and what you’ll find there:
- Lake Simcoe – Pike, Walleye, Small/ Large Mouth Bass
- Nipissing Lake, Nipissing – Jumbo Perch, Bass, Walleye
- Black Bay, Lake Superior – Massive Perch
- Nighthawk Lake, Timmons – Rainbow Trout, Mooneye, Splake
- Bay Of Quinte, Belleville – Trophy Walleye
Essential equipment needed:
- Ice drill/ ice auger
- Warm winter clothing
- Ice rods
- Tackles
- A 20-litre bucket to be used to hold your catch and work as a seat
- Life vest
Photo: PRESSLAB/Shutterstock
What’s the difference between ice fishing and normal fishing?
- Due to the cold waters, fish put up less of a fight allowing you to use lighter (and thus weaker) lines.
- Due to the lack of light under the ice, ice fishing requires a lure that is extremely efficient at grabbing the attention of fish through colour or light refraction.
Challenge yourself with this amazing sport in the winter months of Canada, between December to February. And remember, stay warm!
