Fish-Hawk.Net

Hi All,

It seems that for some months now these forums have been real quiet, but I have a feeling people will be logging back on to see the latest news in ice fishing, so I'm starting this thread for people to talk ice updates. I'll start.

Couple days ago, (saturday the 7th) I was out in Dunrobin and decided to check Constance lake since it tends to freeze at a similar rate as some of my favourite first-ice lakes in the Lanark highlands. Sure enough, the lake was frozen over, but to my surprise I saw a guy just walking off the ice. He said he had been out fishing so he showed me the areas where the ice was "safe". At best, the ice was about 2 1/2 inches of nice clear ice, with about an inch of very soft white ice on top, which I assume was mostly just snow which had absorbed lake water which came up thru cracks in the ice and then frozen, so I discounted that extra inch since it didn't really increase the structural integrity of the ice at all. It only took 1-2 swings with the ol' spud bar to get through in any given spot, so I definitely wouldn't consider that ice safe. Plus, the quality of the ice varied significantly across the lake.

Many lakes may already have some ice, and it is possible that some spots are nearly safe, but I strongly encourage anyone going out to remember all the first ice essentials: spud bar, ice picks, float suit or life jacket, throw rope, bring a buddy, have an emergency blanket, etc.

I am thinking I'll try to get out at the end of this coming weekend, since the rain forecasted for Tue and Wed this week likely will wipe out the snow but not damage the ice too much, and then the rest of the week's cold weather should firm the ice up a bit and add a couple inches.

Looking forward to hearing back from you Hawk-Talkers, and I hope you all have safe first-ice expeditions!

Tight lines,

John Zach

I checked out a couple lakes in the Lanark area on Saturday too. Conditions were the same as you described for Constance Lake (2 to 2.5 in of ice). Nothing I would consider safe ice yet. I did fish for about an hour on one stocked trout lake right next to shore in ~4ft of water, but didn't have any bites.

The snow we got overnight Saturday and the warm weather this week isn't going to help, but could probably have 4+ inches by the end of this coming weekend and I think the lakes will be looking pretty good by the following weekend (21st).

Stay safe out there!

rain next two days. if ice hold up. will get good vold right after that would be nice

Yeah I'm thinking that the rain will mostly melt the snow which will be great for ice formation. Even if it weakends the ice a bit it'll be cold enough for the next 3+ days to make the ice nice and safe for walking. I'll report again when I hopefully get out on Monday.

Can't wait to get out on the ice again - but I'm going to (I don't even like getting a soaker!) . The incoming rain for the next couple of days will probably set things back a bit but looking at the extended forecast, it looks better than last year! Drove up to Orillia last fri to watch my son's band play at the casino. Once I got past Bancroft I was surprise to see that many of the lakes are frozen over. We are ahead of the past 2 years as far as ice development goes! Stay safe folk's, talk soon!

CCLad

CCLad wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 1:01 pm Can't wait to get out on the ice again - but I'm going to (I don't even like getting a soaker!) . The incoming rain for the next couple of days will probably set things back a bit but looking at the extended forecast, it looks better than last year! Drove up to Orillia last fri to watch my son's band play at the casino. Once I got past Bancroft I was surprise to see that many of the lakes are frozen over. We are ahead of the past 2 years as far as ice development goes! Stay safe folk's, talk soon!

CCLad

Heya Tim, I know the moving of the rocks at Shirley's is supposedly on the schedule now but it might still be a good idea for you to touch base with them anyway. I assume you will be starting a Shirley's Bay thread again as usual.
Cheers

smitty55 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 9:12 pm

CCLad wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 1:01 pm Can't wait to get out on the ice again - but I'm going to (I don't even like getting a soaker!) . The incoming rain for the next couple of days will probably set things back a bit but looking at the extended forecast, it looks better than last year! Drove up to Orillia last fri to watch my son's band play at the casino. Once I got past Bancroft I was surprise to see that many of the lakes are frozen over. We are ahead of the past 2 years as far as ice development goes! Stay safe folk's, talk soon!

CCLad

Heya Tim, I know the moving of the rocks at Shirley's is supposedly on the schedule now but it might still be a good idea for you to touch base with them anyway. I assume you will be starting a Shirley's Bay thread again as usual.
Cheers

Haha, I was thinking of starting the Shirleys Bay thread since no one had yet but I think I'll leave it to CCLad. I guess Shirley's is his area of expertise

Hi Smitty (and John) good to hear from you! With respect to the rocks, the lady from the NCC that is in charge of the Shirley's bay area worked the rock removal into the contract for the company that provides the maintenance for that lot. They have moved them for the past couple seasons so I'll let it ride before writing in. That said, I haven't been down there yet. Have you stopped by??

With respect to the annual Shirley's Bay Ice fishing post, doesn't matter who starts it Just as long as we have it! I'll put one up now! If nothing, its a start to the season!!!

Cheers!

Hello,

I have made this threat "sticky" so it stays at the top of the forum. Please just remember to allows check ice conditions yourself as they can change day to day or hour to hour in some locations. When venturing out onto the ice, especially first ice or new locations spud your way out, don't fish alone, wear floatation.... use common sense and be safe..... NO ice is 100% safe.

Hear is to a great and safe ice season.... watch soon for some Fish-Hawk.Net contests and giveaways.

This Morning, I saw someone out on the Raisin River in South Glengarry today in the morning. Last week there was no ice there, so not sure how thick it really is, but the temperature did drop this weekend.

Anyway. Stay safe everyone.

Made it out to Lanark yesterday for a day of fishing on Park Lake and Woods lake. Ice was about 5 inches or maybe a bit more. 4 inches of clear and 1-2 inches of cloudy on top. Caught a stud of a walleye to make the trip worth it.

John Zach wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:57 am Made it out to Lanark yesterday for a day of fishing on Park Lake and Woods lake. Ice was about 5 inches or maybe a bit more. 4 inches of clear and 1-2 inches of cloudy on top. Caught a stud of a walleye to make the trip worth it.

Thanks for the update. I'm planning to go out on Friday, so I'll report back with ice conditions too.

John Zach wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 8:57 am Made it out to Lanark yesterday for a day of fishing on Park Lake and Woods lake. Ice was about 5 inches or maybe a bit more. 4 inches of clear and 1-2 inches of cloudy on top. Caught a stud of a walleye to make the trip worth it.

Nice! First eye through the ice of this season that I have heard of.....

Got out on White Lake today. 5.5in of good clear ice.

The Walleye bay at Petrie Island is all locked up. About 5 inches of black clear ice there. Saw a couple nice fish caught and lost a good one at the hole ((