Getting ready
In January I wondered if the weather would be cold enough for ice fishing but as you can see in the first photo, the ice is thick enough for cars to park on it.
Lake Simcoe is a large lake known around the world for ice fishing - jumbo perch and pike in the shallow areas, and lake trout and whitefish in deeper waters.
Walking out onto the ice
More people fish on Lake Simcoe in winter than during the summer months.
Riding out onto the ice
Many fishers walk out to the ice, but many prefer to ride out in vehicles such as 4-wheelers, snowmobiles and even bicycles.
Driving an ice hut onto the ice
Many local fishers own their own ice bungalows (huts), but small businesses in the area rent them out to tourists.
A busy place
Approximately 2000 to 4000 huts are on the ice from late January to early March.
Making a hole in the ice
Some anglers prefer to fish out in the open without a hut. This one is using an auger to drill a fishing hole.
Success!
More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.
44 comments:
You really capture how busy the lake is with people ice fishing. PS: Ice fishing is really boring. I know from experience.
Very different from how we do it. No need for so much equipment here. Except for fishing tool, all you need is a drill and something to sit on perhaps. But I guess it is the end result that counts, catching dinner.
Oh I love your photos and even with that you will never see me out there :) B
Not a sport for the weak of heart or thin of blood! Brrrr!
these are all beautiful, i love the bright pops of color against all that ice... feel like i am there
Amazing how solid a lake can become in the east. I am surprised the fish don’t swim away once they hear the sound of drills and the other activities overhead!
When I got out of the Navy I was able to abscond with a Naval flight suit which was for flying way up where it was freezing cold. I gave it to my father-in-law who ice-fished in Minnesota.
My, I think people who ice fish need their heads examined. Why go to all that trouble, freezing your you-know-what off when you can just go buy a fish at your local market?
I dunno! :-)
Oops, I forgot to say that I really did enjoy the photos of these ice-fishing .... folks...
wow they got a huge fish! :)
Awesome shot!
Léia
Some of the ice houses in MN are VERy elaborate, but I could never understand the appeal of this sport. But, after seeing the last photo, perhaps I'll change my mind!
I would be home by the fire waiting for someone to bring fish for dinner. Amazing to me that the ice supports cars, equipment, people.
Darla
a very different world from texas. i remember seeing ice huts sometimes in wisconsin, though.
I cannot see the fascination with this. It is like being in a solitary confinement prison cell, freezing cold and for what? A fish reward if you are lucky. Good for them though who enjoy it.
You see lots of ice fishing on the lakes in Minnesota. But never that many on any one lake! Fun seeing the pictures from there.
Not for even a huge pile of money would I be out there with those people!
That lake is almost as busy as in the summer! Terrific shots EG. That's one grand fish!
My grandpa used to pull in a lot of catch, ice-fishing on the canal by the St. Lawrence River.
Wonderful photos !
I'm amazed at just how many people are out there fishing, great photos!
You are truly in the middle of your winter! Ice fishing i9s fascinating. I can't even stand to sit on a concrete bench when it's 40 degrees F! :-) I would never make it out there! neat photos!
Great shots. That looks like a fun winter sport and good eating too.
What great shots, EG! I'm always amazed by the photos and stories I've seen/read about ice fishing and I always get a case of the shivers!!
It has never appealed to me. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Beat sitting indoors and staring at the same four walls all winter. ;-)
I've been ice fishing once. That's all I needed. Amazing to see what lengths some will go to. The ice huts take the cake!
We've had a few area ice fishing tournaments on local lakes here in northern Minnesoata.. I'm always in awe of how many trucks, trailers, and people can concentrate one area of a frozen lake, with bonfires on the lake & all.
That ice must be so deep to withstand all that weight. Really interesting post.
Great series of photos. Beautiful shot of the fish.
This is such fun to read ( Mostly to SEE ) Over the years one might read about ice fishing in a book here or there...but you have brought it to life. Love it! This would be a blast! :)
About the only winter sport I have going on is in the backyard fishing for what the dogs left behind under 8 inches of melted snow and I think I'd rather be in your world than there right now, lol! :)
i would like to see this with my own eyes. i have seen shows about ice fishing and it's very interesting.
I've never seen so many cars and huts on the lake. Thank you for letting me know a lot of new things.
Wow, it is a busy place for the ice-fishing! Great shots!
I cannot even imagine temperatures cold enough to make a lake have such thick ice that one needs an auger to drill into it. Holy smokes! I'd love to experience ice fishing once, though. It looks like fun!
Someone actually caught a fish? I always thought this was just a way to get away from the wife and kids for the weekend and get some serious beer drinking done.
FAntastic Ice Fishing photography ~
Carol of (A Creative Harbor) on blogger ^_^
Great captures. I love seeing those huts out on the frozen lakes, but I just couldn't go out there, even tho I know it's frozen.
I probably wouldn't be among those sitting out there for hours, but count me among those who'd enjoy that beautiful end result for dinner!
I get cold just looking at the pictures. Looks kinda fun though!
Great series of shots! Unique activity.
I don't think I would enjoy sitting on the ice but I understand it is an important tradition for many.
These are all just wonderful and bring back so many memories.
We use to live down the road from a lake in Maine. It was always covered with huts every winter.
Your photos have truly caught the mood of the experience!
I grew up in an area where ice fishing was the thing to do in the winter. They even had food and games booths out on the ice. Although I went out there as a kid, I don't think I would venture there now. Age has turned me into a chicken!
Have a lovely day. ☺
My husband grew up in Chicago and went ice fishing every winter.
=)
Not sure I would ever like to ice fish...I would have when younger but not so sure about now.
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