Time to go ice fishing on Lake Simcoe!

Ice Fishing is a great winter outdoor activity for the whole family to enjoy … and typically it is one of the safest recreational pursuits we have during the winter.

Locally, we are blessed to have Lake Simcoe on our doorstep … which is the most intensively fished inland lake in the province strictly because of the winter fishery.  More people fish it from early January until March 15th than the rest of the year combined!

The fishing can be great, it’s close by and it’s a relatively inexpensive and a fun activity for all ages.

Please read the information below from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources about:
1) Ice Hut Registration, and

2) Staying Safe on the Ice.

Ice Hut Registration Required On Area Lakes

Registration and Removal Of Ice Huts

To protect the environment and ensure safety, anglers must register new or previously unregistered ice fishing huts on area lakes.

Registration is free and helps prevent anglers from abandoning their huts, which can end up in waterways when the ice thaws.

Huts must be registered in Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 16 (includes Lake Simcoe) in Aurora District. To register your ice hut, you can call the local ministry office at 905-713-7400.  Generally, this may be done over the telephone.  Once registered, an ice fishing hut can be used anywhere in Ontario.

Registration numbers on ice huts must be at least 6.3 centimetres (2.5 inches) in height and clearly displayed on the outside of the hut.

Tent-style (portable) ice huts made of cloth or synthetic fabric that have a base area of seven square metres (75.4 square feet) or less when erected do not need to be registered.

It’s a good idea to place non-portable huts on 15 cm (six-inch) high wooden blocks to make it easier to remove them at the end of the season.  Ice hut owners must keep the area around their huts clear of garbage.

Anglers must remove ice huts from the waters of Lake Simcoe and others within FMZ 16 by March 15 every winter. 

It is an offence under the Public Lands Act to leave an ice hut out after ice break, even if it is before the specified removal date.

Learn More

For ice hut registration in other districts, refer to the 2012 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary available from licence issuers, ServiceOntario/ Government Information Centres, or the ministry’s website at http://ontario.ca/fishing" ontario.ca/fishing.   

For more information on ice hut registration and requirements, contact your local ministry office:http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/ContactUs/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_179002.html

2) Anglers Encouraged To Stay Safe On The Ice  

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources reminds anglers to check local ice conditions before heading out onto the ice to fish. Ice Conditions Can Be Deceptive And Variable
Remember:

Ice does not freeze at a uniform thickness across most lakes and rivers. This can be particularly evident at the start of the winter season when near-shore ice is often much thicker and safer than ice further out. Check thickness regularly with a spud bar or auger as you move further out on the ice.

Not all ice is created equal. Ice that has formed over flowing water, springs, pressure cracks, old ice holes or around the mouths of rivers and streams can be weaker than surrounding ice.

Clear blue ice is the strongest. White or opaque ice is much weaker.  Ice that has a honeycombed look, common during thaws or in the spring, should be avoided altogether.

Travelling on frozen lakes or rivers with snowmobiles or vehicles can be particularly dangerous and added precautions must be taken.  At least 20 centimetres (eight inches) of clear blue ice is required for snowmobiles and 30 centimetres (12 inches) or more is needed for most light vehicles. This thickness should be doubled if the ice is white or opaque.

Heavy snow on a frozen lake or river can insulate the ice below and slow down the freezing process.

Before Venturing Out

Register your ice hut, where required.

There is no ice hut registration in northwest Ontario except for Lake Superior Zone 9 in the Thunder Bay and Nipigon districts.

Check the  Fishing Regulations Summary or contact your local ministry office for registration requirements.

Check ice conditions with local ice hut operators.  

Let others know where you’re planning to fish and when you plan to return.

Appropriate clothing and equipment are critical to safety and comfort; many anglers wear floater suits and carry a set of ice picks.

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Have a safe and successful 2012 Ice Fishing Season!