Quinte Fishing

Hello all, not sure of the possible sketchy current ice conditions but read there’s possible snow on its way tonight into tomorrow morning, what’s that going to do to the ice for the weekend. We r heading from London so fingers crossed. “Hopefully” Leaving London in the AM for my First trip back after 20+yrs to my ol stomping grounds and sure looking forward to it.

I chopped a bunch of holes in the last couple of weeks and have a whole new appreciation for how much snow insulates ice.
From what's being posted, that mild day made the ice pretty sketchy and I don't think a day of cold will harden it up enough to be considered "safe"(which is subjective). The snow will really slow down the ice making.
Good news is, next week is going to be cold and probably by the following weekend the ice will be firmer.
Personally, I'd wait a bit.
If it has to be this weekend, then I'd look at Hay Bay, just because it usually freezes first. I'd stay well away from Sherman's. I believe the ships are still working in Picton Bay.
Use a spud every few steps to check.
Good luck and be careful.

Appreciate the reply Roblin.. only years of hoofin miles on the ice reveals what that snow will do to insulate and can put someone in a dangerous or fatal situation. Especially when you’re walking glare then see a patch with snow that you know will give us better traction so naturally we wanna step there. Nothing like a good hefty spud to give us that safety indicator. I use it every Single step which has saved me from going through many many times over the years during dicey ice conditions.

I’d wondered about what Big Island was gonna be like as we are staying in deseronto but will definitely check out Hay Bay areas as you’ve advised !! I was thinking with big island in bigger water with Hopefully less current that other narrower stretches that certainly from erosion will have less and more dangerous variants in ice tho knees we’d stay well clear of. Risky time of the year and don’t need a fun fishing trip ending up in a nightmare situation. No fish is worth that !!!! Some of the things inexperienced people do is simply unbelievable. Open water one day and their out walking on it the next with no Spud that or riding an ATV on it. Is it any wonder places like nipissing are Closed until Jan 1. I’m sire that in itself has saved more than a few lives.

Wondering too what the hot jiggin baits have been worthy of buying these days. I know Pimples, Deadly Dicks and to sometimes help get them into the area, the Salmos used to work pretty well. No matter how much Tackle a person can acquire over they years going into a tackle shop usually leaves us with lighter pockets afterwards haha.

I heard sidewinders are working good. I'm heading to the Island this afternoon, I'll pm you and let you know what I find...

Big Island gets good ice, but I've never fished that direction. I'm Deseronto to Picton Bay. One of the outfitters is advertising 5 to 7 inches but I don't know where they are.
I've ice fished for probably 35 yrs and have always used Champs. They're nothing fancy, just a chunk of shiny metal.
I like them fairly heavy. They tug when they hit the end of the line. If they don't tug you have a fish.
Started off with copper and finally settled on gold.
That's all I've ever used and I do pretty well.
I did order a couple of Jigging Raps to try, but haven't got them yet.
We'll see, maybe I've been missing out.
Good luck and stay dry.

Tnx guys. Roblin, ahh yes the champs. Something about chrome/Nickel has always made me feel its replicating emerald shiner or maybe smelt but just a natural looking minnow imitation but the older I get the more orange/golds I tend to use also. Those eyes foraging on perch this time of the year ??

As much as I’ve soaked jiggin raps amd similar, kinda like Ripplin red fins that everyone has great luck in open water, for some reason I’ve never had much, actually I’m lying, I’ve had terrible luck with em. The few times I’ve got a nice keeper perch of eye on a jiggin rap 8/10 times those head or tail hooks catch the bottom edge of the ice and sure enough there goes another fish,, gone haha.

We were out to Big Island yesterday , 3.5 in to 5 in , a few sled's and atv's running around , use caution , The bite was pretty good at dark

_________________
Hooksets are free
Bill Barber
Owner /Operator -Trophyhunter Fishing charters

Tnx hunter. I figured those fish would turn on before this storm hit. Can’t get over some people are willing to risk their life rather than save a few steps walking.

Any particular size and colour they wanted last night?? The fish that is