Thursday's near-epic adventure, and Ice Conditions Report

targa2 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2002 2:50 pm

Sorry Superdad for coming on so strong but if you are a local then you know that the last place to freeze if the basin out from the cement plant. Therefore, if you are not sure if that is frozen the it makes sense to say so.If you state the " it's over ,get out the augers" then tell me how you did ice fishing. If I lived a meer 35 minutes from the Bay I would not hesitate to drive to it and have a look before I gave a less than accurate report. If your not sure ,say so or say nothing, thats all.

passthepitonspete · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2002 5:27 pm

I copied this useful info from Stickman and stuck it here to keep everything in one place.

Stickman wrote,

Quote:

"I took a drive down from Kingston to Adolphustown to see the status of the launch. Unfortunately the SW wind lately pushed
some ice in tight to shore causing the area immediately around the ramp to freeze 11/2to 2 inches thick. No go for at least a
couple of days with warm weather. Wind direction lately should help conditions at Mcfarlan. Latest report from there would be
greatly appreciated."

Cheers,

Pete

P.S. I would NEVER keep a ten pounder [any more], let alone a pike!

Sheesh.

[Back when I first started fishing the Bay in the fall, around 1991, I kept a bunch of 10-12 pounders. It only took eating one to know that they tasted like crrrrrrrap.

But if you want to get really scared, check out what the Ministry advises about eating such critters.]

Paulie · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2002 7:54 pm

Just want to comment how much I appreciate the information that all the folks who live near the Bay like Superdad and Hay Bay Larry post to this site. Most of the info I get is very accurate and well reported. I too had the pleasure of speaking to the folks at Merland's telling me it was worth the drive 2 weekends ago to get on open water. I think the issue regarding water conditions is that no one can comment on what the entire Bay is doing, just the areas around where they live, or see when they drive to work or the areas they fish. But, Targa2 your comments from earlier step over the line. Getting a little big for your britches brother. Show some humility. Fishing's much more fun that way. We're not all out to divide and conquer life under water. Cheers.

Harry · **Joined:** Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:42 pm **Posts:** 38

Pete I was down last sunday and yes you can still launch from mcfarlands and glenora.We launched from glenora marina on the south side (this is not a great ramp).Stoped by mcfarlands on the way home and it is still good( Two 4x4s and one van.)I should have gone to mcfarlands. :cry:

Hope this helps.Good luck, and will watch for your report.
Fish on

passthepitonspete · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2002 12:06 pm

Superdad wrote,

Quote:

"The weather was very mild yesterday,Tuesday, approx plus 3 in Kingston, lots of melting with a fairly strong sun.

This may bode well for the shore ice melting.

LongRange Weather for the next five day is plus temperatures, check out the following:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/cities ... ton_ON.htm

Should be a lot of people out this weekend in front of the Cement Plant.

Environment Canada and The Weather Network are currently at odds with each other as to which day - Thursday or Friday - will be milder. I may have to play it safe and fish both days. I have a feeling that with three launch areas available, we'll somehow manage to get in somewhere.

My dad and I will be out in the grey 17' Tracker, so if you're around, come say "hi", eh?

Will let you-all know what's up later tonight. [I said it again, didn't I? Sheesh.]

Cheers,

Pete

passthepitonspete · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2002 9:21 pm

Right, then.

My dad and I are heading out tomorrow morning [Thursday]. I'm taking my laptop, so if we do well, we'll spend the night in Picton and fish on Friday too, and I'll post a report tomorrow night.

If we don't do well, then we'll head home after the evening fishing.

Either way, you'll be updated on the ice and the fishing.

You know, I would really love to make a mockery out of Superdad's post! As I know he would like me to, as well.

[Dude may pull out his auger too quickly, but he had some good tips on duty free shopping, eh?]

Harry · **Joined:** Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:42 pm **Posts:** 38

Good luck, please let us know how you did, looking forward to another trip myself after reading the weather report for next weekWEATHER REPORT
Glad i did not store the boat yet!!!!!!

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2002 9:53 am

passthepitonspete

hate to be aggressive but where's the Thursday ice and fishing report? Looking to head out tonight - any info appreciated.

passthepitonspete · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2002 3:19 pm

"Aggressive"?

Dr. Piton would applaud both your enthusiasm, and your use of bold text!

Targa2 wrote:

Quote:

"The true diehards are the ones who drive 1.5 hours to Picton just to see if the water is open without taking a boat with them. All this in hopes that we may go out on Sunday.

Pshaw.

Voice of Welshman in Monty Python sketch:

"...we used to dreeeeeeam of only driving 1.5 hours..."

My dad and I left Oakville around 9 a.m. on Thursday, and after the requisite breakfast stop at Mr. Burger in Oshawa for western sandwhiches [served among Marilyn and Elvis memorabilia] we arrived in Picton to view the Bay frozen all the way out past of McFarlane's!

Uh-oh......

So we drove down to the Glenora Ferry where there was plenty of open water, and took it across to check out the launch ramp on the NE side.

No go - while the shoreline was free of ice, the little alcove in which the launch ramp is located was too iced to consider.

Frig.

Back across the ferry to our last option - the Glenora Marine, which is a half-mile west of the ferry.

Success! We were able to launch, though the rather steep icy "wall" at the foot of the ramp gave us pause for concern for when we exited later. No matter - this was yet another Pete & Ron Adventure - and it wouldn't be an adventure were the outcome certain, now would it?

It wouldn't be half as much fun, either.

When we entered the water, the ice line was about 150 m west of the marina. But the ice was thin, and we started trolling west towards McFarlane's as the ice receded. At the height of the melting, the ice line was a half-mile west of McFarlane's. The ramp at McFarlane's looked MUCH better than the one at the marina, though. I would recommend using this one given the choice. It did not come equipped with the little "wall" of ice at its base.

At any rate, as for the fishing - we caught two - "nothing," and "bugger all."

Sorry, mates. There were a few "hooks" to be seen on the screen, but nothing like a few weeks ago.

We fished from 1:30 pm til nearly 7 pm without so much as a single tap. I do not understand this! Wind conditions were perfect - out of the west with a slight chop, overcast and not sunny. In some areas of my life, I am something of a wanker, but fishing the Bay of Quinte in the fall of the year is not one of these areas.

I don't "get it"......

Oh yeah, and when it came time to pull out the boat? We couldn't lift it on the trailer over the little wall of ice with our 2WD van. Larry at Glenora Marine pulled it out for us with his tractor.

THANKS, Larry!

At any rate, WATCH THE FORECAST! The NE wind is no good, that's for sure.

It's forecast to be quite cold on Monday and Tuesday, then ridiculously warm on Thursday and Friday next week.

Notes:

You could try phoning Larry Wagner at Glenora Marina. His phone number is 613-476-2377, and he has a first-hand view of ice conditions.
The phone number of the ferry office is 613-476-2641. Tony was particularly helpful.
Please phone those two numbers only if you are planning to go fishing! Use my name as a reference - remind them that my dad and I were fishing there Thursday in the grey Tracker boat.
Please do not deluge these guys with calls, and if anyone does call, please report here so we all know, and don't have to bug them any more often! I am sure you "get it". [If you don't "get it," you sure as hell shouldn't be out fishing this time of year or you will probably end up dead. Ending up dead is not recommended.]
It's my dad's turn to go down south, so I am looking for one or two FISHING PARTNERS for next week if the mild weather persists, and the Bay is still fishable.
Please keep me posted. Feel free to contact me by email for further info, or for anything you don't want to publish!
The fishing SHOULD be absolutely awesome this time of year, and I would highly recommend you get out and try it if you can! I am not ready to give up yet......

Cheers,

Pete

"Pistons"?!

Sheesh.

mike h · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2002 4:35 pm

thankx for the interesting and comprehensive report and all the info re ramps and launching, much appreciated....were you marking any fish at all and if so, what depths did they seem to be at, plan on going down on weekend and hope to luck into one or two with my friend, thankx.

Paulie · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2002 5:25 pm

Mike,

Report mentioned they marked a number of fish, but nowhere near the numbers from 2 weeks ago. Nothing on depths though. Typically, you're going to find the active fish (for trolling) in top 20 feet of water. I'm gonna take a shot at late next week if there's any open water left.

Cheers,

passthepitonspete · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2002 5:52 pm

First of all, you're welcome, eh?

I would hope that anyone fishing over the next few days would return the favour [HINT]

You'll mark fish from top to bottom, sometimes in droves, other times non-existent.

The key to catching them is to try everything and see what works.

KEWL! My first thousand-hit post.

Paulie · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:22 pm

Pete,

We're totally disappointed that you didn't post the location of every single hook on your graph during your outing yesterday (sarcastic laugh). Seriously, thanks for posting in such detail for us. You win. I'm good at detail, but not that good. It really gives us out of towners the birds eye view of what's going on down there. We'll return the favour, promise (but we've gotta shoot for late next week 'cause out in Calgary for first part of the week. Gotta just keep throwing everything in the box at them. Wonder where the concentration of fish went? Moved up under the iced up areas maybe? Those walleyes can't be that smart.

steve dover · **Joined:** Mon May 13, 2002 5:18 am **Posts:** 65

the reason i asked the question wasn't for myself, but maybe so you could help other people who might be coming down this weekend, it is 1 am and i couldn't sleep partly because i can't understand how you can fish all day this time of year and get no fish, it amazes me, i can't remember getting less then 10 fish this time of year, and to suceed in getting none you have to be doing a few simple things really wrong, i thought you and others who reported may have had some insight into this after some reflection after recent outtings..i'm tired so this probably won't come out the way i meant it but i couldn't get back to sleep without asking the question again, whenever i get off the water i try to learn something that is the fun of it more me.

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Thursday's near-epic adventure, and Ice Conditions Report

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