Mr. Twister
People have been fishing in different areas of the Bay
of Quinte and Hay bay over the last four weeks. Every
area is quite different and the ice conditions change daily.
If your willing to find a safe area you just need alot of
gas in your car and make a circuit around to popular area
until you find other people who have already ventured out
on the ice to confirm conditions are safe. You will see alot
of people fishing on ice less than 4 inches of good ice.
Last year with just as poor ice conditions had areas that
were relatively safe. I fished out from the Sherman Point
ramp when conditions at Huffs, Quick Short Rd, and Green
Point were bad. Bid Island is another large area that has
good ice in areas because of less current area.
Personnally I spent Saturday morning fishing on a lake north
of Kingston on Hwy 38 that had a minimum of 8". I felt quite
safe. I only caught 2 walleye and 6 jumbo perch but it wasn't
bad for 2 hours work. The lake was St. George lake and
appears to be only about a 1/4 mile wide and maybe 1 mile
long. I was told it was great fishing in the evening. I went
at the worst time 10 til 12.
My experience with operators has been that most error on the
safe side even though they make money from the ice fishing
thing. Two years ago I drove out to Deseronto and spoke to
to resort owners only to drive back home after some discussion.
There were a couple of people at the time on the ice but were
obviously taking their lives into their hands. The ice was about
3" in most places at the time.
Dan Elliot also recommended a contact number at the MNR. If
you use it, you need to use it between 9 and 4 weekdays only.
They are not recommending you go on the ice mainly due to a
number recent accidents. (Snow machines going though etc.)
No one should be on Quinte with snowmachines or 4-wheels at
this time of year. It's bad enough of foot.
I'm sure with some patience, next weekend will be fine in most
areas. Bring a friend and be safe.
Another observation, each time I go to Quinte I meet 2 or 3 guys
and I have never met someone that visits this site. I think most
of the fisherman out there do not have a computer.
Good luck finding out the conditions, I hope to be out next weekend
with a few guys from work. I will post a report if I do go out. Check
next Sunday night.
BATMAN