It was such a lovely day in Kingston that we needed an excuse for a day trip - well let's visit Merland Park and talk to Kevin & Jennifer.
Having to drive to Picton, no better way than following the North Channel to see how the ice is doing there.
Here's what we saw on the trip.
North Channel - open to Amherst Is ferry and partially covered to the LaFarge plant - Open water past the L&A Generating station, iced up again at Conroe to about a mile from the ferry.
Crossing the ferry, here are a copy of shots that most afll anglers will recognize.
and another one
There is some pack ice in front of the cement plant but Long Reach looks open all the way up past Shermans Pt.
Picton Bay is completely ice covered with grey ice almost looks black.
Spent some time with Kevin and Jennifer at Merland Park ( a real beehive of activity - docks - cabin repairs getting ready stuff). We had a good chat talking about the state of the walleye in Quinte and both agree the anglers of Quinte should fill the mail box of the IN-Fisherman Master Angler Awards with the Big Mamas of Quinte.
We headed back to Hay Bay, crossing the ferry and heading to Hay Bay south. From the Pix below you can see there's a bunch of ice still left from west of Ram Is almost to the Shermans Launch ramp.
Drove around the south shore over to the North shore. Hay Bay from Ram Is east is open with a large patch of ice at the north east end covering much of the flats up there.
Here's a shot in from of Bayview Resort.
This is the first of the years' reports from Hay Bay and surroundings.
I hope everyone has wintered well and everyone's getting their gear and dusting off the lures and oiling the reels. It's getting almost warm enought to get the boat out and load it up - Maybe next week.
Tight Lines