In this issue:
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Fox’s Den Lodge
Fox’s Den Lodge is located next to the Chapleau
game preserve on Dog Lake, 1 ½ hrs northwest of Wawa Ontario.
After a 30 minute boat ride from our launch in Missanabie, you
can expect to enjoy excellent fishing for Walleye, Northern
Pike, Lake Trout, and Jumbo Perch. We offer American plan and
housekeeping packages.
Lake Obabika Lodge
Our lodge is located on the shores of
Lake Obabika, a
pristine and remote 36 kilometer long lake in Northern Ontario.
It is small and exclusive providing luxurious accommodations for
20 people at a time. We fish for Smallmouth Bass, Trout, Pike,
White fish and Perch on four different lakes. After a great day
on the lake or a hike in the old growth forest, join us by the
fire pit for the newest fishing stories. Relax in the hot tub or
the sauna to complete another great day at
Obabika Lodge.
Sunbeam Bungalows
- A family and fishing resort. Located in
the small, picturesque hamlet of Callander, Ontario, yet only 10
miles from larger city attractions. Our resort is nestled under
the pines, where we offer clean, fully-furnished, deluxe,
spacious cottages. Enjoy Lake Nipissing which offers the best in
fishing...we guarantee to believe all stories about "the one
that got away".
Auld Reekie Lodge
- Whether you pamper yourself with our
full meal plan and the ultimate in comfort in one of our 6
luxury suites, or stay in a fully equipped 4 star cottage where
you can cook your own meals, at Auld
Reekie Lodge we feel
we've got everything you're looking for and more. Auld
Reekie Lodge, as
featured on the Canadian Sportsfishing Show, is a true escape in
the beauty of Northern Ontario's wilderness
Sydney Lake Lodge - Canadian
fly-in fishing trips and vacations in Northwestern Ontario
Canada. Trophy fishing for Lake Trout, walleye and northern
pike. The only resort located in both Ontario's Trophy Waters
and Woodland Caribou Wilderness Park. We are located on
exclusive waters on Sydney and Kilburn Lakes. Unrivalled fishing
and wilderness adventure.
Uchi Lake Lodge - Fly-in for the
remote fishing experience of a lifetime!!! Fish Ontario for
Walleye and Northern. Fish for Trophy Walleye and Northern. Why
Fly? Because that's where the fishing pressure is at it's
minimum. Ontario's beauty is an added BONUS!
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"Mobility is Key to Ice Fishing Success" By Justin Hoffman
 Ice
anglers are a rare and hardy bunch. Willing to face sub-zero
conditions and drifting snow during the course of battle, catching a
fish is only half the fun when taking part in this winter
experience. But let's face it - no one wants to spend a fishless day
out in the cold. For those anglers that choose to drill a single
hole while waiting for the fish, your chances for success are
limited. Mobility is the key for fruitful days on the ice, and there
are many tools and techniques at your disposal to help bring you to
the fish.
Sending Out the Search Party
Ice fishing is similar to open water angling in many regards. Much
the same way that you wouldn't dream of anchoring your boat and
dropping a line for an entire day, the same can be said for fishing
the hard water.
"Searching for the fish" may seem like an odd term to use when
dealing with ice and snow, but it is a technique that needs to be
utilized in order to enjoy a successful day. I never spend more than
fifteen minutes at a hole (without any action) before moving on to a
new location, because time spent not catching fish can be time spent
finding fish. And finding fish is the key to catching fish.
After leaving your first hole, move out approximately twenty yards
or so and drill another. Continue this process until you come across
fish, working this "hot hole" over until the action slows right
down, or dies off completely. When this happens, it's time to move
on and try to connect with another traveling school. Fish in the
winter, regardless of specie, seldom stay in one stationary
position. They are constantly moving and feeding, and oftentimes
staying one step ahead of the ravenous predators. Your job while out
on the ice is staying one step ahead of the school.
Always pay attention to the depth of the water you are fishing
above. If you start catching fish at a certain depth, then move
laterally out from that hole, following the same contour to a T. If
bites become sporadic, try moving shallower or deeper in the hopes
of connecting once again. (A change in water depth of only a few
feet can often make the difference between putting fish on the ice
or just dreaming about putting said fish on ice.)
Portable Shelters
Stationary ice huts can be great for staying warm and catching fish,
but they are nowhere near as productive as a portable hut. Portable
huts have come a long way from the first design, with the current
models on the market being lighter, sturdier and easier to pull on
the ice and through the snow. The great thing about portable huts is
that everything folds down into a small compact sled, holding all of
your equipment and tackle for easy mobility and fast set-up. These
huts are the optimum search weapon when out on the ice, as they
allow an angler to constantly move, while keeping out of the
elements and on top of the fish. Portable shelters can be easily
heated with a propane heater, meaning no more cold hands or feet. In
fact, it's not unusual for me to wear only a thin sweater or t-shirt
when huddled in the safety of my protective barrier!
Without a shelter, fishermen are more inclined to stay stationary
and hunker down (trying to stay warm can be a tough game out on the
open ice!), whereas a shelter allows anglers easy movement to go on
to the next hole, hopefully containing the next fish.
Ice Augers
Have you ever tried drilling twenty or thirty holes over the course
of a day with a hand auger? Let me tell you, it can be tough work,
especially when the ice becomes really thick. The fact is, in order
to be mobile and catch more fish, you need to drill plenty of holes,
and that's were the utilization of a gas powered auger comes into
play.
Gas augers allow an angler to punch through the ice in mere seconds,
allowing more time to fish while out on the ice, and making them an
effective tool for covering large expanses of ice, while drilling
plenty of holes.
Portable Electronics
A key element to finding fish is actually seeing them, which can be
easily accomplished with a graph or sonar unit. By lowering the
transducer down your cut hole, you can instantly see if there is any
action below the surface, and if so, what depth the fish are
relating to.
Many of the top ice fishermen across North America use their
electronics as their underwater eyes, refusing to fish a spot unless
they see action on the screen. This can be a great technique, as it
allows you to only fish holes that have fish underneath them, and
fishless holes can be quickly left alone.
Vexilar makes a fine product on the market, and the sensitivity and
accuracy really is second to none. When you can actually witness
your 1/64oz. crappie jig spiral down on the screen, you know the
product is capable of marking any specie of fish.
Mobility is really the key for improved ice fishing. Although you
can theoretically get by with the bare minimum of equipment, owning
the above gadgets will certainly up your odds, and make your outing
more comfortable and rewarding. But be prepared to move often -
sitting above "dead water" is the worst mistake anglers can make
when heading out on the ice. Stay safe and have fun this season!
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