Is Lake Simcoe Safe For Ice Fishing?

Is the ice on Lake Simcoe safe?

Citizens are reminded to keep pets and children away from all ice surfaces during times when the temperature is rising and the ice is melting. Remember: No surface of ice or body of water is ever completely safe.

Can you ice fish on Lake Simcoe?

More people ice fish on Lake Simcoe than anywhere else on the continent. Lake Simcoe is Ontario’s fourth-largest lake, with an area of roughly 722 square kilometres. Most people favour fishing in ice huts, which is why you can see upwards of 4,000 small huts dotting the lake during the winter.

Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Simcoe?

The short answer is YES! Fish from Lake Simcoe are safe to eat. But, it should be noted that contaminant levels vary based on fish species and fish sizes. The Ministry of Environment has come out with a guide to “Eating Ontario Sport Fish”.

What is the best bait for ice fishing in Lake Simcoe?

Lures of choice include small jigging spoons (in silver / gold), Badd Boyz and Meegs jigs tipped with tube baits, Rapala jigging Raps, Slab grabbers and tear drop jigs. Lake Simcoe Perch will forage on invertebrates, fish eggs, crayfish, and small fish.

How do you know if ice is safe?

The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength − clear blue to black ice is strongest, and likely the deepest. You should only skate on ice that is 20+ cm thick. White opaque or snow ice should be avoided. Grey ice indicates the presence of water and is unsafe to stand on.

Is Lake Simcoe good for fishing?

Lake Simcoe, a short drive north of Toronto, offers some of the best fishing in the province. The lake is fished year round, and is famous for it’s winter lake trout and whitefish bonanza. Cook’s Bay, the south part of Lake Simcoe, is shallow and weedy, whereas the main lake is deeper (max.

Does Lake Simcoe freeze in the winter?

Kimbell says about one-tenth of the surface on Lake Simcoe is frozen, as it’s been unseasonably warm. Water ice can be best described as a “strange animal” in the world of physics. Most substances tend to have their density increase as they get colder.

Is ice fishing allowed in Ontario?

Everyone over the age of 18 needs a licence to fish in Ontario. Ice fishing is no different. You should either purchase a single-day fishing licence or – if you’re fishing for more than one day – get an Outdoors Card plus a fishing licence. You can buy these online, at a licence issuer, or at a ServiceOntario location.

Is Lake Simcoe water drinkable?

Where does my water come from? York Region provides clean, safe, reliable drinking water to more than one million people. It originates from three sources: Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe and groundwater wells within York Region.

Is it safe to eat fish from Ontario lakes?

US – Lake Ontario’s fish are now safe to eat and the restictions of chinook salmon fishing have been relaxed but the advice is still to limit consumption of fish caught in the lake.

What fish are in season on Lake Simcoe?

The main target species during ice fishing season on Lake Simcoe includes pike, whitefish, trout, yellow perch, walleye and ling. The Northern Pike is an aggressive fish, which are unmistakable with their pronounced snout and mouth full of sharp teeth.

What time is best for ice fishing?

Early and late in the day (sunrise and sunset) are great times to fish as the fish are often on the move. Similarly, early and late in the ice season are productive as well as oxygen levels are highest and fish adjust to changing seasons.

Do you use lures for ice fishing?

Both live or artificial bait will work for ice fishing. Learn more about the different types of live and artificial bait and lures you can use in your next ice fishing trip.

How to test ice for ice fishing?

Ice chisel Drive the chisel into the ice, using a stabbing motion, to create a hole. Next, measure ice thickness with a tape measure. Ice chisels are an especially important tool in the early and late-ice season when the ice is not as thick as mid-winter.

How long until ice is safe?

As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength.

Where is the thickest ice on a lake?

“The ice is always thicker at the edges than in the center.

Are people ice fishing on Lake Simcoe?

Once the open water turns to ice, Lake Simcoe comes alive with more anglers than it sees all three other seasons combined. With several ice hut operators around Ontario’s 6th largest inland lake it makes it easy for families with or without ice fishing experience to try this great winter sport.

What is Lake Simcoe known for?

Lake Simcoe Watershed Our watershed is a vibrant and diverse habitat and a precious source of water. It’s also a centre for tourism and recreation — generating over $200 million annually for the local economy — as well as industry and agriculture.

Is Lake Simcoe clean?

Lake Simcoe has been victim to significant eutrophication. Lake Simcoe has seen a dramatic decline in some fish species, along with an increase in algae blooms and aquatic weed growth.

What is the lake Monster in Lake Simcoe?

In Canadian folklore, the Igopogo is a mythical creature said to dwell in Lake Simcoe, Ontario. The creature’s name is ostensibly based on the Ogopogo, of Lake Okanagan, British Columbia, and also the title of the 1952 book I Go Pogo, a slogan often mentioned in the comic.

Can I swim in Lake Simcoe?

Lake Simcoe is the fourth largest lake wholly in Ontario. With 240 kilometres of shoreline, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of a wide range of activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming.

What is there to do in Lake Simcoe in the winter?

Traverse snowy landscapes on fat bikes, relish tranquility through snowshoeing, or rev up snowmobiles on expansive trails. Glide through groomed cross-country skiing paths or experience the iconic Canadian pastime of ice-fishing on frozen lakes.

Why does Lake Ontario not freeze?

Because of its great depth, the lake as a whole does not completely freeze in winter, but an ice sheet covering between 10% and 90% of the lake area typically develops, depending on the severity of the winter. Ice sheets typically form along the shoreline and in slack water bays, where the lake is not as deep.

What is the coldest place in Ontario in winter?

White River advertises itself as “The Coldest Spot in Canada” with recorded temperatures as low as −58 °C (−72 °F).

Is it safe to go on a frozen lake?

As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength. Clear blue or black ice is the strongest. This ice is formed from the lake water freezing.

Can you swim on Lake Simcoe?

Lake Simcoe is the fourth largest lake wholly in Ontario. With 240 kilometres of shoreline, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of a wide range of activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming.

Is it safe to go out on the ice?

Stay off the ice if it is less than 2 inches thick! For ice fishing, ice skating and walking, you need 4 inches or more of ice. For snowmobiles and ATVs, you need at least 5 inches. To drive a car or small pickup on ice you need at least 8 to 12 inches of ice.

Does Lake Simcoe freeze over?

If this winter proves to be an ordinary one, with the usual spells of below-freezing temperatures, Lake Simcoe will freeze over completely.

Is ice fishing safe on Lake Simcoe?

How much does it cost to ice fish at Lake Simcoe?

When is the best time to Fish Lake Simcoe?

Does Lake Simcoe freeze over?