It happened shortly after 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2024. Four men had been out fishing on the ice of Wellers Bay, nearly a kilometre from shore in the Consecon area. The ice they were on separated from shore, leaving them no way to get back.

Officers with the Prince Edward County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment, along with officers from the Quinte West Detachment, OPP Emergency Response Team and OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) team responded to the scene when a concerned resident reported the incident.

Prince Edward Fire and Rescue responded and was able to rescue two of the men using a boat. A helicopter from 424 Search and Rescue Squadron at CFB Trenton was dispatched by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and its crew was able to rescue the other two men and bring them to shore.

There have been several recent incidents across eastern Ontario involving people falling through the ice, including one which tragically resulted in the deaths of two people.

The OPP continues to stress that no ice is safe ice.

The winter weather has not been typical and ice conditions have been unpredictable and inconsistent.

Ice is greatly affected by weather, as well as other factors including:

·        Water depth and size of body of water

·        Currents and other moving water

·        Logs, rocks, and shoals absorbing heat from the sun

·        Changing air temperature

Ice does not form at uniform thickness on a body of water. It may look safe, but may not be thick, strong or stable enough to support a person’s weight.

This week’s mild weather will make the ice even less stable.

Children should not play near or on ice covered bodies of water or even cold or fast flowing water.

Last night, #424Sqn was called to assist @OPP_CR and Prince Edward County firefighters with a humanitarian #SAR case: people on an ice floe in Wellers Bay, Lake Ontario. A CH-146 Griffon hoisted two fishers to safety aboard the helicopter and transferred them to EMS. #Rescue pic.twitter.com/ACmwr7ULOG

— Trenton JRCC CCCOS (@JRCCTrentCCCOS) February 22, 2024

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Alongside hockey, snowshoeing, and curling, ice fishing is right up there on the list of Canada’s favourite winter hobbies. You can do it almost anywhere, as long as you have an auger, an ice fishing rod, and – most importantly – ice that’s thick enough. But a few places stand out. Some are quirky, some host impressive events, and others just hold seriously huge fish. So read on – you won’t want to miss these nine destinations this winter!

Golden, BC

Let’s start with a newcomer to our ice fishing hit list – Golden, BC. You’ve probably heard of this small town in the Kootenay Rockies because of its skiing. The place is packed with slopes, cross-country routes, and even heli and cat skiing. But there’s also plenty to do if you want to enjoy a slower pace.

As it happens, as well as boasting phenomenal skiing and hiking, the Kootenay Rockies are a year-round hotspot for Trout fishing. Some of the largest Rainbow Trout in the world thrive here, and you have just as much of a chance of catching one in the winter as you do after ice out.

Gerrard Rainbow Trout are the main attraction and the number one reason for including the Kootenay Rockies on this list. These local fish are as big as Rainbow Trout get, with trophies weighing in at up to 14 kilograms (30 pounds). The world record was over 23 kilos (52 pounds)! Although it’s rare to catch fish of this size these days, you can still find plenty of fish in the 3–5 kilogram range. Other potential catches include Bull Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee, and Burbot. 

Stay in Golden, and you’ll have access to a number of great ice fishing lakes in jaw-dropping mountain surroundings. You can explore some of the small mountain lakes on your own or with a guide. Otherwise, take a drive to a more established ice fishing spot. Premier Lake and its surroundings are among the best places to fish here all year round – both in terms of the number of Rainbow Trout on offer and the scenery you’ll find them in.

Muskoka Lakes, ON

You don’t need to go far from a major city to find good ice fishing in Ontario. The hundreds of kilometres of hard water in Muskoka are proof of that!

Ontario’s cottage country provides a whole lot more than summertime relaxation for the rich and famous. Lakes Muskoka, Joseph, and Rosseau are huge in themselves and also come surrounded by rivers, locks, and small backcountry lakes. All this, within two and a half hours of Toronto.

Drill through the ice and you can find fish that are as impressive as the surroundings. These bodies of water are famous for their Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and one dinner table favourite – Walleye. 

Because ice fishing is so popular here, you have a whole range of options for catching all these fish. Hire a guide, rent a hut, or trek into the backcountry. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong in this reliable fishery.

Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, QC

Few places take ice fishing as seriously as Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade. This small town on the Sainte-Anne River comes alive every winter as crowds descend in search of the local specialty – Tomcod. 

Locals only learnt that this winter species flourishes here as recently as 1938. Ever since, visitors have descended on the frozen river every year between December 26 and mid-February. And the town welcomes them warmly – literally! Local guide services set up ice fishing cabins in a genuine village layout, with much more than just ice fishing on offer. Slides, sleigh rides, crafts, and an illuminated park make this a real winter family vacation setting.

But there’s really one reason why everyone comes here. Tomcod are delicious, abundant, and seriously easy to catch. You don’t even need a fishing licence to catch one, and there are no limits to how many you keep. Just try not to take more than you’re likely to eat, so you can help preserve the fishery for future generations.

Tobin Lake, SK

We couldn’t write about the best places to go ice fishing in Canada without mentioning Tobin Lake. This huge reservoir on the Saskatchewan River has been known for its fishing since it was first impounded. Word really started to get out, though, when Father Marius Zajac caught an ice fishing world record in 2005.

Father Marius’s tackle-busting catch was a Walleye that weighed in at 8.3 kilograms (18 pounds). But big Walleye aren’t the only reason to fish this lake in the winter. Enormous Northern Pike, plentiful Yellow Perch, and Lake Whitefish are just a few of the species that come up through the ice here every year.

Of course, people don’t just come to Tobin Lake for its unusually large fish. The area offers plenty of winter tourism amenities, including comfortable cabins and all sorts of outdoor entertainment. 285 kilometres (177 miles) of snowmobile trails border the lake and its surroundings! There’s also an ice skating rink and trails for cross-country skiing! All this, below the ever-changing Saskatchewan sky… No matter where you’re travelling from, Tobin Lake is well worth the trip.

Cold Lake, AB

Stretching over 370 square kilometres (144 square miles) between Alberta and Saskatchewan, Cold Lake really comes into its own in the winter. Cold by name and cold by nature, it usually starts icing over in December. And once it does, anglers ready their augers with the hope of catching one thing – a massive Lake Trout. 

Cold Lake is one of the deepest lakes in Alberta, plunging to depths of over 200 metres (650 feet). This makes it the perfect habitat for huge Lake Trout, who thrive in areas with plenty of space and all the bait that comes with it. In fact, the Alberta Lake Trout record was caught here way back in the 1920s – and no one’s topped it yet!

But it’s not just Lake Trout that attract anglers here. Walleye, Northern Trout, Whitefish, and Yellow Perch all regularly make it out of the ice and into pop-up huts. That’s not to mention the legendary “Kinosoo”, a mythical creature that apparently lurks in the depths of this ancient waterway. We’ll stick to the Lakers, thanks!

Falcon Lake, MB

There are plenty of ice fishing lakes in Canada that offer peace, quiet, and seclusion. That’s not why you come to Falcon Lake, though. Especially if you’re here in March and have your eyes on a prize! That’s because this lake hosts one of the most popular ice fishing contests in the country.

The Falcon Lake Winter Fish-Off takes place in mid-March every year and offers anglers over $60,000 in prizes. Reserve one or two holes, and you could be one of the lucky ones.

Falcon Lake’s ice fishing tournament is impressive because the lake is home to some enormous Northern Pike that generally like to hang out around the weed line at the western corner of the lake. That means there’s always a good chance of a trophy catch, whether you’re tournament fishing or not.

And there’s more than Pike here, too. Smallmouth Bass and Walleye are also popular catches on this popular stop off the Trans-Canada Highway.

The Shacks/Kennebecasis River, NB

Visit the well-to-do suburb of Renforth in winter, and you’ll find a community that’s fiercely independent. A community that eschews the finer things in life in favour of pure, simple winter fun. A community that revolves around one thing: Smelt.

The Renforth Ice Fishing Village opens up a world of ice fishing on the Kennebecasis River. Just 10 minutes from Saint John, it hosts around 100 fishing shacks every year, all gathered around the Renforth Wharf. These usually stay for the season, as their occupiers while away the hours intercepting sea-run Smelt as they travel under the ice to and from the Bay of Fundy.

New Brunswick’s regulations for this species are very generous, so even if you book a shack for a night you could catch enough to keep you happy for months!

But it’s not just Smelt that makes the Kennebecasis River attractive in winter. Go further out towards Long Island, and you could find Hake hiding under the ice. Or, set your fishing rod down for a while and try skating or ice surfing. The fact that you can reserve a shack for as little as 3 hours at a time means you can try all these things just in one day.

Great Slave Lake, NWT

Only one place on our run-down of 2024 Canadian ice fishing destinations has made the cut 3 years running. You just can’t beat Great Slave Lake for beautiful surroundings, monster fish, and creature comforts on the ice.

The deepest lake in North America, this is also one of the largest lakes in the world. And as luck would have it, it’s right off the shores of the Northwest Territories’ capital – Yellowknife. Most ice fishing tours depart from here and there’s a whole lot of lake to explore, on your own or with a guide.

Almost all of Canada’s ice fishing favourites swim in these icy waters. Enormous Northern Pike and Lake Trout attract trophy hunters, while Arctic Grayling bring a touch of cold-water exotic. Meanwhile, Walleye and Whitefish are some of the best table fare that comes up from under the hard water.

The best thing about ice fishing Great Slave Lake is the fact that you can do it almost all year round. The ice on the lake is usually safe from November until May. That means you can still enjoy fishing through the ice without bearing the extreme temperatures and dark days that are common around here in the depths of winter.

Muskrat Lake, ON

Finally, we have a destination for those who want to stay closer to home. Ontario’s Muskrat Lake is just a short drive from Ottawa. It’s hard not to be tempted by the lake’s iconic ice fishing shacks as you’re driving down Highway 17!

Not only is Muskrat Lake incredibly beautiful, it’s also home to some out-of-the-ordinary fish. Lake Sturgeon and Longnose Gar are a couple of the strangest-looking. They’re joined by some old favourites: Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Catfish. 

But the fish we most want to find is “Mussie”. This frightening beast looks like the Loch Ness Monster’s Canadian offspring. While we can neither confirm nor deny its existence, we’ll keep on trying to find it through the ice!

And that’s not all. Muskrat Lake is another top destination for competitive ice fishers. The annual Cobden Ice Fishing Derby runs every February and invites teams and families to compete for over $20,000 worth of prizes. Now, that’s one way to warm up this winter!

Ice Fishing in Canada: Goodbye Winter Blues, Hello Fish!

That’s it for our run-down this year. As always, there were lots more Canadian ice fishing spots that we would have loved to include. But each of our 2024 destinations offers something special – and may not be somewhere you’ve ice fished before.

You can also take a look at last year’s list. After all, we’re only here to try and inspire you! Take a step off the beaten track and see what you can find. We bet you’ll have an amazing time!

The post Muskoka Lakes Hit 2nd Best Ice-Fishing Destination In Canada For 2024 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Many factors affect ice thickness including:

• Type of water
• Time of year
• Water depth and size of body of water
• Currents, tides, and other moving water
• Logs, rocks, and shoals absorbing heat from the sun
• Changing air temperature

Ice does not freeze at uniform thickness throughout the body of water. When ice forms early and may look safe, it is likely not thick, strong, or stable enough to support much weight. Thickness should be checked regularly as you move further onto the ice.

Anyone considering venturing out on ice covered bodies of water for recreational activities should do so with an experienced outdoor enthusiast who is familiar with local conditions and water currents. Children should not play near or on ice covered bodies of water unless supervised by an experienced, safety-conscious person.

Remember “No ice is safe ice“, venturing out onto unsafe ice puts your life and those of the first responders at risk”.

For more information on ice safety go to www.redcross.ca

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What are your thoughts? A public survey for the community is available online at myhuntsville.ca and residents are encouraged to provide their comments. In addition, a user group survey is also available at myhuntsville.ca for organizations to provide their input.

The public engagement opportunity will be conducted online only, closing on May 5, 2023 at 4:30pm. Information will be gathered and staff will provide the details in a report to General Committee in June.

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Stormwater management ponds are engineered facilities that play an important role in protecting the
environment and keeping neighbourhoods safe by:
• collecting stormwater runoff including sediment, debris, road salt and pollutants;
• provide treatment of pollutants to keep our watersheds healthy; and
• alleviate flooding by storing and slowly releasing stormwater.

Stormwater management ponds that are designed to have a permanent pool of water are not monitored for ice thickness. Factors such as continuously flowing water, and fluctuating water levels and temperatures can lead to unstable ice. Recreational activity of any kind on stormwater management ponds is not recommended. There are currently ten (10) stormwater management ponds designed with a permanent pool throughout the Town, and most are not fenced off.

These ponds are located as follows:
1 On the north side of Clearbrook Trail (opposite Pheasant Run)
2 At the end of Colton Court
3 Between No. 14 and No. 24 Hunter Place
4 On the east side of Chamberry Crescent (under construction)
5 At No. 110 Clearbrook Trail (behind the Bracebridge Sportsplex)
6 Behind No. 15 Little Ryan’s Way
7 East of the Walmart Parking Lot
8 South-east corner of Manitoba Street and Quinn Forest Drive
9 Behind No. 192 Covered Bridge Trail
10 Muskoka Lumber Community Centre on Salmon Avenue (under construction)

Outdoor skating is available at Annie Williams Memorial Park and Memorial Park. For more information, please visit www.bracebridge.ca

Please be safe. Stay off stormwater management ponds.

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The Canadian Coast Guard advises residents in Parry Sound, Ontario and surrounding area to avoid the ice, as CCGS Samuel Risley will transit through the area to the Canadian Coast Guard Parry Sound base on or around April 11.

It is recommended that all recreational users – pedestrians, fishers, snowmobilers, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) operators – leave the ice during icebreaking operations. The ice may move, creating a real danger for anyone on the ice. Additionally, they should plan their activities carefully and use extreme caution after operations are complete as the ice will remain unstable after the icebreaker has left the area.

Coast Guard icebreaking service on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways is delivered in close co-operation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards. By working together, the two Coast Guards ensure scheduled vessel traffic can move through the shipping channels and into and out of community harbours.

The date is subject to change with no notice, as activities could begin before or after that period, depending on operational requirements or weather conditions.

Details of the Canadian/U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking partnership can be viewed here.

Canadian Coast Guard Celebrates 60 Years Of Service To Canadians

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On Friday, March 12, 2021, members of the York Regional Police Marine Unit responded to assist South Simcoe Police with a call on Lake Simcoe after several ice fishers were stranded when the ice began breaking apart. Officers also worked closely with members of the Durham Regional Police Service Marine Unit and Fire and Emergency Services from Ramara Township to successfully rescue seven people. Five were treated for mild hypothermia and one person was taken to hospital with severe hypothermia.

Each year members of the Marine Unit respond to calls of people, vehicles and pets that have fallen through the ice. Citizens are reminded to keep pets and children away from all ice surfaces during times where the ice is melting.

Remember: No surface of ice or body of water is ever completely safe. It is crucial that citizens take individual responsibility in evaluating the dangers of any recreational activity. If you make educated choices regarding safety, accidents can be prevented.

Following these safety tips can help keep you safe:

• Know the condition of the ice before you go out and remember that changes in the weather can rapidly alter conditions on lakes and streams
• Wear proper clothing and floatation attire
• Never venture out onto the lake alone
• Ensure you have a cell phone with a fully-charged battery in the event of an emergency
• Tell someone where you are going, with whom and what time you will return

Every year, garbage and other materials that are left behind on the ice in the winter are not only pollution, but can be hazards for swimmers and boaters in the spring and summer. Respect the environment and the waterways. If you took it out on the ice, then take it back on land before the ice melts.

The post Seven People Recently Rescued From Lake Simcoe appeared first on Muskoka411.

A pair of hikers had been walking on the ice near the park, when a large piece of ice broke away from the shoreline, leaving the hikers stranded, as this floating ice flow continued drifting out onto Georgian. Bay.

Grey Bruce OPP were assisted at the shore line by Bruce County Paramedic Services, Northern Bruce Peninsula Fire Department, Parks Canada and air support was provided by Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) from Trenton and OPP Aviation Services from Orillia.

A JRCC Hercules aircraft located the hikers and continued circling above, monitoring the situation from the air. The hikers had drifted almost three kilometres from shore, when the OPP helicopter was able to hover above the hikers and make a daring ice rescue, returning both people safely to shore. There were no injuries.

Grey Bruce OPP Acting Inspector Debra Anderson praised the efforts of all of the involved emergency personnel, “This was amazing team work by all of the involved services. Everyone worked together to safely rescue these hikers. This situation could have ended in tragedy”.

The OPP remind hikers, snowmobile operators, all-terrain vehicle operators and fisherman that travelling on ice, especially on open bodies of water, is extremely dangerous. Please make sure that you check the weather conditions, the ice thickness, always dress for the weather, have a safety plan and travel with a partner. The temperatures have really been fluctuating this winter, so use extreme caution when travelling and avoid unnecessary risks on the ice and near shore lines.

Two hikers near Tobermory had to be rescued from an ice floe, which sheared away from shore yesterday. OPP West Region wish to thank @JRCCTrentCCCOS and our local partners in Grey Bruce for their help in this operation. Some video courtesy the JRCC. ^dr pic.twitter.com/7BvYEgdRDe

— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) February 22, 2021

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On February 10, 2021 at 9:15 a.m. Bracebridge OPP officers responded quickly to a person through the ice near Campbell’s Road and Gravenhurst Parkway in Bracebridge.

A Keswick woman indicated that she was out for a hike on Paul’s Lake when she fell through the ice. The woman was stuck in mud, in knee deep water for over 30 minutes and called for help.

Bracebridge OPP patrol members attended and requested additional assistance from the OPP Aviation Search and Rescue, The Snowmobile, All Terrain Vehicle and Vessel Enforcement Team, The Emergency Response Team, The Muskoka Paramedic Services and Bracebridge Fire Department.

The 33-year old female was safely extracted from the ice by the OPP helicopter and flown to the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital where she is currently being treated for potential life threatening injuries.

Two officers received medical attention as a result of the rescue.

Stay off the ice.

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