Lake Simcoe is the 4th largest lake in Southern Ontario, and covers a surface area of over 725 square km. Lake Simcoe is a world-renown ice fishing destination and offers opportunities for individuals of all ages and skill levels. With its close proximity to Toronto, it receives heavy fishing pressure throughout the season, although ice fishing during the winter is most popular. There are many year round lodges, accommodations and hotels in and around the lake.

The Northern Pike is an aggressive fish, which are unmistakable with their pronounced snout and mouth full of sharp teeth. They can be difficult to handle when landed and care must be taken to avoid injury. At times they can be finicky eaters and nibble at your bait, and at other times they can be quite aggressive and smash your offering. Pike are generally caught in shallow bays, between 4 to 10 feet under the ice surface. In Lake Simcoe, they forage on smaller baitfish, mainly perch, smelt and herring. Ice fishing for northern pike, in Lake Simcoe can be challenging, since pike can be nomadic and can move around quite a bit. Although, once you locate an area where pike frequent, the action can be good. A variety of techniques are used to catch Lake Simcoe pike, although the most popular is the use of a tip-up and dead bait. Live sucker minnows suspended at various depths along a weed line can also be productive.

Yellow Perch are heavily targeted during the ice fishing season on Lake Simcoe. Most anglers are in search of the famed Lake Simcoe Jumbo Perch. Fish in excess of 1 lb are caught annually, although smaller fish in the 9-11 inch range (0.5 lb) are most common. Perch are very abundant in Lake Simcoe and can be caught anywhere from 6 feet up to 80 ft deep. Although perch, are generally caught in depths of under 30 feet. Live minnows on perch rigs are the most effective fishing methods. Small spoons, jigs, wax worms and a variety of panfish lures are all productive.

Walleye are not heavily targeted during the winter on Lake Simcoe, mainly due to the fact that success is sporadic, and walleye tend to be more of an incidental catch. Although a few areas, have been known to be consistently productive. The main techniques for Lake Simcoe walleye include jigging along drop-offs and weed beds. Walleye are generally most active at dawn and right before dark during the periods of dusk. Jigs tipped with live minnows are considered the presentation of choice for Lake Simcoe walleye.

Lake Simcoe has become a trophy smallmouth bass fishery, with fish in the 8 lb range caught annually. Although most bass average 2-3 lbs, it is not uncommon to catch multiple bass in excess of 6 lbs in a single outing. The lake has truly developed into a smallmouth bass factory, with an abundance of prime smallmouth bass habits, such as rocky points, shoals, shoreline timber, pilings and man-made structures such as docks. Lake Simcoe smallmouth bass have so many options, it is sometimes difficult to local the marauding schools of bass, but one thing is for certain, find the forage and you will find the bass.

Many bait shops, accommodations and restaurants are open year round on Lake Simcoe which cater to ice fisherman. Why not make the trip, visit Lake Simcoe, and enjoy one of the most popular winter activities in Ontario, ice fishing.