Lake of bays, Satellite images look promising

Looks like lake of bays was covered in snow from some satellite pics recently.

Any locals around Huntsville hear of any progress on the ice growth?

I’m losing my mind fishing for perch ?

Thanks guys!!

I'm in the area. LOB hasn't made much ice compared to say Simcoe and other areas. I think the earlier iced over areas of LOB was bad for ice because we had alot of snow that likely insulated the thin ice from growing during out last cold spell. Even some of the early to ice bays have not made too much. It may be much better ice out further where it was open water before the cold (and so snow just fell into the water instead of accumulating on a thin layer of ice and insulating it) but one still has to get out there. I drove out to one area on Jan. 19 and it looked to be iced over completely from where I was with much less snow further out into the main lake area. Closer to shore, it was alot of snow - no footprints, no snow machine tracks and no animal tracks. Like elsewhere reported in Muskoka, I suspect there will be alot of slush under the snow (I haven't been out to check though but know people who have gone out from other access points and reported surprisingly thin ice for up here and after such a cold spell - our township has also sent out a reminder/warning of this year's poor ice quality). Having to pay to heat the house with such low temps and not having ice out growing on the lakes seems really cruel.

Small lakes and wood stoves take the sting out of it

Thank you Flukes for the detailed Ice Report. What a crazy year for ice fishing!

I would think that being further north would have helped the ice growth, but guess not!

I know it’s bad when you don’t see any animal tracks on the ice. And now that Simcoe is a big puddle, this season is starting off horribly

Thanks again!

Small lakes and wood stoves take the sting out of it

We've got a very efficient wood pellet stove that will be installed soon (some chimney repairs to get it up to code was needed)...that should help with heating costs for sure.

Thank you Flukes for the detailed Ice Report. What a crazy year for ice fishing!

I would think that being further north would have helped the ice growth, but guess not!

I know it’s bad when you don’t see any animal tracks on the ice. And now that Simcoe is a big puddle, this season is starting off horribly

Thanks again!

I was out on another small lake on Thursday. It was about 4-5" slush/water on top....and then I found out my boots were no longer water proof (luckily, it was a warm day)...they needed to be replaced a few years ago when I did much more fishing back then but forgot. Much prefer the cold and dry than mild and wet....same goes for clearing snow too. Hoping next year will be colder and drier.

Small lakes and wood stoves take the sting out of it

HOPING to try another small lake in a few days

Passed by LOB today. Finally saw some signs of activity in one of the largish bays....one set of snowmobile tracks, 3 or 4 different sets of footprint tracks that went out quite a distance as well as across that bay, a few piles of chipped ice (I assume are drilled holes but the ice was not cleared away). 1-2" of slush/water on top. I didn't check the ice myself so have no idea of the thickness or quality (just looked from shore and with a few steps onto the slushy/water with shoes so decided to go back).

Anyone have updated ice conditions for LOB?

Protected areas have 6-8” varied ice, and about a foot of snow or more. Can’t speak to the main lake areas though.

Thinking about punching some holes walking out from Grove Park tmro. Haven’t seen any huts in that area by chance ?

What Mykola said. I will add that looking at the side of my roof that is uncleared of snow, it has compressed down by about 25-50% with today's above freezing day time high temps....not sure if that will translate to the same on the lake. But it should have come down a bit. But the slush may be starting.