Had a plan to finish off the season in muskoka. I was on Simcoe all winter and then Simcoe got too dangerous, and perch got too monotonous.
Left Toronto at around 4am and was headed to muskoka. I had no idea how the ice was at this lake but had faith and trusted the process. I was on lake of bays earlier this year and got skunked, but was on ok ice.
Got to the first lake and it was pretty sketchy. Saw some snowmobile tracks, but the tracks abruptly stopped and the ice was about 3 inches. For safety, ice chisels and spuds are so important.
At this lake there was still lots of open water and also open water from people’s boat houses where they keep the water circulating to prevent ice damage.
There was a section of ice that had open water on both sides with a very narrow sketchy path to get through, I knew that the day would warm up and that was the only path to get home.
I carefully spudded out to my spot that I had previously fished in the spring and fall, in about 70 FOW. Started fishing at 7am and got my limit by 11am. The first 2 pictures are of the lake trout, 2 very good size eaters. I’ll get a length measurement on them later. I missed a tank on a huge jig’n rap, and today they just seemed to want minnows. Had lots of marks and couple more bites, but it was a fun day of fishing.
All throughout the day I was hearing cracks and felt the cracks through the ice. I was sitting on about 4 inches of ice.
After I filled my limit of lakers, I knew time was ticking, the ice was getting a bit soft from the sun at that point, and the open water was slowly eroding the only way back. The open water was growing so I quickly walked back tracing my steps and thankfully made it back safely.
I have lots of experience on the ice and, using an ice chisel. I have purposely “went in” to feel the shock of the cold water and make sure that I can safely “self rescue”. No ice is safe. Don’t attempt anything like this, it’s stupid and not worth it. I probably should have chosen a different lake, or headed back to Toronto. That being said, I did not fall into the ice, and everything worked out. This season is truly crazy.
March 1, 2024 muskoka Lakers, Stay safe out there
