Orillia/couchaching

[Sev]

Planning to come down from north bay tomorrow, meant to call but forgot and shops are closed now.
I've gone out from tudhope Park before. How's the ice/slush/snow there for walking? Is there any decent parking/access to the main lake nearby? I'd like to get out for whitefish but no clue how that area is.. Seems like Tromblys opens at 10 on Sunday? Is that right? Guess I'll stop at Epps on the way down. Are there any decent access points/fishing near the top of couch? Apologies for 20 questions, but just trying to get a ballpark plan.

Thanks

[Flukes]

Cooch isn't known for catching WF....the occasional one is caught but kind of rare. If that's your target, I would travel a bit further south to Oro-Medonte area for WF. Not sure about Trombly's hours. I didn't get out on the ice but had a look at a few spots in the north and things looked like they have improved alot. But didn't see much in the way of fishing activity going on (that was yesterday) and permanent huts seemed to be further offshore than I remember last year. There is another bait store in Oro-Medonte area off HWY 11 on the east side (northbound side) just before Line 7 heading north) - I think they open early (like 5 am on Sundays) - Simcoe Angler Bait and Tackle (I think). Then there is Jacob's bait and tackle between lines 14 and 15 and they also seem to be open early like 5:30am on Sunday.
Good luck. Let us know how you do and the conditions. I am trying to get the family out somewhere for perch and also would be heading down from the north (Muskoka) to Cooch preferably since it's closer but if I have to, I will go further south for some action (and hoping the walking is not crazy hard somewhere on the lake - I think after the warm spell and then the cold, it should be getting pretty good for walking.

[ajs]

EPPs fishing store ( right hand side going north) is open at 7:00 am. They have good minnows and a good sized scoop. There is access off Goldstein but parking lot is small ( 6-8 vehicles). Lots of ice but also slush if you wander off the exiting trails .