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Posts Tagged ‘ice fishing’

Dream of Spring While You Are Ice Fishing

Posted in Day to Day Life, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 9, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Interested in perch, bluegills and crappy? Well, just pick a sunny day with little wind and give your hand a try at ice fishing. There are dozens of lakes to choose from: Balsam Lake, Brighton Bay in Lake Ontario, Cameron Lake, Chemong Lake, Lake Dalrymple, Rice Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Lake Scugog, Crowe Lake and the lower Trent River are just some of the choices available. Many of the public boat launches make great winter access points and you may even get free parking along the side of the road.

Bethany.Ontario.Blog.Ice.Fishing.1

Source: http://leisurecottages.com/Ice_Fishing.html

You will notice many fishermen have a variety of rods, each rigged a little differently. The variety lets you be prepared for the different sizes and species you might encounter, tells you how active the fish actually are and how deep you plan to fish. Experienced anglers have a sharp 6” hand auger, an ice skimmer to remove slush from your hole, a light action 18-24” ice rod/reel combo spooled with 6-10 pound monofilament fishing line and a handful of lures for each species you are after.

Remember, the more prepared you are the better off you will be since changing lures in sub-zero weather is not a lot of fun.

If you are going to a lake for the first time, one that may not have a lot of ice fishing activity already, it is critical that you test the depth of the ice. Use your basic auger to test the ice – you want a minimum of a 6 to 8 inch circumference to get started.

Want to know how plentiful the fish are? Simple. Google ‘Stocked Water Body’ to find a number of sites that can give you the details you need. Find out about species, fishing regulations specific to the area, and of course stocking information.

Bethany.Ontario.Blog.Ice.Fishing.2

Source: https://thekawarthas.ca/hot-tips-kawartha-ice-fishing/

Remember, dress accordingly. Wear breathable clothing and layer, layer, layer. Insulated snow pants and a heavy winter parka are a must. Good gloves, a toque, and a pair of insulated waterproof boots round out the ice fisherman’s most important attire on the ice. You might also want to bring some extra gloves, a balaclava, and a scarf.

Enjoy some ice fishing while there is still time. The weather forecasters are saying spring will happen quickly so please be aware of conditions and be safe.

 

 

 

 

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February 17th – Enjoy Family Fishing Day and More!

Posted in Day to Day Life, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »

February 17th is a perfect family fun day. Start off at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) Family Ice Fishing Event and end the day at the Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre.

The 9th Annual Family Ice Fishing Day is your opportunity to try your hand at ice fishing without needing a license. It is a free event, all equipment and bait is provided and there is a prize for every child!

All the fun takes place on Chemong Lake in Bel Rotary Park. Dress warmly; pack a lunch and some snacks. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your toboggan to enjoy the hills after fishing.

Ontario Family Fishing Events offer an opportunity for families to fish Ontario waters without the usual paperwork. The Ontario Government designates two periods throughout the year as license-free ­– the Family Day Weekend in February and a full nine days in July that coincides with National Fishing Week.

What a great way to introduce your family to fishing. Plan to attend on February 17th or watch for other fishing festivals, clinics, derbies and workshops hosted across the province throughout the year. To find an event near you, visit  www.ontariofamilyfishing.com.

Bethany.Ontario.Blog.Ice.Fishing.Day.2018

Source: https://www.ofah.org/familyfishing/

…And After Ice Fishing 

After Ice fishing, or if ice fishing is not for you, be sure to visit the OFAH Hunting and Fishing Heritage Centre in Peterborough.

Activities for the whole family will include:

  • Excalibur Archery Range
  • Stoeger Airgun Range
  • Lure making, 2D fly tying and casting challenge
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Crafts and games
  • Unique wildlife displays
  • Movie in the amphitheater
  • Fish feeding frenzy in the giant fish aquarium.
  • Free BBQ (12-2) with hot chocolate

Admission and all activities are FREE on February 17th, 2018.  All the fun takes place between 10 am and 4 pm at the Centre at 4601 Guthrie Drive, Peterborough.

Bethany.Ontario.Blog.Fishing.Heritage.Centre.2018

Source: https://www.ofah.org/familyfishing/

 

 

 

 

 

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Winter Fun Near Bethany!

Posted in Day to Day Life, tagged , , , , , , , on January 28, 2016| Leave a Comment »

What Can We Do This Winter in the Kawarthas – Part 1!

 Mark your calendars for February 7th and 13th!

 You don’t have any reason to be bored this winter! Instead of staying indoors, get outside and enjoy the variety of winter sports and activities that the region has to offer.

Bel Rotary Polar Plunge – Sunday February 7th

You won’t want to miss the February dip into the Chemong Lake – all for charity! Of course you can simply be a warm spectator and watch dozens of people brave the icy water to raise money for the local Rotary Club.

Plung.Vader

Or you can put a team together and raise some money for the local community. Join the fun so you can be ‘Freezin for a Reason!’ Each person taking the plunge is asked to raise a minimum of $200.

In over 35 years the group has raised in excess of $600,000 for charities and local organizations. Go see all the fun in Ennismore on February 7th.

Plung

Get all of the details and even register a team at http://www.belrotaryplunge.com/

The fun will take place at the Ennismore Waterfront Park on Ennis Road.

 

The Ontario Family Fishing Event Saturday February 13th

Have fun with more than 1,000 people on Chemong Lake for the annual family ice fishing event.

You can fish during one of the two annual license-free fishing events in Ontario. Representatives from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters will be on hand to help first time ice anglers catch a fish. The kids will love the excitement! And every child who participates gets a prize!

Family.Ice.Fishing.Day

It can’t get any easier – the holes are drilled and the equipment is supplied – your family just has to dress warm and enjoy the fun!

And after the fishing derby there will be free family fun including an archery range, wildlife displays, a movie in the amphitheater, hot chocolate and popcorn – and a fish feeding frenzy in the giant fish aquarium.

Mark your calendar for February 13th from 10 am to 2 pm at the Bel Rotary Park, Chemong Lake, Ennismore Ontario, 1495 Yankee Line.
Check out the website for updates at http://www.hfhc.ca/slides/family-ice-fishing-day-2016.

For more information, please contact the folks at the Ontario Family Fishing Events at 705-748-6324 ext. 254.

 

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This One’s A Bit Fishy! Ice Fishing Near Bethany Ontario.

Posted in Day to Day Life, tagged , , , , on March 5, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Yes it has been a long winter. Many people have been left with cabin fever as a result of the colder than normal temperatures.

Everyone is looking forward to change cabin fever to spring fever for obvious reasons. But you don’t have to wait for spring to go fishing. Why not go ice fishing now?

Ice Fishing

There are lots of places to ice fish near Bethany Ontario.

Several years ago the Ministry of Natural Resources made some changes, opening up ice fishing in the Kawartha Lakes to the public. Now, Fishermen consider this region to be one of Ontario’s finest ice fishing areas.

What can you catch? You might be surprised! Bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, and northern pike have been turned into delicious fish fries – or thrown back!

There are dozens of lakes to choose from: Balsam Lake, Brighton Bay in Lake Ontario, Cameron Lake, Chemong Lake, Lake Dalrymple, Rice Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Lake Scugog, Crowe Lake and the lower Trent River are just some of the locations well serviced by outfitters.

Ice Fishing

Enjoy ice fishing!

There are a variety of resorts, providing overnight accommodations in cottages or condos, 2 or 4 person ice huts, bait, ice fishing poles, propane heat, fishing licenses…and if you want, you can even rent the services of an ice fishing guide!

You can get onto smaller lakes sooner in the winter as they freeze faster and then safely move to larger lakes as the winter progresses

If you are new to ice fishing, do a bit of research first – unless of course you are taking a guide along with you. Read magazine articles, watch how-to videos, and even consider attending seminars. The more you know, the more successful – and safe – your venture will be.

You will notice many fishermen have a variety of rods, each rigged a little differently. The variety lets you be prepared for the different sizes and species you might encounter, how active the fish actually are and how deep you plan to fish. The more prepared you are the better off you will be since changing lures in sub-zero weather is not a lot of fun.

If you are going to a lake for the first time, one that may not have a lot of ice fishing activity already, it is critical that you test the depth of the ice. Buy a basic auger to test the ice and to provide you with a 6 to 8 inch circumference to get started.

And finally, dress accordingly. Wear winter gear like insulated snow pants and a heavy winter parka. Good gloves, a toque, and a pair of insulated waterproof boots round out the ice fisherman’s most important attire on the ice. You might also want to bring some extra gloves, a balaclava, and a scarf.

Enjoy some ice fishing while there is still time. It will not last much longer. One minute we’re talking about ice fishing and before long we’ll be talking about the maple syrup running!

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