Ice fishing at whitby marina

[Josh Kroepfl]

Has anyone ever tried their luck on the hard water in the whitby harbour area? I'm going to start getting the kids into hard water this year and don't want to make a long drive for the boys to get too cold too quick so something local would be great.

 

[MuskieBait]

I've never fished Whitby Harbour and don't know how safe the ice can be.

But just a general caution...how old are your kids? Do they have floatation suits?

I would pick a safer location with more consistent fishing traffic if you go with young kids. Ice conditions can change all the time, especially for a location with a creek flowing into the harbour.

Just be careful.

 

[Josh Kroepfl]

I was hoping to drill a hole right off the side of the dock. Definitely not brave enough to take my kids 4 year old and my 6 year old out on the ice with fast moving water underneath our feet.

Just curious to know if maybe there'd be any steelys or pike lurking around in there under the ice.

 

[tossing iron]

Your Wife will never let ya. Lol
My x hates it even now when I'm on the ice.

 

[fishermandan420]

Hahaha. My wife encourages first and last ice trips

 

[tossing iron]

I always take my vehicle out first.
Do a few donuts to make sure it's safe.
I'm no dummy.

 

[getin]

If you are taking kids out, Simcoe perch grounds are good. Not too far, almost guaranteed to catch fish, and if you use a hut, then they will be warm and comfy. you do not need to walk far out, and by mid januaryI think most have a beaten path so pulling a sled would be easy.
Most Marina's freeze ok but spud your way out, and do not let the kids go far from you.

 

[rich_ace_G]

Frenchman's bay is better bet for fishing IMO. lot's of pike & perch underneath....lot's of skaters and hockey kids out...a couple of years there were people running their cars and motorcycles right in the middle of frenchman's...i used to do little ice fishing there looking for abandoned holes and caught a lot of perch and sunfish...but then I had better luck with bigger game just fishing by the lighthouse casting on soft water so, i stopped.

 

[bigugly]

I would also recommend Lake Simcoe.

 

[fisgfreek]

The Lady is top choice for entertaining young kids.

 

[Josh Kroepfl]

We're definitely going to rent a hut at least once this year on simcoe for perch or white fish. But I'm hoping to toughen em up a little bit before we take the easy route.
Same as salmon season I'll take em to the pier to do some spoon chucking so they know what the fight is really like before I get them into the mess that is the creek.

 

[tossing iron]

A 4 and 6 yr old tossing iron off the pier for salmon?
I think your head has a Kraken it.lol
Slow down there.
With small ones a bobber and steady action of sunfish and rock bass they'd love.
As for ice fishing ,cooks bay perch the way to go.
40 bucks a head for the day.Includes drive out there and back .Your minnows and nice warm hut. Even a stove to heat things up.
I'm sure you might even get a price break for the children.
And bring the wife if you want to fish a bit. Cause most of the day you'll be untangling and baiting lines.
But lots of great memories in the making.
Enjoy

 

[MuskieBait]

Go the easy route first and then toughen them up. If they hated the first icefishing experiences, they'll never want to go again.

Also, despite seemingly safer, docks are not always as safe as perceived. Wood and metal absorbs heat, so the ice doesn't always freeze nice and solid around dock posts. Some marinas also have bubblers around the docks to keep them free of ice in the winter. While bubblers may be placed far away, there is still a current generated by the bubblers and the ice can be thinner than it should be.

When I'm exploring a new lake, I actually make a point to walk around visible docks and marinas unless I know there is an established safe route.

I also agree with T.I. For 4 and 6 years olds, tossing lures off the pier is not ideal for that age group. Kids are not that strong at that age. Their attention to details isn't great. Their attention span is very low (1min of attention per each year old is pretty standard).

 

[fishermandan420]

Rent a hut for perch. Bring non- special toys (if their fav toy falls down the hole it will end the trip). I have a 6 yo and a 3yo. Both started ice fishing at 2. They won't appreciate long waits for bites or cold temps. If their first time out is cold and boring they won't want to come next time

 

[rich_ace_G]

had my first trip with my little one fishing. he was 6. this was last year. he loves to cast but don't want none of the waiting stuff...and when there's a hook up he likes the fight as well...so he drains my phone playing candy crush...

 

[Josh Kroepfl]

My 6 year old pulled in 2 fair sized chinook off the piers this season, obviously with a little bit of help, he loves fishing just not the sit and wait for a bite. So we let him try chucking at the piers and he loves it.
That's why I was leaning away from renting a hut for the first few outtings so he's not stuck in there playing the waiting game we all love. If we just head out with the auger and a few poles we can set up a couple dead stick lines and build a snow fort while he's waiting.