Lake Simcoe Orilla and Atherley area perch

[MartyLee]

Anyone ice fish around Atherley area of Simcoe. (my question mark button is not working) I have been down in the spring for the Orilla perch derby, and there is ample parking all along highway 12 there. any insite would help.

water from teh narrows to raspberry island wsa 12 foot deepish with a sand bottom with weed pockets if I remember right, is that the kinda bottom the perch on simcoe like this time of year.

 

[hightechdecks]

yup sand bottom with that perch grass is best. i like the drop off areas where it breaks from 12 to 20+ fow. better perch down willow beach way i think though

 

[O.My.Buddy]

Orillia is an old indian word meaning "no fish" lol Seriously, I've been eyeing up the waters that side of town and I think I'm gonna give it a try Wednesday...don't know if I'd go too close to the mouth of the Narrows due to currents and I know traditionally it's been a last ice/pre-spawn ground but they roam around...Do you mean Strawberry Island? IDK of any raspberry island...

 

[canoecrazy]

Think you can go out off the end of Courtland street and get out to reasonably deep water fairly quickly even walking I believe. It should also be well enough away from the narrows

 

[MartyLee]

Strawberry Island that sound right, I know it was some kind or berry. But yes that is the island I fished around one year from a boat, when the perch derby was happening. 15 foot of water and perch grass patches on bottom. I think its about a 1.5 km wlak out from the narrows, but thats not where I would walk out from, current as yous have said.

 

[O.My.Buddy]

Punched about a dozen test holes a couple hundred yards off Victoria point towards Grape island...1st hole the auger went through in 2 turns, 2 inches or a bit less there...most I found was three...looked like new ice from there out towards strawberry...I'm not sure what it's like on the other side...I know a few years back a snowmobile groomer went through out that way...guy thought he was on 14" but he found a stretch it was less than half that...I suggest lots of testing if you're coming up this way