Toronto Ice Fishing

[dcamb]

Has anyone ever ice fished downtown... Lookin for decent spots around TO, I don't have a car and can't get time off work to head up north this year.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[vicdeedee]

frenchmans bay in pickering is good, and ive always thought about drilling a few holes at ashbridges bay but never had anyone willing to go with me and didnt feel it was safe to go by myself but i know theres fish there

 

[dcamb]

What presentation are you using in Frenchman's Bay, and what're your target fish? I live close to the Humber marsh, and was thinking about heading down and checking it out for pike. I think there's similar species in both places, so similar tactics and bait might be appropriate.

thanks in advance

Cam

 

[ret0dd]

ice fishing in ashbridgebay or humber marsh.

sounds very interesting. not much moving current in those two areas. but very unstable i sure bet.

 

[TorontoMikey86]

Unfortunately there is a reason why the humber marsh says no skating or winter sports allowed on the ice, it's just not safe, the ice fails to get thick enough, but if your feeling risky bring emergency ice picks, and for added safety, find a large tree close to the water's edge, get a 100 ft rope and tie it off, then walk it out to your spot. With this method, if you fall in, the worst case scenario is your cold and frozen. Without the picks and rope, best case scenario would be being alive because trying to get out of a hole surrounded by thin ice with only your hands and body weight is a very scary thing, the ice you attempt to lift yourself up onto, just keeps breaking more and more Cold water's a bitch, never forget that.

 

[dcamb]

Thanks for the heads up. I was thinking of taking some of my river rescue gear: life jackets, a couple 60m rope bags. Also the spot I was thinking of fishing is a little back bay point right by the treatment plant. Definitely staying pretty close to shore.

 

[getin]

I'd say wear a survival suit wherever you go ice fishing.

 

[tangledline]

hi...i had my first day off since x-mas jan 30th...i found open water ...just east of ontario place...i got a follow by a rainbow and a 44 inch pike...first half hour out....4 hours later no fish landed.
so yes there is some open water...but expect to be fish'n not catch'n....feel like you have accomplished something if you see fish...use cleos or william's spoons to get them in and rapalas twitched real slow to entice a hit.
it helps considerably if you can see your follow...sunshine and polarized glasses help....cast from the shore into lake ontario in areas that hold pike...and you may get lucky....i would cast into humber bay mouth lakeside
or humber bay park if its not frozen over. the water needs to be 10 feet plus.....or it will be too cold....look for rainbow at mouth of humber.......cleos...for casting distance.goodluck.

 

[frozenfire]

Great tips from tangledline.

I checked out the harbourfront while I was in the area this week and it was iced over all the way to the islands.
The only open water I could see was where the ferry broke through the ice to make a path to Wards I believe.

There was also select open spots (small holes) along the shoreline...but they are taken over by water fowl LOL.

 

[CATCH22]

Hey bud, i came across your question about ice fishing in around the GTA and I've been doing it for some time now. I would say that if you are looking for somewhere close that would get you out on the ice for a few hours i also as the other gentleman said would give frenchman's bay in pickering a try. I operate my own guided fishing tours and have been introducing my clients to ice fishing through the the package i've described below. The ice right now is plenty thick, fishing has been consistant with some real big pike being pulled through the ice and panfish to keep you busy. The nice thing is about this shore fishing destination is that its easily accessible by public transit in the form of the GO-Train. If you are interested I could provide you with all the gear/bait/heated hut/ etc and also pick you up from the Pickering GO Station. Hope to see you on my next CATCH 22 FISHING ADVENTURE.