Ice fishing the big water ( or ice I suppose)

[Seguin Fisher]

I get out on the Big Sound quite a bit in the winter ( except last year when it didn’t hardly freeze over), but I’ve always wanted to try out in the open.
I’ve done a fair bit of downrigging out past Redrock and south to the Black rocks and 12 mile bay, just wondering if anyone’s ever had the chance to get out there in the winter for lakers or salmon. Obviously it would have to be a super good year for ice to even try it, but I know some spots where I’m sure I could smash some huge lakers on darn near every drop, at least they’re like that in the summer there.

[GeorgianBay MessageBoard]

[Goldie]

I tried out from 12 mile one very cold winter. Had a herring or something chasing my bait on the vexilar but otherwise it was pretty boring

[John Whyte]

In 2014 Jame Gignac and I ventured out passed Hope Island out from the Lighthouse. The ice was so thick our auger barely got through. It was nice being out there but we never marked a fish. I would like to go again up near Parry Sound. I'm sure there are whitefish to be had. As for Lakers, they have just finished spawning and will be close to the spawning shoals in shallow water, less than 40 ft. so they shouldn't be too hard to find lol

[myot]

2014 and 2015 I fished a lot around Giants Tomb and finally figured it out for Lakers at least. I caught quite a few but every fish looked like the last one all 4-6lbs but still a ton of fun
took me close to 10 years of trying to figure them out, now its been 2 years without ice and I'm sure lots has changed

Dan

[John Whyte]

There is such a lot of water to cover. Did you every get a salmon?

[myot]

There is such a lot of water to cover. Did you every get a salmon?

never got a salmon or a fish that even fought like a salmon and lost
every fish was a 4-6lbs laker so I just downsized my tackle a bit and had a blast numbers were pretty good averaged 7-8 each time out

Dan

[Krawler]

Just waiting on the big freeze and I'll be out there looking for them lakers near the Tomb, I think I know where they are.  Been a long 2 years waiting to test my theories.   Fished Marks point for a few years bc access was easy, no salmon but found a few lakers and a lot of Ling!

[John Whyte]

Just waiting on the big freeze and I'll be out there looking for them lakers near the Tomb, I think I know where they are.  Been a long 2 years waiting to test my theories.   Fished Marks point for a few years bc access was easy, no salmon but found a few lakers and a lot of Ling!

The Ling would be fun

[myot]

Just waiting on the big freeze and I'll be out there looking for them lakers near the Tomb, I think I know where they are.  Been a long 2 years waiting to test my theories.   Fished Marks point for a few years bc access was easy, no salmon but found a few lakers and a lot of Ling!

that's quite cool catching ling out there. I spent a pile of time out there and never even hooked one to my knowledge.
I did notice that the lakers were almost always in multiples you would mark 3 or 4 at a time when you hooked one and normally if out in a group there would be doubles or triples going on

Dan

[Krawler]

If the ice gets going this year, we should get a group together to explore some spots for both Lakers and Whities.  Safety in numbers. Who's in?

[droptheanchor]

I'm in

[John Whyte]

I'm in. That sounds like a great idea.

[grampa]

im in

[grampa]

on a side note there was a ship and an ice breaker parked in midland yesterday not sure when they will leave

[myot]

I'm
got lots of good starting waypoints

Dan