Aqua-Vu Walleye Ice Fishing

This makes me want to buy an Aqua-Vu camera like right now. In fact I think I'm going to right after I'm done cleaning up the basement. This video shows walleye coming up to a jig presentation, looking at it with serious intent, then backing off - probably detecting something was wrong. Awesome aqua VU video.

Speaking of Aqua-Vu, they released a revolutionary new high speed lcd flasher system designed specifically for ice fishing - it replaces the infamous vexilar flashers. This new device really simplifies reading for ice fishing amateurs who don't get the concept of the flasher. It is called the Aqua-Vu VPG - for vertical pixel graph.

Basically, this new device illustrates the water column as, well, a water column.

It is an LCD screen that won'ty freeze (according to them) because they built in a screen heater. It comes with a rechargeable 12 volt battery, a neoprene case, with velcro, the target separation is perfect for walleye at 1/2 inch.

Dealers sell this device for approximately $229 USD

Another neat product they releases is a DVR version of the Aqua Vu system - which is probably how the video was shot in the first place. It uses Secure Disc media cards foir recording, so capacity is up to you - the bigger the card, the more video you can capture.

The Aqua Vu DVR unit retails for about $500 USD.

When is it safe to walk on ice?

Every year people drown because they step out on thin ice and fall through.

So when is the ice thick enough to support walking - and fishing?

You need a minimum of 5 inches of ice under your feet to even consider going for a walk on the lake.

Here is my list of the top 10 tips to keep yourself safe on the ice. I wrote this in 2004, but it's still valid - of course.

1. There is no universally safe ice thickness. Each body of water has certain properties that affect how much ice is considered safe. Use common sense, and ask people who have more experience than yourself how much ice is required for safe conditions.
2. Wear a personal flotation device, better yet a one piece insulated floating suit
3. Don't fish alone, and let someone know where you will be and when you will be back.
4. Test the ice in front of you with an ice spud or an auger
5. Be very wary of river ice, because current makes ice thickness vary quite a bit
6. Snow is a great insulator, and as such it can make the ice strong, but it can also prevent it from freezing. When fishing on snow covered ice, pay close attention, the snow can hide weak spots and cracks that you would otherwise see.
7. Slush indicates decaying ice
8. Always carry a nylon rope and a few large nails, they can provide the grip you need in case you fall through the ice and can't grab on to the edge. Face the direction you came from, kick out with your legs, or use your nails to grab on, and roll off as far as you feel is necessary to be safe again, do NOT stand up immediately, you will likely just fall through again. (self-rescue technique)
9. If you see someone fall through, do not run toward them, rather extend a rope or an object that they can hold onto.
10. Again, there is no universal set of rules for how thick ice has to be for safe fishing, but as a rule of thumb, these are "minimum requirements" you should memorize:

• 2 inches of ice is extremely dangerous, do not even attempt to walk on ice this thin
• 4 inches of ice may be sufficient to walk and go ice fishing
• 5 inches may be enough to support snowmobiles ( do not park them close to one another)
• 8 to 12 inches may be enough to support cars or small pickups ( do not park them close to one another)
• 15 inches may be enough to support medium trucks ( do not park them close to one another)

No ice yet

Ice fishing will come later this year, my favorite spots are just starting to ice over, it will be at least 2 more week before ice fishing season begins for me. Got a big gift certificate from my dad on Christmas, will probbaly buy myself a clam portable shelter. I hope to find better walleye spots this year, last year was hit and miss, the year before more of the same. I need to hit some spots I marked with waypoints late last fall.

Ice Fishing Season is Over, CountDown to Open Water.

This past weekend marked the end of the ice fishing season for most anglers. Ice condition is becoming dangerous, and the season for most species ends on the 31st of march.

This means we can now start counting the days til open water season begins again, I am psyched, this year promises to be the best yet, I will be spending much more time exploring the Montreal waters, finding new spots, tyring new gear, but most of all fishing for my favorite species, walleye.

May 13th is when it starts on Lac Saint Pierre. 45 days.

Lake Champlain Ice Fishing

Check out this great shot sent to me by my good friend and fishing partner MikeWalleye. He went ice fishing for perch on Lake Champlain a few weeks ago, they spent the day trying to prevent themselves from dying of exposure, winds were raging and temperatures were the lowest they had been all season. No fish either. But what a nice shot!

Ice Fishing the Boucherville Islands

We went to the Boucherville Islands yesterday afternoon. This place is located between Montreal and Boucherville, on the Saint Lawrence river. To get there one needs to use the road leading to the Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine Tunnel, and get off at the @Iles de Boucherville@ exit, where you see the big hotel.

We fished an area near the golf club, between 2 islands. In the summertime this area is reserved for a ferry, but in wintertime, it's open to anyone.

The first thing to know if you plan on going there : it is a very busy place, with hundreds of people walking around, it does not make for a quiet place to fish. Thee are also frequent visits by snowsleds and atvs.

There were 4 of us fishing, and no one caught anything, we moved to different depths, there were a few delicate bites on our jigging rods (missing minnows), but we didn't land one.

There may be another trip to this area next weekend, hopefully there won't be so many people this time.

Ice Auger Used as Weapon in Fight

http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S5899.html?cat=64

People fight over who will fish which holes??? These guys MUST have been high on crack. Check out the video link for more info.

Fly Fishing in Winter

"The forecast is snow overnight tonight, windchills of -5 (Farenheit) and 10 to 15 mile per hour winds. Sounds like perfect fly fishing weather." Dean Burris, Purcellville, Virginia

Ever try fly fishing in freezing weather? I came across Dean Burris' blog just now. His felt soles got stuck on the rock he was standing on and his guides iced up every retrieve. Then he went back for more.

Ice Fishing near Montreal - Brossard

We had another ice fishing adventure last week when we visited Brossard, a small south shore town located between Saint Lambert and LaPrairie. There we joined several dozen anglers who were fishing for walleye. The results were quite good considering our lack of experience with the area. We totalled 4 black walleyes in less than 2 hours of fishing, although I must say they were quite small, none of them exceeded 12 inches in length.

Map of Brossard, QC

The area to fish is directly in front of the star on the map, Parc Leon Gravel is where you can park your car. Then head over the hill, and down onto the water. We were close to the big yellow marker. Other people were fishing right across the channel near the point, more were at the other yellow marker, maybe 1/4 mile down. We are told the fish there is always present, but always small. Indeed there is only black walleye there, yellow walleye can be found in the Longueuil area, which we will visit next week.

Ice Fishing near Montreal - Sainte Catherine

Sainte Catherine is a small town on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, just 20 minutes away from downtown Montreal. Each winter groups of ice anglers gather there to catch walleye, perch and pike. The most frequented area is referred to as "the bay", it is a small area where a large concentration of fish apparently congregates, and where I am told walleye is really easy to catch.

I went there for the first time this past weekend, and while I did see some anglers catch a few small walleyes, I did not witness or experience much success. However we did catch a 3 pound pike which we released, as well as a 3 inch perch ...

I will return there sometime in the next few weeks and hope our luck turns for the better.


Map of "The Bay" - Ste Catherine, QC


The Bay is where you see the "Fleuve Saint Laurent" label in the water. If you go there, you can get minnows nearby, one provider is called "Capitaine Pecheur" and is located on the corner of Saint Laurent street and Barbeau street

Map showing minnow provider

Last week minnows were $2,50 / dozen for small and medium sized minnows. Not the best prices around, but very conveniently located.

PolarVision Hand-Held Digital Sonar

This product is sure to make a lot of budget conscious ice fishermen happy. It is tiny, provides accurate depth measurement right through the ice, and even has a fish indicator. Definitely a great alternative to flashers or other bulky sonars. The PolarVision is about the same size as a flashlight, and it weighs just over a pound. It is powered by 4 AA batteries which will provide you with 10 hours of continuous use. All you need to do to operate the device is pour a little water on the ice, and let the unit come in contact with the water.

The unit will read depths up to 200 feet, it is accurate within 1 1/4 inches, it is very robust, it is waterproof, and of course it floats.

The price tag is only $114.95 USD, which is a fraction of those bulky vexilar flashers. Or you can get it from Cabela's for under $100 USD

To get your own, visit the StrikeMaster website

Can a Frozen Fish Come Back to Life?

"In turn, I pass on a story I'd heard from Richard MacDonald, a high school mathematics teacher from Haileybury, Ont., whose word I've always found to be reliable. Fishing near Iroquois Falls in northeastern Ontario, he once landed a huge pike. He left it on the ice, where it quickly froze. Some hours later, he threw it into the unheated back of his pick-up truck for the drive home, where he put it straight into the freezer. Six weeks went by. Then one day there was a power failure. MacDonald, returning home from work, checked the basement freezer to assess the damage, and lo and behold, the pike had not only thawed but come back to life – and had chewed a big chunk out of the hindquarters of a moose he had in the freezer. "Pike are incredibly resilient," MacDonald had stressed, recommending that anyone keen on the science of cryogenics should study the species."

Gone Ice Fishin' by Brian Preston

I read this and was skeptical (as always) so I decided to search Google for any hint of scientific support to the idea that a frozen pike, or any fish for that matter, could come back to life after a long period of time. I found nothing at all, although it may be that I didn't search properly. I know fish can twitch after their death, but come back to life, I think not.

Ice Fishing with Fish Finders (sonars)

In the past, ice anglers could determine depth of a given location by drilling a hole and lowering a rope with a lead weight down to the bottom. In order to spot potential fish holding structure, one had to drill several holes before even starting to fish.



Fast forward to now, and more and more anglers use a different method. Thanks to sonar technology, ice anglers can use portable fish finders right through the ice, eliminating the need to drill holes to see the bottom and the fish. Most fish finders can operate through the ice. In order to accomplish this, anglers will drop water or other liquids onto the clear ice (clear the snow first), and then dip the transducer into the puddle. This will reveal not only depth, but also weeds and fish if the unit supports it.

There are various kinds of sonars on the market: there is the traditional flasher, the liquid crystal flasher, the liquid crystal graph (LCG), and some hand-held models are also part of today's serious ice angler.

TRADITIONAL FLASHERS

Manufactured mostly by vexilar and zercom, these units show depth, bottom composition, type of weeds and cover, fish, and even your bait or lure. The greatest advantage of these units is that they will display vertical movement as it happens, meaning you can see your lure go up and down in real-time, but what is really interesting is that you can see the fish react to your presentation, which means you are free to make adjustments if necessary. These units require much more power than the others, so rechargeable batteries are a must.

LIQUID CRYSTAL FLASHERS

Some of these are custom made for ice fishing, meaning the display will not freeze up. They act precisely the same way traditional flashers do. They also require much less power.

LIQUID CRYSTAL GRAPHS

These units display the signal onto a screen that is much like a television or a computer screen. These units are filled with liquid and they are prone to freezing in low temperatures, so if you use them for ice fishing, find a way to keep the unit relatively warm.

HAND-HELD SONAR
Gun-or hand-held units, such as the StrikeMaster Polar Vision, are a convenient way of determining depth and the presence of fish, but aren't as useful for providing information regarding bottom hardness and presence of cover.

Important Sonar Features
Once you have determined what type of sonar best suits your budget and needs, you may want to look into specific features such as portability, depth capability, transducer style and angle, power, frequency, target separation and display resolution.

PORTABILITY
You'll have to move around a lot so you need a sonar that is portable. Many models come in protective cases that will hold the transducer, batteries and cables.

DEPTH CAPABILITY
Make sure the capability of the unit matches the water where you will be fishing.

FLASHER COLOR
Some flashers show signal strength in color, for example, red for strong, yellow for weaker and green for weakest. This makes the unit much easier to read than black and white units.

TRANSDUCER SHAPE
The transducer transmits and receives the sonar signal. The angle is the most important feature to consider, narrow angles will provide the best display for fish that hold to the bottom (like walleye), while a wider angle shows a wider area and suspended fish are easier to detect.

SELF-ALIGNING TRANSDUCER
If you use your sonar in a hole, the transducer is suspended in the water, meaning it will automatically level and provide great readouts

POWER
Determines the strength of the sound waves that are sent to the bottom. More power means more accuracy, plain and simple. Most units are between 400 and 1,000 watts.

FREQUENCY
Determines the pattern of the sound waves sent by the transducer. Most units feature 200 kHz. Using a different frequency has only one advantage, to eliminate interference from other sonars. Not a big advantage for the average ice angler unless you fish side-by-side with others

TARGET SEPARATION
The minimum distance required between two targets to distinguish them. The smaller the target separation is, the more accurate your unit will be. Target separation is especially useful for walleye fishing, as the fish holds to the bottom, which is considered as a target by your unit. Units with high separation (6 inches or more) will not display many bottom holding walleyes.

DISPLAY RESOLUTION
This refers to how accurately a display unit can show what signals the transducer picked up. High resolution is always best.

How to Use Flasher Type Sonar in a Hole
Using a sonar properly is what differentiates professional ice anglers from the average Joe.
To setup your flasher, make sure the power is off, connect your power and transducer cables to the unit, hook up the battery, then set the transducer as level as possible inside the hole, turn on the unit, lower your bait about 6 feet down. Increase gain til the bottom is clearly displayed and you can JUST see your jig. Fish will appear when they move through the signal.

Locating Winter Walleyes

Where does walleye feed in winter time?

First Ice
Early in the season, on most lakes and rivers, you can find walleye on and around typical walleye structure. It will pay to concentrate on long sloping points, rock bars, shallow rocky shoals, sunken reefs and islands, and between-island saddles.



Mid Season

They will remain on the same structures throughout the season, but while walleye continue to feed, their metabolism is at its slowest at this point in the season. As a result, walleyes only eat 1/3 of what they eat at their peak fall period, which in turn means slimmer pickings.

Last Ice
On larger lakes and rivers, walleyes start moving towards the spawning grounds. Again look for classic structure, but closer to the spawning grounds.

Overall
Walleyes feed in low light conditions, and this applies throughout the ice fishing season. Fishing is at its best at sunrise, sunset and on overcast days. Typically the best late fall spots are the best winter spots, the fish move in and stay there through the winter right into early spring.

Ice Fishing Gear and Equipment

What equipment is necessary for ice fishing? It all depends on your dedication to the sport.


To safely make your way to the right spot and back home:

• Sled for auger or your vehicle if the ice is thick enough.
• Spud bar (to test the ice)
• Ice cleats
• Ice picks
• Rope
• Compass and/or GPS
• Fish Finder

To drill and maintain the holes:

• Ice auger
• Small shovel
• Ice scoop

To Fish:



If you intend on holding your rods: One or Two ice fishing rods. These are much shorter than regular rods (24-36 inches), they have very large line guides (so the ice doesn't get stuck). Ideally the rods will be quite sensitive, but still be able to handle larger fish. Your rods should have very small spinning reels, baitcaster reels, or even small fly reels if you prefer. Use 4-8 pound test ice line.

If you would rather fish many holes at once while doing something else: Tip-ups (see regulations for maximum number of tip-ups allowed per person). These devices come in various shapes and functions. Essentially they are devices that can be left more or less unattended. When fish strikes, a flag will be tripped and the spool will spin, indicating a fish is running with your bait.

• Bait bucket
• Minnows, worms, leeches, soft plastics baits, ice jigs, spoons, etc.
• Split shots, hooks, ice fishing bobbers, bobber stops with beads
• Needle nose pliers, finger nail clippers
• Mouth spreader
• Hook sharpener
• Leaders for tip-ups
• Quickstrike rigs for tip-ups
• Strike sensors for tip-ups
• Gaff (for large fish)

For your comfort:

• A 5 gallon bucket (this will be your seat and will hold your gear)
• Hand warmers
• Ice Fishing Shelter or Cabin
• Propane heater
• Matches or Lighter (for propane heater)

Nice to have:

• Camera
• Ice Anchoring System
• Small flashlight
• Lantern
• Cell-phone
• Underwater camera
• Two-way radios

Don't forget:

• Food
• Drinks
• Hand Towel
• Sunglasses
• Fishing License

And for the kids:

• Extra gloves
• Tissues
• Snacks
• A small sled to entertain them

Montreal Area Ice Fishing Cabin Rentals

I did a little research this morning and found out where one can rent ice fishing cabins and equipment in the greater Montreal area. Most of them offer Perch, Pike and of course Walleye. There are 2 "lakes" here, they are in fact large areas of the Saint Lawrence. Lac Saint Louis is the closest to Montreal, and lac Saint Pierre is known for holding larger walleyes.



LAC SAINT LOUIS

Vaudreuil-Dorion
Centre de pêche Vaudreuil
284, de l'Anse
Vaudreuil-Dorion
Tel: 450-424-2226

C.R. Sports enr.
2, rue William
Vaudreuil-Dorion
Tel: 450-424-4171

Ile Perrot & Notre-Dame de l'Ile Perrot
Pourvoirie chez Aumais
1400, boul. Perrot
N-Dame-de-l'Ile Perrot
Tel: 514-453-6253

Pourvoirie chez Lalonde
1242, boul. Perrot
N-Dame-de-l'Ile Perrot

Marina Allard
115, Montée Segala
Ile Perrot
Tel: 514-453-2403

Ronald Lauzon enr.
216, 2e avenue
Ile Perrot

Maple Grove & Léry (south shore)
Pourvoirie chez Yvon
1191, chemin du Lac
Léry
Tel: 450-692-8464

Pourvoyeurs Fortier
1074, chemin du Lac
Léry

Pourvoirie Maurice Allard
252, boul. Maple Grove
Maple Grove

Au paradis du pêcheur "Chez Pancho"
214, boul. Maple Grove
Maple Grove
Tel: 450-429-5545

LAC SAINT PIERRE

Saint Ignace de Loyola
Pourvoirie Roger Gladu
2435, Rang Saint-Pierre
Saint-Îgnace-de-Loyola,
450-836-1317

There are also ice fishing outfitters in these towns but I could not find anything about them anywhere, if I do I will update them :

• Valleyfield
• Maskinongé
• Contrecoeur

Ice Fishing Safety Tips

Here are the top ten safety rules to remain on the ice and off the water, especially during early and late season ice fishing outings.

1. There is no universally safe ice thickness. Each body of water has certain properties that affect how much ice is considered safe. Use common sense, and ask people who have more experience than yourself how much ice is required for safe conditions.

2. Wear a personal flotation device, better yet a one piece insulated floating suit

3. Don't fish alone, and let someone know where you will be and when you will be back.

4. Test the ice in front of you with an ice spud or an auger

5. Be very wary of river ice, because current makes ice thickness vary quite a bit

6. Snow is a great insulator, and as such it can make the ice strong, but it can also prevent it from freezing. When fishing on snow covered ice, pay close attention, the snow can hide weak spots and cracks that you would otherwise see.

7. Slush indicates decaying ice

8. Always carry a nylon rope and a few large nails, they can provide the grip you need in case you fall through the ice and can't grab on to the edge. Face the direction you came from, kick out with your legs, or use your nails to grab on, and roll off as far as you feel is necessary to be safe again, do NOT stand up immediately, you will likely just fall through again. (self-rescue technique)

9. If you see someone fall through, do not run toward them, rather extend a rope or an object that they can hold onto.

10. Again, there is no universal set of rules for how thick ice has to be for safe fishing, but as a rule of thumb, these are "minimum requirements" you should memorize:

• 2 inches of ice is extremely dangerous, do not even attempt to walk on ice this thin
• 4 inches of ice may be sufficient to walk and go ice fishing
• 5 inches may be enough to support snowmobiles ( do not park them close to one another)
• 8 to 12 inches may be enough to support cars or small pickups ( do not park them close to one another)
• 15 inches may be enough to support medium trucks ( do not park them close to one another)

Ice Fishing Shelters on Wheels!

I thought the latest greatest thing for ice fishing shelters were those portable tent like shelters, but I was so wrong. It appears that the latest trend in ice fishing comfort is in fact to fish from a hard wall shelter mounted on a special trailer with "retractable" wheels.

Many companies make them, but the ones I have seen all look like camper shells with holes in the ground.

Have a look at what these 2 providers have to offer:

Trophy Fish House
lakelandmarketing.com

Prices are very reasonable in my opinion, for about $3,500-4,000 one can get a 6x12 model, although the ones listed above are slightly more expensive, but they do look like they were built slightly better than the rest.

Ice Fishing for Walleye

I've been thinking about ice fishing for a while, but every year I end up not getting the gear and staying home for 6-7 months without fishing too much, if at all.

This year I will at least try visiting some walleye outfitters in the area, maybe on Lac Saint Pierre and Lac Saint Louis.

I'll try to use my old portable humminbird sonar to spot the fish before drilling, and my portable GPS to remember the good spots. That is if I don't get lazy and just let the outfitter guy drill the holes for me wherever he thinks is best :-)

There is a great article on walleye central on this topic.