ice condition Balsam Lake

Hello All, hope everyone is enjoying the fishing. Starting my 22 fish adventure, have not seen any post regarding the ice condition on Balsam Lake. Was thinking making my way out there this weekend. Any information will be helpful. Thanks in advance!!

haven't been out there, but its been cold, and would probably freeze in regular spots.

There are spots on balsam that never freeze from current.

Only sunfish in the winter on Balsam as well.

No idea at all about ice conditions on Balsam. My friend just asked me the same thing a couple of days ago. I told him when the ice is SAFE to fish Balsam is a very good lake in the winter. Big pike and big crappie and perch as well as other panfish can be caught on the east side in 20 feet of water. Fish will be right on the bottom. Balsam is rarely disappointing in any season of the year, but I am lucky to know people that have fished it for 50 to 60 years. And have found many new spots to fish there from my own many years of fishing there. Balsam and Sturgeon are my two favourite lakes. My friends have not been out on the ice yet this year. Maybe next week I am told. Good Luck and STAY SAFE.

Perch Pike Crappie Sunfish...

They are out fishing in south bay and machines are out aswell

Zone 17 - pike season open all year....BTW...been like that for several years...it is all in the regs if you read them

I'd like to try Balsam next weekend coming from Port Perry and ideas where I could park and launch from on the south east side ? Cheers

Hi all.
Balsam has about 8-9" of good ice. I am in West Bay. Drilled in about 6-8' of water about 150' off shore. Further out...not sure.
Sleds are running the lake in the bays and close to shore.
There is about an inch or so of snow on the ice and there was a bit of slush on Friday but that's all frozen now with these temps.

I will preface this by saying I am only a casual angler and until last year was not able to fish on a regular basis.

Last year was the first time I fished Balsam and after 5 times out I was thoroughly disappointed each and every time.

I will keep at it though. It took a long time to figure out what works on south Pigeon and now when I'm there I only have 2 baits I tie on and generally only use the 1. Balsam is a different lake for sure because nothing wants either one of those baits.

I will head back out and do some more learning in the spring time, in the meanwhile I'll be sitting back and absorbing every bit of information I can.

Tight lines.

Vic do you Fish south Pigeon in the winter,I just purchase Paradise Island and wondered about the ice fishing, with the shallow water, i will be over at the island this weekend and attempting to find some productive water.
How is the bite down that way, i was thinking of heading up a little closer to Fothergill, and i was going to try the 10-12 fow area.

Hey Vic, feel free to PM if you like. I'm sure it feels like there's a million things to learn when starting out fishing. I fish all year in all seasons, and alot around the Kawarthas and Haliburton. Let me know if interested, and maybe we could set something up and I'll show you a few techniques to speed up the learning process:)...

Scott

I have not fished Pigeon in the winter time. The one and only guaranteed time of year I would get out fishing is the walleye opener on Mother's day weekend.

We always get a place at Pinewood Cottages and fish that weekend. We fish from the mouth of the river up to about the Mallard Bay boat launch.

Over the years we have found a few productive areas for that early season walleye bite. It is very shallow in that area though so I doubt it would be a good spot under the ice.

I think you are on the right trail heading north towards the narrows. The lake gets quite a bit deeper there and has some humps and shoals. I would imagine you would need to be careful of ice thickness as you get closer to the narrows as there would be quite a bit of flow through there.

Thank you for the offer, I will be hitting you up soon.

I have nothing but questions and love to learn.