North Kawartha Ice Report

Checked out a small lake today in North Kawartha. Equipped with float suit, spudded out, frequent drilling. Ended up not venturing too far from shore. About 7”-8” including snow above, 3”-4” of black ice. Will be back out tomorrow. Great to be out on the hardwater again!

Home-made bell tip-up:

Snowshoes for snow cover:

Nice, thanks for sharing!
I like your home-made bell tip up

Thanks! Hoping to hear that bell jingle tomorrow.

The bell tip up looks great, is the line attached to the flag pole tip? Looking for a jawjacker alternative with the recent eye watering prices!

What’s the target for tomorrow? I’m hoping to get out Wednesday to just north of the Kawarthas for some stocked rainbows, but still inexperienced so not sure if I should risk the ice conditions this year. Past few days have been mighty cold so looks like some good ice has been made where you’re fishing!

Thanks for the update. Be safe and best of luck for tomorrow.

The jawjackers are so expensive, it’s unbelievable. I based my design on an HT tip-up. The coiled rod is from an old windshield wiper and is held in place by a straightened coat hanger. That runs down to a submerged spool of line. There is no auto “hookset” on my setup, bit more old school.

Targeting rainbows or splake tomorrow depending on road conditions/access.

Day 2: slightly better surface conditions, still some slushy spots. Marked a few fish, none landed.

https://youtube.com/shorts/RA3J1BAmFrA

I’ve had good luck first ice over deeper water fishing suspended. Like 15-20ft over 35fow. With homemade “atomic teasers”. Just a micro tube tipped with a plastic trout worm, tipped with a tiny piece of dew worm. Also a pinhead n set line about 5ft under the ice.

Lots of privacy there, my buddy sent me a report saying the “secluded” brookie lake we fish had 40 guys on it today…. It’s so small… someone leaked the location to the inter webs last year and ruined it. Lack of ice elsewhere and everyone went there. Worst thing you can do nowadays to ruin a spot is post to social media. Sharing privately is fine, man did that lake get ruined fast.

Had a buddy go through the ice near Haliburton on a smaller lake, had 3” black ice and crap on top, he managed to get out and still put a day n fishing and got a 5lb pike. Just shows how variable ice can be. Stay safe.

Love the look of the atomic teaser Mykola. I’ve been trying deeper water and working all parts of the column today. Beautiful conditions, slush has hardened up a bit and zero wind.