Shirley's Bay 2025 Ice season

[Lenny]

Well it was quite "different" year so to speak..... Best ice conditions that I can recall for many years and we didn't get allot of fishing in. The season started with early, thick, clear great ice. Couldn't move the hut around (we use a sled to pull it) as there was no snow. Couldn't get traction, stuck near the launch for a week and a half..... Then we get some snow, only to find that there was a massive pressure crack separating where we were situated to where I wanted to be. After negotiating the crack, we finally got to the area I wanted to fish. The fishing was excellent this season. The hut in total got 190 walleye (have a white board in the hut and count them), nothing huge. The biggest of the season was around 4lbs. All the fish but 4 went back in.. Then Feb. showed up with its 109cm of snow. Prior to the first big dump, we moved the hut near the parking lot area again and that's where she sat until we pulled it and put it away yesterday. Still a bit of time to fish and some great weather forcast too...

&&& a HUGE thank you to Mav!!! You save us allot of work man - THANKS! I can't believe that the water came up that much in less then 24hrs!

Wow!! That's an incredible season. Congrats on your success.

[CCLad]

Thx Lenny, just an fyi, there's still good fishing going on now. Went out on Tues, we only got 4 and a perch but 2 were closer to 4lbs than 3. Allot of the big females will be feeding heavy now to get ready for the spawn....... It was a little sloppy on the surface (and will get worse) so wear water proof boots if you are heading out. - We were a way's out and there was over 2 feet of solid ice. I'm calling it a year after this weekend, but might head out Sat to sun tan

That all said, remember the slot size is in effect now...... Let the big girls go do their thing

[Fisherman89]

@CCLad, sounds like you had a great season! I was out there for a couple of hours after work on Monday, but no luck

I'm planning to give it one last try after work today and then that might be it for my ice season. Cheers!

[CCLad]

A group of us are going to give it 1 last go tomorrow eve. Will post a report..

[Lenny]

Nice! Happy to hear there are some big ones around. I'll probably be out friday and sunday evening this weekend. I was out monday near brittania and still tons of ice but like you said very wet and slushy.

[The Captain]

Bring hip waders tonight - the ice is in great shape, but you have to make it from the shore to the ice first =)

[CCLad]

Made it out for 1 last hard water fish. Met up with our buddies from the east end. Made it out to the spot, punched holes all the way out we wanted to target, took a sled and 4 wheeler. Punched holes all the way out. There was about 1' 6" of decent ice but it was much degraded and showing signs the end... I would not recommend crossing over the pressure crack out there either, Sketchy!

We caught 1 Perch between all four of us Eastend boy's up 1-0 on the cool west end cats! The water looked like chocolate milk. I'm guessing due to the rain and melt off. Years done. Have a great "off season" everybody!
Cheer's CCLad