Shirley's Bay 2025 Ice season

[Fordpodolski]

It seems the potholes are already crazy in the parking lot, someone would blow a tire if trying to do a donut . Agreed, parking on the “beach” is best and I usually do that when bringing my ATV. However it just becomes a problem when it gets too full up. Saturday afternoon the beach parking was completely full up. I did not have my ATV, but if I did I would have had to park in the parking lot. The lot get full fast on the weekends, and even driving around there without the barriers and without a trailer becomes hard. It would have my vote to maybe even put 1 or two in line with the entrance to “stop” donuters, but maximize parking and maneuvering..

[CCLad]

Thanks for the input, I will bring up your concern to the NCC when we meet.
Tim.

[CCLad]

Summary of parking lot set up. Before getting into this, I would just like to point out that the NCC was very open and receptive to listening to my ideas (and others in put) and exploring different solutions for this matter.

The NCC wants to keep barriers in the lot to help control (for lack of a better term) idiots from doing idotic things..... to quickly summerize what I believe they will be doing. The boulders will continue to be moved for the winter months and put back in the spring allowing for the expanded parking in winter.

They are also going to remove 3-4 of the barriers, particularly 3 that are along the west side of the the lot. There, they will also be adding posted parking dedicated for vehicles with trailers along the west side of the parking lot. This should alleviate congestion towards the north side of the parking lot. There is also the over flow lot that can be used as well... Ultimately I think this resolution will be at least better than what is currently laid out.

Now lets get on with the fishing!!! Now that we got some snow on the ice, we will be moving our hut to better ice/location. Can't wait to get there and do some fishing!

[The Captain]

Thanks for all the effort on this - sounds reasonable! Good luck on the fishing!

[GHammer03]

Swung by yesterday just to get my shack on the ice & god are those barriers ever in horrible positions Lol. It was crazy busy on the ice yesterday, & of course some idiots doing donuts on the ice but other than that seemed like a nice day. I have the brown shack about 50 yards from the beach, I wanted to get it on the ice but wasn’t willing to risk bringing my 2500 all the way out lol. I’m going to pull it out with my atv this upcoming Saturday, just got to do some fishing & see where I want to set it up. Looking forward to meeting some of you guys this year. Don’t be shy to stop in!

Cheers

[CCLad]

Hi GHammer03, welcome aboard!

So time for a fishing report! Best ice conditions in 5 plus years and we have8 small walleye, 3 small pike and a couple Burbots in 3 trips. Year started by setting up out hut out front of the launch. Didn't set up in a great area, just wanted out on the ice. Then - Great temps = lots of great ice, But....couldn't move the hut to a new location as the sled had no traction due to the lack of snow and sheer ice.. So, a bit of snow falls, just enough to pull the hut! We start moving north west! Only to find there is a massive pressure crack that runs from the end of the causeway as far as I could see heading over to Aylmer! We set up on the south side of the pressure crack and fished there..... got a few but... Sigh. So, while fishing there, it occurred to me, CHAIN SAW!!!

Going to cut a path wide enough to get the hut to the other side! Been 1 issue after another so far but... we will get it done

[fishern00b]

CCLad, we were in that area yesterday and passed by, what I think, your hut. Yes that pressure crack is an obstacle for sure but we found a passable place about 150 meters farther along the crack. The ridges were not high and sharp and we easily crossed it on a snowmobile with a sled. Good luck.

[CCLad]

CCLad, we were in that area yesterday and passed by, what I think, your hut. Yes that pressure crack is an obstacle for sure but we found a passable place about 150 meters farther along the crack. The ridges were not high and sharp and we easily crossed it on a snowmobile with a sled. Good luck.

Thanks for the info. We went across it on the sled as well to visit a couple of buddies that were out there too. How did you guys make out where you were set up? How deep were you, 15' ??

With respect to the pressure crack/Ice hut situation, I know we can get across in the spot you were referring to, it was the "what if" the crack continues to pile up and we get stuck on the other side later in the season... Thus the chain saw idea... We will be moving the hut on sat.

[fishern00b]

We set up our tent closer to the shore near Innis Pt, 11' of depth; caught 8 walleye and 5 burbot but most of the fish were small.

[CCLad]

Kept you guys busy though!

Me and a couple friends are going to head out after work today and look into cutting a good pass through the pressure crack.

[GHammer03]

Kept you guys busy though!

Me and a couple friends are going to head out after work today and look into cutting a good pass through the pressure crack.

That’s not a bad idea at all. Have you guys had much luck on that side of the pressure crack? One of my friends has been out there with his pop up a couple times & he said it was pretty slow

[CCLad]

Haven't got out there yet this season, been 1 thing after another delaying me. Pressure crack is now at the top of the to do list lol. Theres a spot where u can cross now, as you know. Sat Im going to look into cutting a pass right on the shoreline of the causeway. Not sure how big the ice is piled there but better dealing with this in 1 foot of water as opposed to 10!

sent you a PM...

[CCLad]

Just a suggestion, if you have a permanent hut/trailer on the bay, you might want to consider pulling it in close to the shore. Large snow fall coming tonight and another foot expected on sat/sun...

Cheers!

[Riotralph]

Anyone been out since the snow? If so, how far from the luaunch and was it difficult to traverse?

[The Captain]

Heavy drifts - access to the two 'beach' parking lots was completely plowed in - There were cars stuck daily going down the ramp it seemed BEFORE the big snowfalls, so that's pretty much a no-go now other than walking.