Shirley's Bay 2025 Ice season

[CCLad]

Spoke with the NCC they are going to send a crew in to clear the launch and the 2 access points on either side of it. Can't for the life of me figure out how/why someone would think its a good idea to plow the launch piling the snow up where the access is... Any who... Hope fully they clear it up soon.

[CCLad]

Response from the NCC regarding the launch/access point:

"Teams should be out early this week to remove the snow hopefully I will keep you updated once I know a firm date. Sorry for the wait and thanks for your patience".

NCC certainly have been understanding, accommodating and willing to listen.
CCLad.

[Riotralph]

Anyone been out today (Tue)? Curious on ice/slush conditions.

[CCLad]

I was out on Sunday and there was lots of snow and slush. Walking was crappy..... I'll be going out friday and ill post the sitrap. Allot of snow has
disappeared over the past couple days with these temps. It's going to drop to -17C Thurs night and the cold snap should last for4 straight nights..... Things will be in better shape soon.

[John Zach]

I agree, Tim, I honestly couldn't be happier about this bit of warm weather. Looking ahead at the forecast it looks like we still have lots of winter left, and the cold weather starting tomorrow should make a nice crust on top of the snow, so moving about on the ice (at least by foot) should be one heck of a lot easier. Looking forward to getting out this weekend.

[CCLad]

90% sure (ice conditions permitting) were moving back out on Sat. Can't wait! You coming out?

Reminder to all **** Slot size for walleye and sauger in effect sat.....

[CCLad]

Check that John, up 25cm more snow coming tonight sigh... If we go we will be tenting.

[smitty55]

Check that John, up 25cm more snow coming tonight sigh... If we go we will be tenting.

All reports I've seen show 10-15cm. The local Almonte forecast calls for 8-12 cm so it might not be so bad.

[CCLad]

Never made it out. hut only has around 8 inches of clearance and we use a sled to tow it around..... Always something going on out there...

[The Captain]

Saturday was a tough one in that wind, we pulled out shack off but hoping to keep fishing another couple weeks. Appreciate ice/surface updates if anyone is out and will update the same.

[CCLad]

Was out yesterday to jack up the hut as it was in a puddle. It was a mess! 10 to 12 inches of snow in places with about 3 inches of water under it. Going to revisit the ice sat to check it out after a couple nights of cold temps. Ill post what I find, hopefully it freezes up!

[John Zach]

It doesn't look like it's going to be extremely cold, but in my mind the temps tonight will be enough to firm up at least a crust that can be walked on, especially with all the consistent windiness. I'm gonna be out tomorrow all day on Lake Clear, I'm figuring that the conditions will probably be similar in most areas so I'll try to remember to post an update on the conditions.

[Lenny]

How's everyones season been? Will try to make it out next week after work if weather is nice. Definitely the best part about daylight savings time can get out for prime time and have more days to choose from. Usually better fishing in March than February too.

[CCLad]

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!

[Mav]

@CClad So happy to help man! Agreed it was a different season but still lots of ice out there and we're not done yet. However, I got the shack pulled off yesterday too.

For all you driving out there with trucks, keep in mind that the slush is only frozen on the crust in some spots. Saw one guy get stuck right in front of the launch yesterday when he broke through the crust. It looks fine...until you drive on in. Also, with the warmer weather coming it's likely gonna soften up a bit.

Tight lines and be safe out there!