Areas that typically have ice at the end of February — Lake Erie, eastern Lake Ontario, the shores of Lakes Superior and Huron – were largely ice free at that time this year. This resulted in the Great Lakes as a whole having the least amount of ice on record as of the end of February. “The last two years have seen very little ice on the Great Lakes,” said George Karaganis, senior meteorologist with the Canadian Ice Service. This was the third year on record Lake Erie was ice free at February’s end, and it had the lowest on record in the middle of the month, but the trend was also seen i ..read more

Anglers in Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) 10 should be aware of a change in pike regulations that came into effect this year. FMZ 10 covers a wide area of north-central Ontario, from north of Sault Ste. Marie, north almost to Wawa along the shore of Lake Superior, and east past Sudbury. It also includes Manitoulin Island. The change will allow anglers with a sport fishing licence to keep one northern pike between 61 and 86 cm, and none greater than 86 cm. Those with a conservation licence can keep no fish larger than 61 cm. The limit is still six fish. Pike growth Northern pike are the third ..read more

Stock photo of Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson Johnston top Canadian at Classic A repeat as Bassmaster Classic champion was not in the cards for Jeff Gustafson, but other Canadian professional anglers had strong showings at the annual event known as the Super Bowl of bass fishing. Justin Hamner, a four-year pro from Northport, Ala, won the three-day event on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Oklahoma and $300,000 in prize money with a three-day total weight of 58 pounds, 6 ounces. Gustafson, who won the event last year with a total of 42 pounds, seven ounces, didn’t make the cut for the final day of fishi ..read more

Dark green: Days when fish and game are most active Light green: Days when fish and game are more active than usual  OFAH key date reminder: April 1: Moose tag primary allocation opens April 15: Elk draw applications open; Black bear second game seals available (spring and fall) April 25: Turkey season opens April 27: General trout opener April 30: Moose tag primary allocation deadline Major AM/PM: Daily times when fish and animals are likely to be most active. Periods also last two hours, beginning at listed time. Also, to get appropriate sunrise and sunset times for you ..read more

The Ontario OUT of DOORS Spring 2024 digital issue is now available. In this issue, you’ll read about how to harvest a tom in multiple tough situations, catch steelhead in any water level, ways to target key species at prime locations, and more! Plus, browse our Mom’s Day giveaway, invite more deer to your grounds, and learn to aim for turkey in the right way. Read your Spring 2024 issue digitally on your desktop at: https://digital.oodmag.com/ Download the OOD app on your iOS or Android devices (smartphones and tablets). Get the latest issues into your hands even before they h ..read more

I love talking to folks about fishing. I’m frequently asked how I was introduced to fishing. I explain how I was fortunate as a kid that my father and grandfather got me on the water, where they taught me all I needed to know to enjoy the angling lifestyle I do today. I go on to explain how I remember, going back to when I was 10, leaving the dock at our family cabin to go fishing every chance I got in a 14-foot Lund with a 15-horsepower tiller drive motor. As I gained more trust from my parents and learned more about fishing, I was allowed to travel farther from the dock. I have great m ..read more

The market for locally made, small-batch, boutique lures is booming. The modern era has brought what seems like an endless list of lure options, but anglers shouldn’t overlook the tried-and-true. Easy to find at a retailer near you, these proven baits catch muskies right off the shelf. 1. Mepps spinners The bucktail market has a massive basement industry. They are fast to produce and trends in blade design and skirt materials have master builders really pushing the fringes of design. Step back less than 20 years, however, and fish were total suckers for simpler, and in man ..read more

Standing with my wife, Lois, on the shore of Lake Mindemoya, we watched fish breaking the calm lake surface. It had been more than 20 years since my last visit to Manitoulin Island but finally, I had returned. It took me a couple of minutes to realize an insect hatch was underway. Several big shad flies perched on the boat seats were more evidence of that. This walleye-and-perch food bonanza could be both a blessing and a challenge. The last time we visited Mindemoya, our reward for a morning of early July fishing was a limit of eating-size walleye. This trip was in late June, so we hoped the ..read more

What it is A mooching reel made in southern Ontario. Typically used for salmon, a mooching or moocher reel is designed for trolling and allows anglers to let out line smoothly while the boat is moving. The test I tested the GL1 for four years on Lake Ontario during my chartering days, catching chinook salmon and trout. Full disclosure: I also helped company owner Wayne Petrevan test prototypes to determine the best reel materials and sizes. What we think Mooching reel aficionados praise these reels for being simple, versatile, and nearly indestructible. The rugged GL1 is no exception. Th ..read more

“Somewhere down there lives the brook trout of my dreams.” That is the recurring thought I have whenever I gaze into the waters of Algonquin Provincial Park. On my last trip, I didn’t catch it. But I caught one that gave me hope — a beautiful 19-inch squaretail that came close to being the size of my canoe paddle blade. I can still see it rise and slash at the white beadhead woolly bugger I was stripping in from a near-shore cast. I recall the way the fish turned towards the depths in a swift, dramatic arc, leaving the fly untouched. And I remember how, in an uncharacteristic act of good angl ..read more