Simcoe Questions

[live2fishdjs]

For all of you guys/gals that have been to Simcoe I have a couple of questions. The last couple of years we (me and 3 friends) have been going to Lake Winnibigoshish in MN (about 14 hrs) for perch fishing and we are thinking about trying someplace different this year (and closer-more fishing time).

1) Is perch all you guys fish for there? What about lakers/whitefish and pike/walleye? Perch are good to eat, but I can only fish for "bait" for so long. Looking at fishing for four days so have time to explore options.

2) Do you generally rent huts or bring your own? What have your experiences been with renting huts?

3) Do you generally stay in hotels or are there a lot of resorts on the lake?

4) Is it feasible to be able to drive the truck on the ice or are quads a necessity?

Sorry for all of the questions, but want to get this planned sooner than later.

I have done some looking around on the search page here as well as the internent, but though I would get some first hand answers. Thanks in advance!

Darrin

[MSUICEMAN]

i'll bump this one up for ya.

i know the locals over there fish for a multitude of species, not just perch (especially whitefish). so you may want to call up a bait shop over there with regards to fishing for other species and techniques.

steve

[Shad]

I have friends that live in Pefferlaw. SE. end of the lake. They will let me know when the big perch are in. Whitefish & Lakers are popular for the locals. We rented shantys the first time their. If you have an ATV and shanty, take it. You'll be able to figure out where everyones at. I'll let everyone know when it's good. There were only a couple huts out as of today. Won't be long.

[TrailFndr]

I doubt that I would consider Simcoe perch as "BAIT", My last trip, 3 of us caught over 300 perch in two days, by caught, I mean brought home...and these 300 were only the ones we kept that were over 9 inches, most were in the 11-14 inch range

I would be willing to bet that we released another 800 or more in those two days...what a blast...fishing action never seemed to slow down.

We rented a hut, the operator took us out and checked on us during the day, We used the hut as a base, and walked around the area drilling holes and trying them...Never caught so many fish in so little time...I WILL be going again..

They also fish for Whitefish and lake trout, not sure about pike, although I would have to guess that they are present, as well as walleye. This is one BIG lake, I saw few if any vehicles other than iceboats and atvs on the lake, not like Mich where people drive thier trucks out. May have something to do with canadian laws, I am not sure. But Ice was thick enough to handle them...we were on 16+ inches

[Chuck1]

Simcoe is a world class perch fishery no doubt, The only lake I think is better is lake St Clair, The advantage does go to Simcoe because the ice is much more predictable. Cook's bay has Started to freeze , but the ice is only on the east side of the bay, First ice on cook's can be phenominal, but once everyone knows the ice is good it turns into a zoo. Usually by then the ice around Georgina is getting good then you can move there. Couchiching on the north end is also great, but if you use an atv it can be a bad place for you. Couch is right off the southeast end of georgian bay, lake effect snow can get deep. Quads last year were useless. Whitefish ,and lakers are plentiful on simcoe, but that is on the main lk, so you have to wait awhile for that. The canadians can be pretty teritorial about there whitefish spots too.One more thing if the barometric pressure is real high stay home it can shut the whole system down like flippin a light switch.

[Captain]

Liv check www.fishinglakesimcoe.com for most of your questions. We have been fishing there for about the last 12 years and we have never rented a hut. We go over 2-6 times a year depending on how the fishing is from year to year. A quad or machine is definitely needed for we do and we are always on the move till we locate the fish...

[Young Steve]

Captain,

Where do you stay when you go over? I have a party of 8 to 10 people who are very much interested in fishing there this year for the first time. I've done some searching for accommodations and the hotel's are an average of $75.00 per night american. We are looking for something a little more economical.

I'm sure there has to be some small no-tell motel's in the area. I just can't find a listing.

Planning on going the first or second weekend in February.

Any information would be appreciated.

[Captain]

Steve I sent you a PM

[live2fishdjs]

Thanks for the help guys.

What I am understanding is that none of you have set tip-ups for pike and walleye when you go, even if outside one of the permanent fishhouses? Along those same lines, have any of you rented a permanent fishhouse (perch or lake trout/whitefish) (who did you go through and what were your experiences)?
I don't have a quad, and am not all about putting insurance on the snowmobile I could take, so that either leaves me walking or hitching a ride with an outfitter as I am not seeing much mention of people driving onto the lake.
I have been to the fishinglakesimcoe sight and many more, but am looking for some first hand experience from anglers like myself, who are impartial.

I appreciate the help so far and thanks in advance for any more you might be able to give.

Trailfindr-if you have the time/desire could you send me a pm kind of explaining the outfitter experience (name of outfit, time tables, bait, etc.) I want to use my own tackle/auger, so that is not so much an issue. How many guys did you go with? Thanks in advance.

Captain-Could you send me a pm with the lodging info if you have the time/desire. Thanks in advance.

One other question-In general how far off of shore are you fishing. What I mean is if we had one quad or snowmobile could we use it to cycle people (only 4 of us) and equiptment, or are we talking miles of travel?

Sorry for dragging this out, but I figure I better ask now while the reports are slow! Thanks again, and if anyone needs any info about Lake Winnibigoshish in MN let me know.

[Fried Fillets]

Live2fish, I generally use a hut operator when fishing Simcoe. None of the guys I fish with have transportation, so the that is the main reason. Plus, out of the 2 days we fish, it seems to blow like hell one of the days, so a warm hut is nice if needed. We have used GI huts and Kingfisher, both are located at Virginia Beach, both owners are friends and both operations are pretty good hosts...except when they want to pick you up at 4:00. Their prices jumped up last year, $30 American. Plenty of people drive on the ice in the Virginia Beach and Pefferlaw area. In fact, some outfits use vans and others use bombadiers (ice tanks) to transport their customers to and from the huts. Of course, this is when the ice is thick enough, 10" for the bombadiers. If you fish Cook's Bay, your travel distance would probably be shorter than Virginia Beach or Pefferlaw, 1 mile versus 2, 3, or 5.