Who's got Simcoe on their Minds.... [Archive] - The Michigan Sportsman Forums

MUSHY1

01-05-2005, 08:46 AM

I talked to a Guide buddy of mine at Simcoe, he was out last week, they started fishing at 8 bells, and where limited by 9:30. They had 3 people in there party, and he said they caught and released over 400 fish by Noon. The average fish size was 9". I have been dreamin of catching that many perch, and want to go now........Is this asking too much :dizzy: All fish caught on Raps and Kens w/ some home made spoons thrown in the mix...

Mushy1

vanwagm

01-05-2005, 08:50 AM

Robin and I will be there next Friday....keep the good reports coming!!!

hiddenlake

01-05-2005, 08:55 AM

Wheres Simcoe? Sounds like a great time to me. Thanks !!! :confused:

MUSHY1

01-05-2005, 08:59 AM

North of Toronto Canada 1/2 hr. One of the best Perch lakes i have ever fished. Worth a trip up there. Play safe....

Mushy

mike h

01-05-2005, 09:11 AM

Mushy1 how long does it take to drive from Oakland/Wayne county approximate hours and miles to get to Lake Simcoe?

MUSHY1

01-05-2005, 09:14 AM

Its about 4 hrs run. have made it in 3 1/2. Just depends how anxious you are to catch perch... Not long at all....

Mushy1

MUSHY1

01-05-2005, 09:16 AM

check out there web site, its good. www.fishlakesimcoe.com

Mushy1

Capnhook

01-05-2005, 09:20 AM

MUSHY,
Where were they fishing, and how much ice do they have??? Capnhook

MUSHY1

01-05-2005, 10:01 AM

Hey Captain, whats up? I think they where fishing in and around Virginia beach and Georgina Island, and out off Duclos point. They where fishing in 12 to 20 ft. of water. But did'nt have to move very often, they kept the school around good. As far as ice thickness, he said they had 8 to 10 inches of good ice, but that was a week ago. I will talk to him when he gets back from Nippising.

Peace

Mushy1

William H Bonney

01-05-2005, 10:18 AM

4 hours :confused:,,, is that from Royal Oak??? Just seems like it'd take longer than that to get there.

Captain

01-05-2005, 10:36 AM

Heading over on the 14th...

Hunt4Ever

01-05-2005, 10:40 AM

Mapquest says it is 276 miles from Detroit to Sutton, Ontario. If your doing it in under 4 hours you are moving!

fishindude644

01-05-2005, 10:40 AM

we leave from work at around 11pm that way you beat the traffic in toronto and you dont have to take the toll road (407) it takes about 4-5 hrs from 9 mile and 94

Captain

01-05-2005, 10:57 AM

We always take 407 (Toll Rd), must be the Trailers but we've never been sent a bill. :D 3.25 to 4 hours to Port Huron and the Blue Water Bridge depending on the weather/traffic...

bolodunn

01-05-2005, 11:05 AM

http://www.lakesimcoemessageboard.com/index.php?file=simcoe.php

brianroy6

01-05-2005, 11:08 AM

What are the rules over there? Is the limit still 50? And if your 16 do you have to buy a fishing licenes? Thanks.

JimmyontheSpot

01-05-2005, 12:42 PM

A group of us including the "Captain" are heading over for MLK2 weekend. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the day than jumbo perch, and cold canadian beer! We stay at Newmarket 4-4 1/2 hours away when I'm driving.

eyecatcher

01-05-2005, 01:51 PM

What are the rules over there? Is the limit still 50? And if your 16 do you have to buy a fishing licenes? Thanks.

Non-resident fishing license is $62.00 canadain.

Non-resident 18 years of age or older must purchase a fishing license.

Non-resident under 18 years of age may fish with out a license if accompanied by an adult who has a valid Ontario fishing license.
Any fish caught are part of the catch and possession limit of the adult who holds the license. As another option, Non-residents under 18 years of age may purchase a license and any fish caught apply to the catch and possession limits of that license.

The limit for perch on lake simcoe is 50 per day 100 in possession
I live in Fair Haven, Lake Simcoe is a comfortable 4 1/2 hour drive in good weather.
We only took the toll road (407) once and we were billed I think it was about 7 dollars.

youngbuck26

01-05-2005, 01:54 PM

I would love to spend a day or 2 at simcoe by the sounds of it...do you guys bring your shanties...or rent houses there??...anyone ever get one of those sleeper ice house before?

brianroy6

01-05-2005, 02:57 PM

Sounds fun but to dang exspensive for me.
Thanks for the info...

bolodunn

01-05-2005, 02:59 PM

daily lic. is only like $12.00 $ 62. is annual

Luckystrike

01-05-2005, 03:55 PM

We're heading up there to fish Friday after work. I'll let you know if we do anything worthwhile.

Banditto

01-05-2005, 05:12 PM

We usually take the 401 express right out of detroit--toll road. And yes a month later I have received the toll in the form of a mailed bill. It is somehow worked out with our secretary of state so you have to pay it otherwise it ends up on your registration bill the next year. That was how it was explained to me when we payed. They do have a phone number to clear up any questions but I can't find it.

But for us with 1 stop it takes a little over 4.5 hours and the 401 express moves pretty good. I can't imagine getting there is anything less than that. The mounties really don't like us all that much, you don't want to push it.

Which brings me to the point. We limited one time really quick and some local guys could see us fishing. So as we are pulling out their DNR whatever their called were waiting to count our fish. So we did that, showed licenses, etc. Drove not 5 miles away and got stopped again, tore the truck apart looking for hidden fish...

But honestly I love CA past the border towns. The people are really really cool. The kids aren't butt-heads like they could be and are very courteous. The restaraunts can be extremely reasonable much more affordable than here. Like as an example 2 years ago 2 adults eating nice beef fillets with a couple drinks was around $40US.

But also heed this point. That lake is big. Know where you are. Have a gps, weather radio and phone. We got caught in a storm that snowed more in 12 hours than I ever saw in the U.P. We came in early and called it a weekend.

A guy got lost and died that night.

steve myers

01-05-2005, 05:26 PM

I will be there fishing out of Kingfisher huts.I'll post a report when I get back.

eyecatcher

01-05-2005, 05:55 PM

daily lic. is only like $12.00 $ 62. is annual
Thye have a 7day license for $39.00. these are all in canadian money so you can dedust the exchange rate what ever that is now?

Ed Stringer

01-05-2005, 07:29 PM

It takes me 4 hours from the Bluewater Bridge, If it's snowing god only knows. They don't drive so well over there . MOTC on the their driving. I'm not a hater just wont to get there a fast as possible :lol:

rocknreel2

01-05-2005, 09:19 PM

I have had a trip planned to Simcoe MLK weekend as well (been planned for over a year)... now my only concern is the same as here, weather and ice conditions... we are going to be fishing out from Keswick, but look at this pathetic weather report... this weekend- Wed looks bad... hoping the ice holds.

http://www.weather.ca/weather/cities/can/Pages/CAON0342.htm

~RnR

salmonslammer

01-05-2005, 11:00 PM

I have got a break from work the middle of Feb and the 1st of march..(right now anyway) and want to go up there if anyone hooks up.

Might be up for a last minute gig too... Got the gear, no tracks though.

He!!!, I drive that far for work sometimes!!!!

MUSHY1

01-06-2005, 08:39 AM

Well, it seems alot of people have 'Simcoe on their minds', and thats great..
To add a little tid bit of info, i have been going there for the last 9 years in a row, and only been checked on the lake and never going off or at the boarder.
Not that i was hiding any thing, but the MNR (Ministry of Natual Resources) have always been kind when they check me on the lake. I have to agree with the last post, the people up in Canada are Great!!!!!
And i will continue to go, and spend my hard earned money up there, and catch all their Perch. By the way, i was just kidding about the amount of time it takes to get there.... :lol: I thought this would raise a couple eyebrows, and it did.....
Well it looks like i'm going this weekend, and i will let everybody know how we did. Have to go before the ice melts next week. Be kind to one-another, and Party on......

Mushy1

live2fishdjs

01-06-2005, 09:39 AM

Thye have a 7day license for $39.00. these are all in canadian money so you can dedust the exchange rate what ever that is now?

Here's an easy way to figure the value of the dollar in CA...

Currency Converter (http://www.xe.net/ucc/)

Todder

01-06-2005, 10:51 AM

We usually take the 401 express right out of detroit--.

Banditto - You could probably cut a little time and the toll if you crossed over in Port Huron. I-94 to the Blue Water Bridge. Once you cross the bridge you are on 402 that eventually merges onto 401 around London. Just a though for you.

Ed Michrina

01-06-2005, 11:42 AM

Non-resident fishing license is $62.00 canadain.

The limit for perch on lake simcoe is 50 per day 100 in possession
I live in Fair Haven, Lake Simcoe is a comfortable 4 1/2 hour drive in good weather.

Great info Eyecatcher. Just to clarify. The limit is 50 per day with 100 possession. If you go for one day and get checked with 100 fish, you might have to inform them where you stayed the night ;) . 100 would be concidered a two day limit. This is a Simcoe limit. the limit in Canada waters on LSC is 50 only.

I sure miss the times when Simcoe had no limit on Perch. Now that was worth making a 5 hr. trip :D .

Almost forgot-- according to the Simcoe fishing board. Cooks bay good ice to fish on and good schools are showing up. this is the time of year to hit Cooks bay

RJF

01-06-2005, 11:50 AM

Isn't there a certain license where the limits are lower? Last two times over, I bought a license that only allowed 25 Perch, I believe.

eyecatcher

01-06-2005, 11:52 AM

I sure miss the times when Simcoe had no limit on Perch. Now that was worth making a 5 hr. trip :D .
Almost forgot-- according to the Simcoe fishing board. Cooks bay good ice to fish on and good schools are showing up. this is the time of year to hit Cooks bay
Ed I miss the times when there was no limit for perch, on the Canadian side of LSC. We would walleye fish out of Stoney point get our limits, Then go northeast to St Lukes area for perch and fill the coolers with jumbos. but that was a long time ago.

Captain

01-06-2005, 12:15 PM

I sure miss the times when Simcoe had no limit on Perch. Now that was worth making a 5 hr. trip :D .

Those were the days ED.....Salmon coolers stuffed with big Yellow Jumbos!

Ed Michrina

01-06-2005, 12:24 PM

Ed I miss the times when there was no limit for perch, on the Canadian side of LSC. We would walleye fish out of Stoney point get our limits, Then go northeast to St Lukes area for perch and fill the coolers with jumbos. but that was a long time ago.

WoW I didn't know that the Canadian side didn't have a limit on perch in the past. I must have missed that by a year or two ;)

jb10

01-06-2005, 01:12 PM

I have to agree with Todder. I live in Farmington Hills and was having to drive to Oakville (near Toronto) for work twice a week and taking the 402 from Port Huron was usually much faster.

JimmyontheSpot

01-06-2005, 02:56 PM

Yah, those were the days, the days of cleaning too many fish.

That's the only bad thing about the trip. Coming home late Sunday with 50 perch to clean, when all you want to do is take a hot shower and crash.

When we go for the weekend, we actually clean the Saturday catch in the hotel room. This saves some time on Sunday. Shh, do tell the hotel staff.

shimmy

01-06-2005, 04:43 PM

Mush, When are we going? :fish:

Caught only dinks out of LSC last week

Houghton laker

01-06-2005, 06:45 PM

I would like to take a trip up to there sometime this month or mid feb....going to lbdn feb 4-8 would love to get together with someone and make a simcoe trip!

Fried Fillets

01-06-2005, 07:43 PM

RJF, yes there is a Conservation License (25 perch / day). The Sportsman License is 50 perch per day. These limits only pertain to certain lakes, like Simcoe, Erie, St. Clair, etc.... There are certain lakes that may have different limits.

Ed Michrina

01-06-2005, 07:48 PM

HL let me know when your heading up to Simcoe. Unless the bite is to hot on LSC ;)

Houghton laker

01-06-2005, 08:07 PM

You got it Ed ! maybe we could get a small group to go in on a place and go for a weekend...or midweek if you like?? I have MAAAAny vacation days saved for just something like that!

Ed Stringer

01-06-2005, 08:45 PM

If you clean your fish before you get home besure to leave the skins on so customs can identify the fish, or your going to have problems. Conservation license allows you to keep 25 perch a day 50 when you come home. A full license allows you to keep 50 perch a day or 100 when you hit the bridge. If you fish one day and bring home 100 and say you were over for two days and they happen to check your sunk, they may tell you not come back they can kick you out for what ever they wont. A good friend of mine is a customs officer and he tells some wild storys. Like the guy last year that had a secret box under he's trailer full of perch. I would advise not to try this sort of thing.

Nascar31Fan

01-07-2005, 09:05 AM

I've seen photos from when my great-grandfather and his friends would take trips to Lake Simcoe. That would date back more than 75 years. I think I'd call that a pretty long tradition that seems to still be popular.

Gonna have to go myself some year!

Good luck and be safe to all ya'll going!

skamaniac

01-07-2005, 10:19 AM

I heard rumors of a change in limits from Simcoe. Actually, i think it's going to be all of Ontario..............50 perch total. Not per day with 2 day possesion. Can anyone confirm this?

Mike

FishinJoe

01-07-2005, 09:10 PM

Im going Feb 18-20, this will be my first trip their and I can't wait. Was trying to plan a trip last year but I had no one to go with. Hopefully it is worth the drive. ;)

Joe

fishindude644

01-07-2005, 11:04 PM

dont sit in one spot drill five or six holes see if the fish are there. no bites within 10 mins or so make a move until you find em. ive heard of small cars crossing to the island down by virginia beach. i usually fish cooks bay area out of keswick.

Ed Michrina

01-07-2005, 11:39 PM

yes, move until you find fish is what Simcoe is about. When you find them O-Boy. You might want to make move on the ice and in your car. If cooks bay is not hitting in the am, Fish the noon at cooch or some where else. Keep a close eye on the Simcoe message board.

I fished out by Virginia beach once. lots of small cars going to the island and lots of large cars/trucks/atv/ect. we did the hoof/pull your shanty thing and set up 60 to 100 yrds from the main drag. Those nuts were traveling at 40 to 50 mph on the ice :dizzy: We wouldn't have stayed in such a dangerous spot if it wasn't for those darn perch.

Fried Fillets

01-08-2005, 10:36 AM

Skamaniac, talk started last fall ('03) regarding a "standard" perch limit for all of Ontario. It is still talk, nothing has changed from a year ago.

Ed Michrina

01-08-2005, 01:21 PM

Virgina beach is hot right now. one rod -cuz God only gave you two hands. I spoke with a friend today who was out Friday. 100 limit lage fish. Machines on the ice but it's only 5 to 6 inch thick. The Simcoe fishing line confirmed his report. Sunday to Monday looks like the days before the ice degrades.

I'm tempted to head up Sunday take the day off Monday. A quick 100 perch sounds good right now. I'll have to run this past the wife :tdo12: as far as $$ Canadian lic. Gas for truck and hotel :rolleyes: We'll see.

scotto6700

01-08-2005, 04:31 PM

I've got six friends up there as we speak. I couldn't get the weekend off (what's new??). They come back tomorrow, I'll post a report when I hear from them.

Ed Stringer

01-08-2005, 11:11 PM

Buddys went up today came home with 125 nice perch not bad for the first trip no hogs all 9's and 10's with a few 12's Vir beach spoons like always. They only had today to fish, Said the MNR stopped by make sure you have a riged tow hitch, helmets, liecenes and legal amount of rods.

scotto6700

01-09-2005, 05:40 PM

talked to my friends a little while ago and they came up 20 shy of their limit for fishing morning until 2:00 yesterday afternoon. They fished cooks bay, everything 9-10" maybe 4 or so that push 12". They said every single fish they caught was identical between 8.5-10"

Fried Fillets

01-09-2005, 06:59 PM

Fishing sounds like it's been good for a couple weeks now. I'll change that! We are headed up next weekend and wouldn't you know it, there is a big ARTIC blast that will be settling in. :sad: Something tells me that the fish will have a serious case of liplock.

Ed Michrina

01-09-2005, 07:04 PM

I'm kinda thinking of next Sun- Mon?? It should give time for the front to pass . NAAA they will say you should have been here Sat?? Good luck

Ed Stringer

01-09-2005, 08:30 PM

FF if that blast turns out to be a low pressure system hit that water fast I've been there during the big blast that show up and the fishing is great. Semco and Cooh perch love low pressure and the colder the better. Patti and I well be going Jan. 20 to 23 we'll fish both lakes. Most likely stay at the Highway Man.

salmonslammer

01-09-2005, 08:43 PM

I was talking to my buddy tonight and we are thinking about taking the kids up there weekend of the the 23rd for a couple of days.

Anybody know if a 5yo and a 9yo can keep the same 50 fish limit or is it something less??

MUSHY1

01-10-2005, 08:29 AM

Hey Salmonslammer, they count towards your limit if you dont get them a licence.

Mushy1

Ed Michrina

01-10-2005, 11:16 AM

you can buy them a one day lic. if the bite is real good. That would give you 150 fish

salmonslammer

01-10-2005, 12:15 PM

The CA lic is based on the calender year....correct????

Prolly get the kids a one day and myself an annual.....I want to start fishing the other side of the ditch in the summer anyway. Whole new lake over there to explore!

scotto6700

01-10-2005, 02:23 PM

yeah, they go by the calender year. I'll be heading up friday night with at least 3 other people if not more. Good luck to everyone heading up!!

vanwagm

01-10-2005, 02:33 PM

Yep, we're still heading up. Weather looks a little iffy. Very warm on Thursday, and very cold on Friday. Since this is our first attempt @ Simcoe, we'll probably pay our dues by not catching much....this is the way it usually goes. Nevertheless, we're doing it. Looks like the key is to keep moving until you get on the fish. Sounds like a lot of guys from this site heading up. Good luck.

bounty hunter

01-10-2005, 02:34 PM

3 guys I know ended up keeping 260 perch for a day and a half this past weekend in cooks bay with one of the hut operators.

rocknreel2

01-10-2005, 02:47 PM

Will be heading up early Fri to fish the weekend... ah, quick temp change has already given my lack of reel fishing skills an excuse, just looking to have a good time, with safe ice...bucket o jumbo's would be a bonus.. will be fishing Keffer's (Davey Tackle Huts) out of Keswick to start... will be on the radio's. Will send a call out for MS users...

vanwagm

01-10-2005, 02:51 PM

What channel on the radio? We'll be on the other side of Cooks Bay....probably within radio distance.

Ultraman

01-10-2005, 10:03 PM

just got back from Simcoe. fished saturday and sunday. 6 guys. all 6 of us limited out saturday by 1:00 pm and limited out by 9:30 in the morning sunday. not a lot of jumbos but lots of 8 and 9 inchers. better than fishing st. clair. fish hit everything, jigging rapalas, hali jigs...fished cooks bay in keswick.

DanM

01-11-2005, 05:48 AM

Ultraman.....how deep did you guys fish?

We fished all day saturday and I ended up with 25 and my buddy had 6, we were in 20' off davey's point. We were a little disappointed.

Ultraman

01-11-2005, 07:05 AM

Parked at Keffers. walked straight out. you had to go past the big group of people near shore that was there. all the comotion pushed the fish out deeper into the center of the bay. halfway to gilford. we were by ourselves both days. you have to be mobile and keeps running around till you find them. it was about 25 or 30 foot of water. the biggest key to catching them is to vibrate the lure , not jig it up and down, kind of like those buzz sticks rods do.. you would not believe the difference. hope this helps. going this weekend probably.

MUSHY1

01-11-2005, 08:36 AM

Taking a half day on Friday and heading up........Dont worry about the Pressure kids, worry about finding the schools. If you dont drill 40 + holes a day, your kidding yourself in catching at least 50 fish a day. My point is to keep moving, even if your using a operator, dont sit in the Hut and expect the fish to come to you. There is no snow on the ice or little at that, which makes it easy to walk with your Creepers on, so walk on and find fish. The operators put there huts in an area for a reason, and that is to put there clients on fish, but you must move around and chase them.....Im fishing Georgina, Virgina beach, Sibbald pte areas.......LOTS OF FISH in this area, Think DEEP... Ill be on 7 GFRS all day Sat. We'll report next week. Tight lines to All that LOVE Simcoe.....Fish on......

Mushy1

stlhed

01-11-2005, 09:05 AM

So are most walking out on Simcoe? I know I've heard that you sometimes have to head out pretty far.

Capnhook

01-11-2005, 01:23 PM

Hey MUSHY,
If I don't feel like hauling the quad up there, and rent a hut from one of the operators, will he let me haul my manual auger out when he takes us to the hut?? We will probably be using one of the operators in the area you described. Hope ya kill'em out there this weekend. Capnhook

MUSHY1

01-11-2005, 01:46 PM

Hey Capnhook, Yeah no problem taking your auger out w/ with you. In fact when the ice gets over 20" thick, i bring my power Auger w/ me in the Bombardier. And if they give you S#@$, tell them that you will sik a Big Polock on them ;) No seriously, they are all real kind up there.

Mushy1

Capnhook

01-11-2005, 01:58 PM

Thanks Mushy,
We're going the first week of Feb. Make sure and let us know how you do, and how you did it. Capnhook

JEFFK

01-11-2005, 02:19 PM

gsepan, steelydan and myself will be on the bay Saturday, Jan. 29th - 30th.
SURE...... hope the good fishing holds out until that weekend. :fish: :fish: :fish:
Dan and "G" where heading up the weekend before that but changed there plans to work with my availability for a weekend trip. Fishin buddies are the best buddies to have :) :) :)

skamaniac

01-11-2005, 03:07 PM

How much ice is there at Virginia Beach? Is it safe all the way out to Georgina?

Mike

Houghton laker

01-12-2005, 06:30 AM

Don't forget to give us a good report on all the hows and wheres when you guys get back!!

steve myers

01-12-2005, 07:54 AM

Out of Keswick put us on fish limited out on the bug with a 9 pound pike on 3 pound test.Got no jumbos all 8 to 9 inches with a few 10;s.Had a great time though and would reccomend Harry;s Huts real roomy and nice ride out in an enclosed wagon and in a very good area.

Chuck1

01-12-2005, 02:05 PM

My buddy's,and father in-law are on the ice as I type. Just talked to him on the Nextel, and the bite has come to a screaching halt. It is raining cat's,and dogs. Was freezing rain, now just wet rain. Sounds like on Cooks the bite has shut down also. Pretty crazy weather. They'll light back up again,when they get hungry.

robin

01-13-2005, 08:20 AM

I can only say that this figures. My boat call name isn't Debacle for nothing. We've been planning this trip for over a month and the day before we leave a couple inches of rain falls and the bite stops. Don't get me wrong, I'll still have a good time, but my freezer is completely empty. I chased the salmon out of Lake Huron and now I've brought the Simcoe fishing to a halt. Sorry guys. :sad:

Chuck1

01-13-2005, 08:37 AM

At Simcoe they can turn on crazy fast. You can be struggling all day,and the 2pm rolls around ,and you can't keep up. so don't fret they will turn back on.

skamaniac

01-13-2005, 08:51 AM

Robin........read the messageboard from Simcoe.http://www.lakesimcoemessageboard.com/

They are saying the rain didn't have much effect on the fishing. Guys were still getting there limits yesterday. At least in Cooks Bay, and that's where most of the fishing has been taking place because the ice is pretty iffy most other places. They have been fishing Virginia Beach also but it has been spotty. Cooks Bay is the place to fish first ice at Simcoe. The key, as it's been said over and over, is mobility. If your not catching any fish, move until you find fish that are active. If you're renting a hut from someone and you're not catching, move around. You can always come back to the hut. Also, most of the hut operators move them anyway to keep up with the fishing.

I may be looking for someone to ride along midweek next week.

Mike