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hen it comes to ice fishing, I love catching all species but in particular I have a special place in my heart for panfish! Of course there are my Lake Simcoe Jumbo’s but treks into further inland lakes for crappies, bluegills, pumpkinseeds are lots of fun as well. I’ve always admired these diminutive members of the sunfish family for their fighting spirit! Their deep body physique gives them the ability to provide resistance & plenty of power when battling against your lightweight tackle. The most common panfish species in Ontario are bluegills, pumpkinseeds, rock bass and black crappies. Hybrids (Bluegill-pumpkinseed Cross) or often referred to as PumpkinGills are also quite common in bodies of water where these two species co-exist. pumpkinseeds and Hybrids are two of the most vibrantly coloured fish species that swim in freshwater. All these species are usually plentiful, relatively active and cooperative once our lakes have iced over! Other members of the sunfish family that exist in Ontario but are less common include the Warmouth (often mistaken for a rock bass), green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, northern sunfish and white crappie. When venturing out in early & late seasons, always check ice conditions constantly!
By: David Chong
women’s models offer the fit & comfort that they require. Proper fitting cleats are also essential especially if there is a lack of snow covering on the ice. A spud bar and ice picks are other must-haves.
This PumpkinGill couldn’t resist this 1/16 oz. Ultra Tungsten Ice Jig!
The author and avid multi-species angler, Ashley Rae with a nice PumpkinGill (a Bluegill-Pumpkinseed Hybrid)
During the early and late ice seasons conditions can change drastically, while you are out on the ice! Depending on the weather where there was 5” of ice when you headed out in the morning could be 3” when heading back in late in the day. Ice thickness can also vary a great deal at these times. Remember ‘If in Doubt Don’t Go Out!’ but if you do, take the necessary Never go out without the proper safety safety precautions and gear. tools and gear. Ashley and I both trust and wear our Striker Ice Fishing As with many of our target species, the Suits whenever we’re out on the ice. key is location, location & location! The comfort, warmth & flotation security Ashley Rae, an extremely popular outdoor that they offer is unparalleled. For all of content creator as well as an avid multiour female ice fishing enthusiasts, the species angler offers the following advice Just Fishing . 18
on locating panfish beneath the ice. Early & late in the ice season, focus on weed flats and outside weed lines that would have the healthiest/ greenest standing vegetation. Panfish use these areas to feed as well as take cover from predators. Calling the Ottawa capital region her home, she typically focuses on depths from 5-15 feet of water when on bodies of water in that area. However, it largely depends on the water clarity of the given body of water! During the mid-season period, she typically focuses on fish relating to deeper basins which could be anywhere from 15 to 40 feet depending on the body of water that she is fishing on. “Look for basins adjacent to early/late season spots and I prefer those with a softer bottom like silt or mud which are typically teeming with invertebrates, which panfish like to feed on this time of year” Rae advises. Panfish will often suspend mid-water column and roam over these deeper areas. (Continued on page 19.)
Winter 2024
