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Ice-fishing huts coming off area lakes (2 photos)

The fishing season is likely to finish earlier than last year despite thick ice.

THUNDER BAY — The operators of businesses renting ice-fishing huts on Thunder Bay-area lakes are keeping a close eye on weather conditions as the end of the season draws nearer.

Environment Canada has forecast up to 30 millimetres of rain for some areas between Wednesday evening and Thursday night.

At Black Bay east of the city, where Bear Trak Outfitters rents about 10 huts, owner Corey Hayward says ice conditions are "decent" for now but the heavy snow cover combined with recent milder weather has created slush in some areas.

"Where we've got it packed down on trails, it's still in really good shape. Obviously, with this rain coming, who knows what's going to happen, but we've got our fingers crossed that it will hold up," Hayward told Tbnewswatch.

His rental season started on Dec. 15, two weeks earlier than normal, however, he may have to shut down this year earlier than he had planned if the slush conditions worsen.

"We'll see what the rain does," he said.

Provincial regulations require ice huts to be removed from Lake Superior by March 31 in any case. If the coming rainfall is followed by a cold snap, Hayward said there's still a chance he can operate to the end of the month.

To the west of the city, at Lac des Mille Lacs, the operator of Sugar Shack Rentals at Sawmill Bay says there's "a fair bit of slush at the start of the lake" but Archie Hoogsteen says the warm spell could actually improve conditions.

"This year we had so much snow, with all the weight it pushed down on the ice, so if we can get rid of the snow the ice will lift, and the water will go down the holes instead of up," Hoogsteen said.

He said that will make it easier to get ice huts back to shore over the next couple of weeks.

Hoogsteen estimates there are currently about 130 huts on the lake.

"A bunch of guys are taking them off this weekend, because they're a little concerned...people get a little scared when the weather warms up." 

Last year, Hoogsteen said, people were still fishing on Lac des Mille Lacs in the middle of April.

He's no longer allowing vehicles to access his ice road onto the lake, where in some spots the slush is up to 30 centimetres deep, but the ice cover itself is not a concern as it is from 90 to 100 centimetres thick.

Although there is no legal requirement to remove huts from Lac des Mille Lacs by March 31, Hoogsteen said most anglers will likely conclude their season by the end of the month.

He said he's had a strong year despite the cold weather. "A lot of people still go fishing no matter how cold it is."

 

 



Gary Rinne

About the Author: Gary Rinne

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Gary started part-time at Tbnewswatch in 2016 after retiring from the CBC
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