Are you set to take off to the Great White North for a weekend of ice fishing? Canada offers some of the best ice fishing in the world with its cold weather and pristine lakes. If it’s your first ice fishing trip, you’ll need to prepare.

An ice fishing trip is a great way to bond with friends and family. Locked in the close quarters of a rented ice shanty or a portable tent, you’ll spend plenty of quality time together as you drop your line and wait for a bite.

You’ll need to pack correctly for this popular winter sport. You’ll need the clothing to keep you warm, the right rods, the reels, and an ice saw to cut through the thick layer on the lake’s surface.

You also need to know what to fish for. Here are some of the most common native Canadian fish you’ll want to target on your upcoming ice fishing trip.

1. Lake Trout

Lake Trout, or Lakers, are a species of fish native to the northern parts of North American and are abundant in the lakes of Canada. Ice fishing trips in Ontario revolve around these large, trophy fish.

These Lakers often grow up to 30 inches. For that reason, trophy anglers covet the catch.

Lake Trout eat smaller baitfish, so minnows often make the best bait. They also hit on nightcrawlers and salmon eggs. If you opt for a lure rather than live bait, they love light lures like jigs, spoons, and spinners.

Though Lake Trout don’t school, they are often found together. If you catch one, you’re more than likely to catch more.

These fish prefer the deep, cold water. Drop your line 40 to 60 feet when fishing for them to start. Though since the winter water is so cold, they may swim closer to the surface. If you can’t seem to land a nibble, try your line at shallower depths.

When ice fishing for Lakers, it’s important to remember they are predator fish. Since they prey on smaller fish, they are often found near cliffs or underwater structures. Open water gives their prey too much room to escape.

2. Northern Pike

If you’re new to ice fishing and want to prepare yourself to catch the most fish possible, you need to know how to fish for Northern Pike.

These are other species of fish, like lake trout, who don’t school but can be found together. If you hook one, there are more around. They grow large, too. The average Northern Pike is 40-50 cm (16-22 in).

That’s average. The largest recorded Northern Pike grow to 150 cm (59 in). That’s a big fish!

Known to be aggressive, you’ll more than likely hook one of these fish on any of your best ice fishing trips. Many fishermen hook Pike while trolling and jigging for other fish.

They are always hungry and always ready for a fight, so they’re tough to land. Once you learn how to target them and bring them in, you’ll fall in love fishing for them.

Early in the ice fishing season, you find them at shallow depths. When the water temperature grows colder, they follow their prey deeper. Since they are predatory, you’ll find Pike hunting around cliffs and other underwater structures.

The best live bait to catch Northern Pike are minnows and other baitfish. Given these predator fish’s voracious feeding habits, they will jump at the action of a minnow or small bluegill.

Come late winter; many anglers find success using dead bait like frozen suckers and minnows. Why does dead bait work so well during late winter?

After a full winter of hunting and eating, the Northern Pike food supply thins. With less food, even the most savage hunters grow opportunistic. Pike will leap at the opportunity for an easy meal when hungry.

If you’re using lures to jig for Pike, choose a larger spoon or sinking lure for the best results.

3. Walleye

If you’re interested in guided ice fishing trips, more than likely, you’ll spend time fishing for Walleye. Not only are Walleye plentiful in Canadian lakes, but they’re also delicious!

Walleye can grow up to 80 cm (31 in), but it’s rare to land a Walleye that size. They are a prized fish for anglers, so they don’t often have the opportunity to grow that large. These fish average 30-50 cm (12-20 in).

For the best Canadian ice fishing trips, start fishing for Walleye in the early morning. Light changes trigger feeding activity. In the winter, to find Walleye, try fishing more toward the center of the lake or underwater structures near a drop.

Walleye love the grassy basins of shallow lakes in the spring and summer. While it’s true that you find most Walley close to the bottom, they don’t swim in the deepest part of lakes that lack vegetation.

That is until winter. They don’t require as much food when the water grows cold, and the lake vegetation dies. During peak ice fishing months, Walleye migrate to the warmer, deep water.

These fish feed on smaller baitfish. Minnows are the best bait, while many anglers find success with nightcrawlers and leeches. If you’re fishing for larger walleye, jig lures like crankbaits are the way to go.

Given that light change stimulates Walleye feeding activity, early evening is also a great time to fish. To make the most out of your excursion, consider planning overnight ice fishing trips so you can get in on all the action.

If your trip is successful, there are so many great Walleye recipes for your fresh catch.

4. Panfish

Panfish of all kinds are common to freshwater lakes across North America. You might catch any of these fish during a Canadian fishing trip. Though you may target Lake Trout or Walleye, these fish have value.

They’re abundant. They’re fun to catch. They’re delicious.

Crappie

Though Crappie fishing is the best in spring and summer, don’t discount winter Crappie fishing. These fish, even in winter, reside in the shallower depths. They stick around the vegetation areas of the lake.

Given their shallow residences, they present a challenge to ice fishermen that other, more active winter fish don’t. They’re tougher to find. More often, you’ll see winter anglers fishing from multiple holes to find these gems.

Perch

Yellow or white, these panfish are sought after in the summer and winter. They are a challenge for anglers to track come winter because they reside in shallow and deep water.

They are also finicky when it comes to lures. Depending on the available food and depth, these aggressive fish can turn passive. In shallow water, they hit well on live bait like minnows. In deeper water, they need coaxing with flash lures and spinners.

Rock Bass

Rock Bass are a type of panfish found in lakes, rivers, and streams all across North America. While they are not sought after trophy fish like trout, walleye, or other Bass, they are fun to catch.

If you hook into a school during the summer months, it’ll feel like these fish want to jump on your line. Many anglers in the know pull these fish out of Canadian lakes and rivers by the bucket.

Though not active in the wintertime months, you may come upon a school of these while fishing for Walleye. They bite on the same jigs and lures.

Bluegill

Bluegill bite on anything. You can catch them with nightcrawlers, minnows, mealworms, and jigs. While they respond to many different kinds of bait, the challenge is finding them in the winter.

Bluegill hangs out in the shallow vegetation during the early ice months and feed on the remaining insect larvae. As the season progresses, they swim out to deeper water.

If you’re after Bluegill under the ice, fish in areas not too deep where the bottom is soft. These fish gravitate toward soft spots on the bottom where they can forage insect larvae.

An Ice Fishing Trip Is More Fun With an ATV

Ice fishing during a Canadian winter means braving the elements. Whether you’re after Northern Pike, Walleye, or Panfish, it helps if you have easy access to the best spots. Who wants to walk and lug equipment in sub-zero temperatures?

You don’t have to. If you’re a winter angler, consider investing in an ATV or snowmobile for your next ice fishing trip. These vehicles get you to the best spots with ease and convenience.

Contact us about rentals or financing before you head out to the lake for your next trophy catch.