Ice fishing season ends on Lake Simcoe with ice hut removal deadline at midnight
March 15 is known in the fishing business as 'moving day,' with ice hut removal happening across the lake, with a midnight deadline.
"Any of the permitted huts that are out here - they have to be off today. They have until the end of the day to do that," said Donny Crowder, Hot Box Ice Huts in Innisfil.
Ice hut operators and ice anglers have been busy removing huts from the lake for the past few days, with the decent weather conditions making the task a little easier than usual.
The ice fishing season started later than typical due to mild temperatures, with some ice hut operators kept off the lake for stretches of time.
Despite this, many operators consider this season an average one.
Chad Paiero of Lucky Sons and Lake Simcoe Outfitters said they chose to keep their larger huts and bungalows off the ice this year.
"Because of ice thickness and obviously that mid-season rain that we don’t see a lot, but that’s what happens," he noted.
While permanent huts have to be off the ice Wednesday, catching certain fish is still possible. Whitefish and trout will be closing for the season, but perch and pike can still be fished until the end of the month.
Portable fish huts made of cloth or synthetic fabric are permitted, but hut operators remind everyone to be cautious.
Ice hut operators encourage those planning to head out onto the lake to check conditions and always bring safety gear.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Alleged assassination plot against Irwin Cotler by Iranian agents foiled by law enforcement
Iranian agents allegedly plotted to assassinate Canadian human rights advocate and former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler, a longtime vocal critic of Iran. Details of the foiled plot were first reported by The Globe and Mail citing unnamed sources on Monday and confirmed to CTV News by Cotler's office.
Canada-U.S. border crossing times will change in 2025. Here's what you need to know
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it will adjust the opening hours of crossing points across the country early next year.
Parts of Canada will see up to 30 centimetres of snow. Here's where
Canadians are bracing for a chilly start to the week as snowfall and other wintry conditions are expected to make landfall across western and eastern provinces.
Halifax police say Walmart employee's death isn't suspicious, refuse to release details
Police in Halifax say the death of a Walmart employee who was found inside an oven in the store last month is not suspicious, but they are refusing to release any additional details.
'Bomb cyclone' developing off B.C. coast, potentially bringing hurricane-force winds
An Environment Canada meteorologist says a so-called "bomb cyclone" is expected to bring powerful winds to Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast this week.
Canada Post, union to meet mediator Monday in effort to end strike
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are meeting with a special mediator for the first time Monday to continue talks as they enter the fourth day of a national strike.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs lawyers claim seizure of writings from cell is 'outrageous government conduct'
Lawyers for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused prosecutors on Monday of engaging in “outrageous government conduct” by using materials seized from his jail cell to try to keep him incarcerated before a May trial.
Taylor Swift Eras Tour: Ticket scam west of Toronto costs 40 people more than $70K
Dozens of people in Halton Region are out tens of thousands of dollars after buying fake or nonexistent tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour dates in Toronto, police say.
Sabre-toothed 'kitten' mummy unearthed in Siberia is first of its kind
A mummified ice age cub from Siberia is the first known mummy of a sabre-toothed cat, and its discovery is generating ripples of excitement among paleontologists.