The Woodsman Magazine featured
resort Andy Myers Lodge
Head
to Andy Myers for Winter Ice Fishing
By Cal Ritchie & Bob Riege
The Yamaha snowmobiles were all loaded up and the portable Frabill Ice Huts were
slipped alongside the snowmobiles and we were ready for another productive day
on the ice.
“I live and work in my backyard so to speak,” said Cal Ritchie. Ritchie
went on to explain, “I have guided in the summer months here at Andy Myers
and for the last three years and now I guide for ice fishing.” “The
two targeted species that my clients want are lake trout and walleyes.”
Andy Myers Lodge is located a few miles east of Vermillion Bay, Ontario on Eagle
Lake. Cal has a year round cabin on the lake where a couple of guys can come and
fish for some trophy walleyes and Lake trout. The price to stay and cook in this
cabin is $ 80.00 U.S. per day for two occupants and $ 350.00 U.S. per day for
a guided ice fishing adventure that includes, snowmobiles, ice huts, tackle and
a shore lunch on the ice. Currently Cal tells me he has some openings in February
– April 15th. When our ice is questionable the ice in Canada still offers
a lot of great fishing. One thing that Cal wants everyone to know is that in order
to catch fish you have to be mobile. Cal not only offers different places to fish
on Eagle Lake, but also the surrounding lakes as well. “We start off fishing
for walleyes and movie from lake to lake.” Commented Ritchie. “Or
we might start out right here on Eagle looking for some large Lakers before switching
back to walleyes and running down towards Buzzard Falls,” said Cal.
Many winter anglers fish the same spot trip after trip. These faithful souls are
content to wait it out, hoping that fish will come to them. While this is conducive
to ice-hut fishing and huddling around large bonfires, it also can mean long periods
of time between bites. If you want action, Cal said, “ice anglers learn
that staying mobile on the ice helps to improve their success.” Locating
active walleye usually requires a bit of trial and error.
If you’re with a group, have anglers spread out along the dropoff at various
depths. If fish are around, a pattern should emerge and, hopefully, a key depth.
Voice contact is all you need in most instances, although a really large group
might do well by using a set of two-way radios. If fish are not going along one
side of the point, move the group off the tip of it and punch a few holes down
the other side. The movement of the group can be gradual or done all at once.
If you’re fishing solo, the co-ordination factor becomes a non-issue. Pull
up when the spirit moves you.
Leap frog. This involves two or three anglers quickly covering a series of holes
over structure. This is especially effective when fish are holding off a shoreline.
Cut a wide circle, grid, or crescent pattern of holes that covers the entire structure
or chunk of shoreline.
Anything that would make a good walleye spawning area is a good place to check.
Points and other structure just out from inflowing streams are perfect. Again,
you have to be careful, and stay back from the current areas. Rock and rubble
shorelines, and even large shallow reefs can be good.”
Ritchie commented, “I find relatively shallow rock humps that I see on contour
maps. The theory is that the sun actually gets through the ice and helps warm
the rocks, which might top off at 6-8 feet below the ice.”
“I’ll drill holes and find those humps. The higher angle of the sun
helps it penetrate the ice and things are warming up on top of those rocks. Fish
are up there because life is coming back. I’ve seen crayfish out walking
around on top of those rocks, and the walleyes are right behind them, because
they know they’re available.”
The problem with ice fishing, in many cases, is that people let themselves get
bored, or cold, or discouraged. That doesn’t have to be the case. It’s
a matter of being willing to change and try something new.
If I haven’t had any action in 15 minutes, I move! Drill a few more holes.
It’ll keep you warm. If you can’t handle the labor, bring a young
kid with you. They love to fish and they have unlimited energy as long as they’re
enthusiastic about the trip. Remember kids have short attention spans (so do most
adults) and if the fish aren’t hitting or the weather is too cold or windy
it’s no fun at all being on the ice. Keep it short and sweet and your youngster
will be much more likely to get excited about the next trip.
It wasn’t that long ago I remember going fishing with my dad and we had
a hand auger a few jigs, waxworms and the most important invention the plastic
five gallon pail. We always walked to a specific location using the triangular
positions of the dead tree on the far shore lined up with the white house and
fifty paces from the last point we crossed.
Two of the most revolutionary devices for ice fishing are the hand held GPS and
the portable depthfinder.
Today, when a hot spot is located, the location can easily be electronically saved
as a waypoint on a hand held GPS, ensuring swift, efficient guaranteed returns
with just the press of the button. If only I had one these when I was a kid. The
frustrating times trying to find that white house and the dead tree when in actuality
the house was painted a different color and the dead tree fell in the high wind
last summer. GPS would have helped my dad and me locate those roving schools of
walleyes next to that favorite dropoff.
I have good luck locating fish holding structure through the ice using my portable
locator. By making use of the zoom feature, I can identify fish that are holding
very tight to the structure being checked. By simply wetting the ice and placing
the transducer on the wet spot, you can examine the bottom make-up before drilling
your holes. This saves you both time and work.
The warmest innovation that has helped the ice angler stay on the ice longer,
which enables them to catch more fish, is the portable ice shanty. A good, lightweight,
and portable ice shanty can provide a lot of added comfort. A propane lantern
is enough to warm the interior. The important thing is that they allow you to
take others out on the ice and yet be mobile. One thing that many modern ice fisherman
want to do is to move from location to location. Sure, the carpeted ice shack
with the bunk beds is nice, but not as portable as the modern ice angler needs.
Regardless of the type of lake you fish, your choice in baits is also critical.
Cal said that he prefers the Genz jigs for walleyes and northern pike. For lake
trout he will use a lot of tube jigs or Zip Baits. Use larger baits under stable
weather conditions. For walleye and pike, don’t’ hesitate to use the
largest shiners you can get. If you are jigging, also use larger spoons. After
a front, downsize your minnow. Many nice walleye have been taken on small crappie
minnows under adverse conditions.
Mobility on ice is an end to a means. There’s no use moving from a spot
when walleye are snapping. Never leave fish to find fish. But when the bite goes
dead and time seems to be standing still, get moving for walleye at Andy Myers
Lodge.
