“We have a situation this year on Lake Simcoe that has not been seen since 2002,” said Charlie Ross of Lures and Tours, the new owners of the CIFC.

“Basically there is much of the main lake far out from shore, that is simply not safe. Even if we had cold weather between now and the event, it is unlikely conditions would improve enough in the main lake to safely allow our anglers to venture way out there on Big Fish Day,” Ross said last week.

Organizers consulted with competitors, sponsors and Lake Simcoe ice fishing experts, and the overwhelming consensus is that the far off-shore sections of the lake are highly unlikely to build up enough safe ice. Therefore attempting to target big fish in these areas would simply be unsafe, Ross explained.

“However, all is not lost,” he said. “Ice hut operators who typically target perch closer to shore have been operating for several weeks and report ice ranges between 10 to 15 inches.”

The tournament will follow the rules and points system originally established for Perch Day. There will be a weigh-in and live release each day. Each team’s points will be combined on Sunday February 26 to establish final positions in the tournament. Any catches of lake trout, pike and whitefish fish will be considered incidental and not scored towards the tournament outcome. For more information contact Charlie Ross or Rosa Sharpe at info@cifc.org or visit www.cifc.org.

My first experiences with snow geese were all in southwestern Manitoba, where I finally came to understand the expression “wild goose chase.” Despite their abundance, snow geese pose a daunting challenge for waterfowlers; their cautious nature makes getting within range an exercise in patience, persistence and precision. At least there are now plenty of chances to find success, thanks to the recent introductions of spring hunts in several states and provinces to rein in burgeoning populations. Manitoba’s southwestern corner offers one of the best, with generous bag limits. For those looking to break away from the winter doldrums, this is one economical hunt, with no shortage of available numbers. The key to locating snow geese is first finding where they’re actively feeding: flooded fields with waste grain from the previous fall or newly emerging spring greens are the best bets. Of course, outsmarting these birds is another matter—if there were a consistent and reliable path to success, there’d be a lot less reason for the spring hunt.

Technique

There are two main approaches that successful snow goose hunters use. The first involves putting out as many decoys as you can muster: shells, full bodies, blankets, flags, rags-it doesn’t matter, the more the merrier. Then lie down among them dressed in all white or under a white blanket and hope that the geese succumb to the lure of your spread and calls. Alternatively, you can pass shoot snow geese, intercepting them from behind natural cover as they move from their staging wetlands to feeding fields.

Essential gear

Aside from decoys and white clothing, all you’ll need is a shotgun and shells. I recommend a 12-gauge choked modified. As for shotshells, it’s tough to beat a three-inch load of #2s, whether you’re shooting steel or one of the non-toxic alternatives. And, oh yeah, bring lots of them.

More info:

• Manitoba Conservation Branch
• Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association
• Manitoba Tourism

I was never able to grasp the hold that turkeys have on many hunters until I went on my first gobbler hunt. After two days of searching and calling, I finally found a roost that held four big toms and several jakes and hens. I put them safely to bed, grabbed a few winks myself and was in position well before legal light, hidden where they’d never discover me. The toms began to gobble in the still morning woods, and shortly after daylight they parachuted out of the trees, landing no more than 150 yards from my position. I started to call and the whole flock began to slowly peck and scratch toward me. At a distance of no more than 60 yards, they abruptly stopped and began to wander back the way they’d come. My hunt was all but over, but from that moment on I was hooked—I finally understood what all the fuss was about. If you’re a turkey hunter in Canada, there’s absolutely no better place to be than in southern Ontario on a crisp, early May morning. But be warned: these birds are nobody’s fools, especially if they’ve been hunted before.

Technique

The most widely adopted early-season method is to first locate toms through their gobbling, then sneak into their backyard in the early morning with the intent of calling them to within range. At the height of the breeding season, the males aggressively pursue hens, so a decoy can help bring them in for a shot. Since their eyesight is nothing short of amazing, you must wear full camo and remain absolutely still.

Essential gear

I prefer a 12-gauge shotgun choked modified, with #5 or #6 copper-plated loads. Aim for the head and neck region when shooting, as the big birds can absorb considerable punishment and disappear in the blink of an eye if they’re not anchored with the first shot. Also note that in Ontario, you must first take a one-day course before obtaining your turkey licence.

More info:

• Ministry of National Resources – Hunting Regulations Summary
• Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
• Ontario Tourism

Few hunters have had the opportunity to pursue muskox, meaning they’ve missed out on one of Canada’s most interesting and attractive big-game species. Of course, it’s never too late to remedy that. Muskox are a unique animal, characterized by their sweeping horns and extremely long, dark hair. Their hair, in fact, fools you into overestimating their size; they may look as big as buffaloes, but large males typically weigh only 500 to 600 pounds, with 750 pounds making for a real monster. Think of them as elk-sized, in terms of weight. Perhaps the most fascinating thing about hunting muskox is the rugged and desolate places they call home-the northern mainland of the N.W.T. and Nunavut, as well as the Arctic islands. Much of both their charm and their challenge lies in the brutal reality of their home-field advantage, which means hunting them is not for the weak of heart.

Technique

Most muskox hunting is conducted with the hunter on a sled, towed by either a snowmobile or dog team. Muskox are relatively easy to spot against the white backdrop of the snow, and hunters can close the gap by stalking to within range. Once relatively unalarmed by the presence of man, most herds are now quite wary, so be prepared to use all the rolls, cracks and natural features of the tundra to allow you to get within shooting range. The bigger trophies are generally coming off the mainland these days, but the high Arctic islands offer a more remote, traditional experience.

Essential gear

Rifles in the .270 to .30-06 range are ideal for muskox, although both bowhunters and muzzleloaders will be rewarded by patience. Estimating horn size can be a challenge for those not familiar with muskox; heed your guide’s advice and you’ll go home with a trophy to be proud of-not to mention some wonderful meat.

More information:

• N.W.T. Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development
• N.W.T. Tourism

On his home waters

When I was 16 and 17, getting back home from college in the summers, I would go after a lot of different species in the rivers close to my house—the Allouette, Fraser and Vedder Rivers. I still like to go back to those rivers during the off-season or during the few times we get a break. Sometimes I even go sturgeon fishing on the Fraser. So far, I’ve caught two seven-footers. It’s also pretty relaxing to take the whole family in the boat and fish in Howe Sound.

On golfing vs. fishing

The golfers all say there’s not enough action, that fishing is too boring for them. I tell them they don’t understand the mindset. Catching a fish is really just a bonus. You don’t really understand what you’re missing. None of the guys on the team [at the time, this was the Vancouver Canucks] are as passionate about fishing as I am. I used to fish with Trent Klatt a lot when we were teammates. When Felix Potvin was on the team, he really liked to go fishing, too.

On the one that got away

On our honeymoon, my wife [Erin] and I were fishing off the coast of Tahiti. We started at a reef but strayed from there in search of bigger fish. Fishing got slow once we changed locations, and it wasn’t long before we were missing the action of the smaller fish at the reef. We had just started to discuss the situation when I hooked something huge that broke right through the metal leader I was using. The guide said he had never seen that before. Less than an hour later, I again hooked something huge. This time, however, a 10-foot blue marlin porpoised beside the boat. For two and a half hours, the guide and I tried to land the fish; my wife had to drive the boat. At one point, the fish was up close and we were trying to figure out how we were going to land it. The guide commented that it was definitely over 300 and I answered, “I guess so,” thinking it had to be a lot bigger than that. “No, no,” he said, “I mean 300 kilos, not pounds.”

Eventually, that fish broke the 60-pound test I was using. When we got back to Bora Bora, my hand stayed locked in one position for more than half an hour.

On the one that didn’t

I was fishing in the Big Silver Tournament in the Queen Charlottes with Trent Klatt. On the last day, a guy hooks a big fish not 10 feet away from us in the next boat. That fish turned out to be just over 40 pounds—enough to put him in the lead. With only half an hour left in the competition, I hooked and landed one that looked like it could be big enough to challenge. We raced into the dock to make it on time. The fish weighed in at 45 pounds. There, when you bring in a fish, you get to ring a big bell on the dock—one ring for every 10 pounds—so that everyone knows. As soon as I rang the bell four times, the guy who had been in the lead comes running out of the lodge because he knows that a 40-pound-plus fish had been caught. He’d been spending the evening in there because he thought he’d secured the lead. The best part about it is the guy was a doctor for the Colorado Avalanche.

On his dream fishing trips

I’m really interested in fly fishing in Belize, and I’d also love to go after some giant bluefin tuna off the East Coast.

Lasting until Monday, February 20 (except in Nova Scotia, where it ends on Sunday) Family Fishing Weekend is part of a twice-yearly program to encourage families to discover the sport and enjoy time outdoors.

Sponsored by a range of government bodies and outdoor organizations, licence-free periods, including July’s National Fishing Week are designed to remind people of the recreational and economic value of recreational fishing, and the importance of sustaining and enhancing it for future generations.

Island Lake Conservation Area in Orangeville, Ontario, is one of many parks hosting Family Weekend fishing events.

To mark Family Fishing Weekend (which coincides with a long weekend in many places) all four provinces are holding a number of festivals, derbies and workshops. A small sampling of these events include:

• Fishing games and demonstrations at Bow Habitat Station, in Calgary’s Inglewood community
• The Manitoba Wildlife Federation is hosting an amateur photo contest via Facebook to promote ice fishing as a fun family activity
• The Ottawa Region Walleye League‘s Kids’ Ice Fishing Event on February
• The Everett Wile Memorial Catch the Rainbow tournament, on February 18, at Meadow Pond in Hants County, Nova Scotia
• The Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop, February 17 to 19, the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, St. Ann’s, Cape Breton

Check the listings for more family fishing events in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.

These events provide not only opportunities to fish, but also to learn about proper techniques, ethical angling and how to protect fish and their habitat. All other fees and regulations apply and will be enforced, including size limits and sanctuaries. That means it’s still important to consult local regulations, which vary considerably across the country. For example, Ontario anglers without a licence must abide the reduced catch limits of a Conservation fishing license.

Additionally, with warmer-than-usual weather in many places across Canada, all ice anglers should remember to put safety first, and beware of ice conditions that can be deceptive and variable.