Ice fishing

Safety first — check the ice

Minimum thickness (clear, fresh ice):

• 4 in (10 cm): solo walking
• 6 in (15 cm): group of 2–3, light snowmobile
• 8–12 in (20–30 cm): ATV or compact car
• 15+ in (38+ cm): light truck

⚠️ White/snowy ice counts for half a clear ice's strength. Check multiple spots — thickness varies with currents, river mouths, springs.

Minimum gear

• Auger: hand (low-traffic lake) or motorized (StrikeMaster, Ion). 6–8 inch holes.
• Short ice rod (24–32 in) with inline or compact spinning reel
• Line: braid 8 lb + fluoro leader 6–8 lb (freeze-resistant)
• Flasher / ice sonar (Vexilar, Marcum, Garmin Striker): essential
• Shelter (tent, heater): comfort on cold days
• Layered clothing: breathable + insulating + windproof

Main techniques

Active jigging

With Jigging Rap, ice spoon, or tube jig. Sharp snaps + long pauses. 90 % of bites happen on the pause.

Dead stick

A rod on a holder, line at fixed depth with live minnow. No animation. Very effective on walleye and pike in combo with active jigging.

Tip-up

Flag triggers on the strike. Lets you fish multiple holes with passive line.

Quebec winter regulations

• Number of lines: generally 5 per angler (per zone)
• General license covers most waters
• Species-specific quotas by zone — check MFFP exceptions
• Season varies by species and lake. Always check open dates.

Pro tips

• Fish early: 6–10 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. are the prime windows
• Find bottom: drop until you touch, lift 30 cm. Walleye hunt near bottom.
• Sonar = swiss knife: shows fish, their reaction, exact depth
• Move every 30 min if nothing — fish move, you do too
• Keep hands warm: thin gloves + hand warmer in pocket