The roller coaster of winter weather continues here on the East Coast as temperatures dropped below freezing for about a week. It was not super cold but cold enough to freeze up a small number of ponds. Today the weather was chilly but absolutely beautiful with clear sunny skies, with that said, Spring is not far away.

When picking a location to fish today, Dad and I made an educated guess for safe ice based on past experience at one of our favourite ice fishing spots. We geared up and headed back to Whitbourne in hopes of safe ice near the old Sooley family cabin. Our gamble paid off, like our last trip back in February we found just enough ice to walk out on and set a few lines. Ice measured 4-5" thick near shore and got thinner as we walked out towards an ominous dark area near the centre of the pond.

The lines furthest out were fishing the best, my trio of Automatic Hook Setting ice fishing rigs started catching trout almost immediately.

Fishing was a mix of a few keepers and lots of small fish which were released to grow bigger for next year!

Lunch today consisted of my homemade Sweet Honey BBQ moose sausages and beans cooked on my MSR Superfly gas stove, while my Kelly Kettle was boiled for fresh brewed coffee and a cup of tea for Dad.

Instead of my usual disposable one cup pour over Coughlan coffee filters, today I opted to bring along my GSI Commuter coffee press. This is press designed to brew coffee and drink out of, it's very tidy, compact and easy to use.

As the day wore on the weight of snow on the thin ice caused more and more water to rise on top, at one point the Auto Hook rigs began to float!

All in all it was a great day on the pond. We managed a half dozen keeper trout which made a meal each for Dad and I.

A day on the pond is not just about the catch but the opportunity to spend quality time with people that matter the most in life. These trips have been few and far between this year due to the weather, Dad and I are glad we made the most of a couple short weather windows to get out in the country together and enjoy a sport we both love so dearly.

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith