Lake Simcoe or lake St. clair????

[fishintechnician]

Ok I am wanting to take a long weekend trip and fish. Will probably be the 3rd or 4th week of jan. Prolly leave early on a thurs and come back sun afternoon. My question is should I go to st clair or go to simcoe. I Know simcoe is farther but heard the fishing (size wise) especially for perch is better. Or i am up for any other suggestions you guys may have.

[Thumbtack]

Mitchell's bay has been hot the past week. 1 to two ft. Of snow at Simcoe. Need a sled.

[erierider]

If I was going for perch, I would roll the dice and hit Simcoe. Been to LSC and it is fun but alot better chance at getting jumbos at Simcoe. You will do alot of sorting at LSC. jmo Both are a blast though.

[toadfish]

Simcoe is absolutely awesome.  I went there several times with wife and friends.  It is a long haul, but a great time.  I have never been to LSC so I cannot compare the two.  IF you go to Simcoe, I would suggest another day since the drive is so long.  Fish Cooks bay one day and
Georgina Island area another day and go back to wherever you did best.

Be sure to follow ALL laws and regulations.  The ministry cuts Americans very little slack.  I was nearly nailed for unattended lines while talking with other fisherman while the minnows were inside the hole in the ice.  When the officer arrived and I asked if there was something wrong, he said you had to be within 50 meters of your lines.  I told him that the perch were not taking the minnows when they were down 40' in front of their noses, why would one rocket up and take a minnow in a hole in the ice?  I was lucky and did not get a citation.

[fishintechnician]

Mitchell's bay has been hot the past week. 1 to two ft. Of snow at Simcoe. Need a sled.

This is kind of what I was worried about. I dont mind walking but 2 ft of snow thats pushing it. And I m sure it will build in the next couple weeks. Is there anywhere in ohio to hit jumbos? I know everyone fishes erie for eyes, is there anyone that goes up for big perch? Like I said i am flexible on dates and destinations just wanna get out and catch some big fish.

[davidhoheisel]

If you go to Simcoe you need a passport.

I would rent a shanty from Peter up there. Its very cheap per day and you don't need to haul all your gear. If the ice is thick enough you can drive out with your shanty. Either way it is a good time and you wont be disappointed.

I think it took me 9 hours to get there because of a snow storm.

I would go but i don't have a passport.

[jmsteele187]

Don't count out Saginaw bay.  Big perch, walleye and whitefish can be had and I heard there is 12" of ice.

[fishintechnician]

Dave I have a passport so not worried about that, just not sure what to do. What about Presque isle? Is the perching there any good?  How far is Saginaw? How far out do you have to go?

[jmsteele187]

Saginaw bay is an hour or so north of LSC, you can take US 23 straight up to Bay City Michigan.  I'm not sure how far you need to go out, but for the perch and eyes I can't imagine you'd have to go too far out.  Whitefish may be a different story though.

[erierider]

I have fished Saginaw in the past and it is fun for sure.
I can tell you that you can get walleye in close, it seems earlier in the season. When we have fished there we have travelled several miles out to get to fish.
We have a buddy who e3ssentially lives on the ice on the bay. We won't go out without him as we find there are alot of pressure cracks and shove ice to cross, at times they freeze tight and others you have to hit them pretty fast to ensure you get over them. It all depends on the weather and temps.
I have been told that the conditions now have the ice locked in pretty good and the cracks are tight. Ice was 5-7 inches as of the 30th. Buddy had gotten some fish that day but had not heard any thing from him recently.
KPI usually gets more updates from him than me so maybe he could update you.
I can tell you at times quad travel on the bay becomes near impossible but if you can get it it could be rewarding.
If you need more info just PM me or post your questions here. I am by no means a Saginaw expert but know travel can get rough but conditions were pretty good recently. Google michigan sportsmen and they have a thread dedicated to Sag Bay, plus they discuss Simcoe alot as well. 

[OIM]

This just came into the shop over the past week. These are all from Lake St. Clair enjoy.


Left: 1lb 4.7oz Right: 1lb3.7oz







Little guys second time ice fishing 1lb 8oz

[OIM]

Just got this fish in today small fish is 12 inches, the big fish is 14 1/4 inches and went 1 lb 5.1 oz.

[MDBuckeye]

Pure perch porn right there...
I wish we had somewhere close to get into some of those toads.

[wballard77]

I have been to both, and @ Simcoe you WILL catch fish like the photos above at LSC you MIGHT. PS Simcoe has Whitefish also!

[toadfish]

Lake trout are a possibility @ Simcoe too.