Freshwater Fishing.
Cook's Bay is one of southern Ontario's busiest winter ice-fishing destinations — perch, lake trout, and whitefish under Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 16, with hut-rental operators running out of the Innisfil shoreline from January through mid-March. Big Bay Point sits at the mouth of Kempenfelt Bay on the same deep cold-water habitat that holds lake trout and whitefish year-round.
The brief.
Lake Simcoe lake trout season is open January 1 to March 15 and from the second Saturday in May to September 30; daily limit is 2 lake trout on a Sport licence and 1 on a Conservation licence. Ice fishing on Cook's Bay typically runs once safe ice forms in January through to the March 15 closure.
In open water, the bay edge off Innisfil Beach Park holds perch and panfish; lake trout and whitefish concentrate in the deeper Kempenfelt water at Big Bay Point. Cook's Bay perch are a year-round target.
3. places.
- 01
Cook's Bay
Lake Simcoe's southwest arm; primary winter ice-fishing destination; perch, lake trout, whitefish.
- 02
Big Bay Point / Kempenfelt mouth
Deep cold-water habitat at the mouth of Kempenfelt Bay; lake trout and whitefish year-round.
- 03
Innisfil Beach Park shoreline
Open-water perch and panfish from shore and small craft.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.