Last Mountain Lake has been named number three on the list best ice fishing destinations in Canada by FishingBooker.
The platform identified the top eight lakes from across the country, with the Saskatchewan lake placing behind the Muskoka Lakes in Ontario and Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade in Quebec.
The list is released just before the ice fishing season begins, and criteria include the general popularity of the location, suitability for ice fishing and how good the fishing is.
“It’s a beautiful lake, it’s a huge lake, and it has lots of fish, giant fish in it, which is why people like to go there, which is why we like to go there,” said Jason Matity from GetFishing.ca.
FishBooker said Last Mountain Lake was selected because of its reputation fuelled by the number of trophy walleye and northern pike catches each year.
“Highlighting popular ice fishing locations like Sarnia Beach will hopefully help new anglers explore this spacious lake even further,” said FishBooker in a statement.
Anglers will have to wait as the Water Security Agency (WSA) is advising caution around lakes and rivers.
“Even with the recent cool weather we’re seeing now it probably hasn’t been enough yet to give us those safe thickness levels,” said Sean Osmar, manager of communications at the WSA.
Osmar said the WSA advises a thickness over over 12 inches for a truck, and four inches for an individual.
The WSA, and Matity, both stress the importance of checking ice thickness before every trip out as conditions can change on a day-to-day basis.
The WSA said recent warmer temperatures has resulted in thin ice and has created unsafe crossing conditions.
When heading out the WSA recommend individuals avoid ice that looks slushy, has thawed then froze again, is near moving water, is layered due to sudden temperature changes or has structures on it, such as pressure ridges.
Matity said “early ice” is a great time to go out fishing, as the fish are still active in the “warmer” waters.
“As winter progresses they get less and less active, so if you can get out and the ice is safe this is a very good time to be out.”
Matity added while Last Mountain Lake was the one named to the list, there are great fishing lakes in all corners of the province.
