The Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) is once again reminding anglers to plan the removal of their ice huts as the ice fishing season winds down.
“While some lakes in the province are just starting to form safe ice, anglers need to remember that ice huts must be removed from the ice by the prescribed deadlines,” OCOA President Derek Hebner stated. “After the ice hut removal dates, anglers may fish without an ice hut or use a portable fish hut that is made of cloth or synthetic fabric that is seven square metres in size or less.”
Key dates
- March 1st in fisheries management zones (FMZ) 17 and 20
- March 15th in FMZ 14, 16, 18, 19, and below the Lake Timiskaming dam in FMZ 12
- March 31st in FMZ 9, 10, 11, 15, and above the Lake Timiskaming dam in FMZ 12
“Anyone who has an ice hut out on the lake should monitor the weather conditions closely,” Hebner added. “The ice hut removal deadline are set in legislation but they do not take into account the different ice conditions each year. Many lakes in the province will be ice free before the hut removal deadlines and any huts that fall through the ice are a danger to anyone who has to remove them or to boaters in the summer if the huts are not removed prior to ice out.”
Anyone with information about a natural resources or public safety related offence is encouraged to call the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667, contact their local Conservation Officer directly, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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