any ice off updates?

Not according to the offical site.
Its not been updated since last Thursday though....

Its gotta be starting to break up though?
I saw pictures of the ice about 2 weeks ago on Smoke lake and the ice was white and soft, and open along the edges....with the rain and warm temps in the last 2 weeks I suspect it won't be clear but will be comming apart for sure.

Another week and I'd guess all the smaller lakes should be good to go, but The bigger lakes may need 2 weeks yet? If the conditions for the next few days carry through for another week or so I have no doubts the ice will be off for the opener.

Anyone care to correct me?
I've not seen it first hand or even VIA picture in 2 weeks so realy....I;m just makeing an educated guess

The Park is aware of the anxiety of the people, and update the conditions when there is something to update, expecially as spring opener draws near.

It's not just the ice conditions that will dictate whether an area is accessible or not....more important, really, are the road conditions.

Bookmark the following link, and check back. Also note: scroll down on the current report for road conditions for Achray Road and Barron Canyon Road.

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/spring_accessICEsafety.html





Barbara

I was on Kasshabog lake last weekend and ice was 90% off the lake and the park is usually a week to 10 days behind so should be easily out by the opener....supposed to be double digits for the rest of this week...we go south on smoke so should be off that end for sure..

Alrighty,
Thats encouraging to hear!

As we see with Lake Simcoe every year, the key will be wind.

Need the wind to put the final kick to the remaining "bad" ice.





Barbara

Barbara,
If I begin bookmarking all the links you provide I feel I'd be cheating you of your informational resource value. In the spirit of supporting one another I hereby vow to do as little research as possible and rely on your yeowoman's efforts and the valuable information you provide.
Respectfully,

Adding to the optimism over ice-out, here in Ottawa: Mud Lake and the Ottawa River have been ice free for almost a week now. Ice out in the Park is generally within 10 days - 2 weeks later, so another week and the first lakes should be opening up along the Hwy 60 corridor, earlier for those lakes along the South-East part of the park. We've had a mix of all sorts of great ice-shedding weather including rain, high gusty winds, bright sunny skies and daily highs hovering between 6-10 degrees.

Continued warm temps are called for in the area, including Petawawa and Whitney, so by early next week we'll be seeing much open water in the park. The access roads, depending on where you are, will be another story and flooded areas may force some closures.

PaPaddler, just trying to give you a new obsession...

obsessively checking every 10 minutes to see if the Park has updated their updates.




not that i know anything about that.




Barbara

thanks for the info guys!

we need black ice not white ice,, and the winds lately have been heavy enough to cause a break up, althought,, the ice could pile up in narrows making passage very uncertain???
as far as fishing goes,, we need 50 degree f. water temps for the fish to be near surface. heavy winds increase oxygen levels in the water and the mud and sand flats should warm up the quickest, attracting bait fish?
fish swifts for white fish , the best eating i.m.h.o.
i hope this helps????????????????????????????????????????

10 days to 2 weeks

Don't look like opeongo will be travelable to get to Laveille
so perhaps we may need to change to another agenda ;-(

Really want to do the O-Laveille-O loop so
I am about to start praying for rain and wind
non stop from now till 25 Apr 2009 nd then a full week
of high teens days and 18 degree nights


Rac n

04/16/2009 17:56 GMT

link:http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=g&page=1

IMO Maybe two more weeks or more for Opeongo Lake.

JDL
RHON

Visual spectrum is nice, but when you want more information the 'False Colour' images convey more about ice conditions.




Easier to 'see' that Cedar Lake is half open with the False Colour image, only a very detailed study of the 'visual spectrum' image shows that same ice out.

Opeongo now has open water in the narrows at the North Arm.


Source :

http://ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/index.php?


Won't be long now!

Darryl H

Algonquin Park's website, update as of today: no changes, except:



A flight to review ice conditions is scheduled for early in the week of April 20th, conditions permitting.




Barbara

So when all that free ice blocks the south bay
, does it matter if the north and east arm are free
of ice


Here's hoping for record temps and
good news about the south bay, and north arm.

Do I hear Welcome/Louisa calling ... (I hope not!!!)




Rac n

Hi George,

When are you thinking of heading into the park and where are you off to? I just looked at the 14 day for Whitney and it is showing cooler temps (and even some snow) and no double digits temps until next Thursday. The sat photos clearly show ice on Opeongo and Lavieille, and I have to agree with an earlier comment that given next week's temps, it could be at least a week before getting to the top of Opeongo will be a reality. For the sake of those heading north of 60 on the opener, here's hoping you are not a spectator on opening day.

Coach

What better way to get ice out conditions than from the crew at Algonquin Outfitters who spend every day looking at the Ice in Algonquin Park.

Here's some photos from Gord Baker's blog
http://algonquinoutfitters.blogspot.com/

Lake of Two Rivers from Hwy 60


There is a little open water on Smoke Lake


Your faithful blogger paddles the dock at Smoke Lake


For more ice out reports keep an eye on Gord's Algonquin Outfitters Blog
http://algonquinoutfitters.blogspot.com/

The verdict thus far is... yep there still is ice on may of the lakes in the park

Randy Mitson
AO Huntsville
http://www.aohuntsville.com
http://www.algonquinoutfitters.com
mailto:randym@algonquinoutfitters.com

I'm with Darryl H - hoping it won't be long now. Need it out for Friday. Have to put out my most powerful weather juju.

We camped at Mew Lake this past weekend and all of the corridor lakes are still covered with ice. Dan Strickland and I headed to Opeongo on Saturday and it too was still covered - Sproule Bay was clear up to the small islands (where the loons nest) near the docks.

Temps next Friday and Saturday look very good - 20+ from Whitney. The rain and wind will help, even though it is a little cooler. I think below Hwy 60 you should be good to go, might be a little later in the week north of Hwy 60.

Fingers crossed ....

Grand Lake (Access Point #22, Achray Campground): ice-free as of April 17th. ( at least according to the FOA/ALGONQUINPARK web page)


Now fingers are crossed for the Big O for next week
( I am an optimist )

Rac n

How's Smoke Lake looking today? Anyone, anyone at all - help me out here - I'm SOOOOOOOO ready to go - just need open water.

Picture says it all

That's an old picture - tell me that's an old picture. I'm keeping the faith, it's going to be gone by Friday. As the Reverend Jesse Jackson says "Keep hope alive".

Or as Jack Handy so famously said...Too bad Lassie didn't know how to ice skate, because then if she was in Holland on vacation in winter and someone said "Lassie, go skate for help," she could do it.
BTW - that's Opeongo last Sunday. Waiting for the clouds to clear....

Posted on the APP official website today:

--------------------

As of Tuesday afternoon, April 21st, all lakes in Algonquin Park have some ice cover, including a large number with more than 90% ice cover. Nowhere is the ice strong enough for ice fishing.

This is the most unusual lake ice break-up in the past 20 years. Usually ice break-up extends up to a 2- to 5-week period. This year it will be compressed to as little as 5 days and include an abnormal sequence of ice-outs.

There is limited shoreline moat development with many lakes melting out to open water in the centre of the sheet, while the ice cover is still often shorefast on southern shaded shores.

A large section of open water exists in Lake Opeongo from Bates Island to Sunnyside, with approximately 30% open water in the East Arm and 10% in the North Arm. The East Arm should be open by Saturday (April 25th) and the North Arm by Sunday (April 26th).

Dickson Lake is already almost ice-free. Happy Isle and Merchant are still strongly ice covered. White Partridge, Clemow, Grand, Stratton and Travers are nearly open.

All Highway 60 Corridor lakes should be open by Saturday (April 25th) and all interior lakes by Monday (April 27th).

Most portages, especially in swampy evergreen areas, have patches of snow. Off-trail under thick evergreen cover, the snow can be wet and knee deep. South-facing, open hardwood forests are snow-free, but north-facing slopes on the higher ridges in the central interior are still fully snow covered.

Flood waters on both the Madawaska and Oxtongue Rivers have receded so both the Highland and Western Uplands Backpacking Trails have been re-opened.

Racoon: There are also photos of various parts of Opeongo on the site as well, showing all the ice that's either gone or in the process of being "almost gone" on Opeongo.

For the full report, the photos and road conditions, clickez le link:

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/spring_accessICEsafety.html



Funny that they say that it's not safe for ice fishing...




Barbara

yeah, what's up with that?

Ice fishing in the park is legal, there's nothing to fish for in the winter though. Trout season is closed!

K

I would check that again, where did you get that info ??

I am pretty sure AP is a fish sanctuary for any species from Dec 1st till 4th Sat in April(most people anyways). They mention the ice isn't thick enough because if there is still ice on lakes by opener and it is thick enough you can ice fish for trout as far as I know.

The regs do not prohibit ice fishing. Just read them. (available online at mnr site) But as I said there is usually no ice when trout fishing season is open. If the is ice on Saturday, thick enough to stand on, I bet there would be a few nut jobs out there on it! I'm surprized every year how far people push their luck. I don't need then mnr to tell me to stay off the ice.

K

I just re-read the regs. Nowhere is ice fishing mentioned in as it relates to Algonquin Park and exemptions in Zone 15. Algonquin IS a fish sanctuary from Jan 1 to the Friday BEFORE the 4th Saturday in April. And from DEC 1 to DEC 31.

So if there is ice on the lakes before Dec 1st or after the friday before the last saturday in april, you are welcome to fish for anything in season but specks and lakers close on Sept 30th.

K

Yes, exactly.

Sorry, I honestly meant it as being "funny"...that it doesn't sound like they are too overly optimistic about the ice being gone by the 25th on the popular fishing lakes. So they have to warn people that it's not a bright idea to go and stand on "iffy" ice just to try and catch a fish.

I didn't mean to stir up anything. LOL


Algonquin Park
Fish sanctuary - no fishing from Jan. 1 - Fri. before 4th Sat. in Apr.
& Dec. 1 - Dec. 31.



geeeeeez. I should know better than joke around during the "is the ice gone, is the ice gone, is the ice gone" timeframe.




Barbara

As of Tuesday afternoon, April 21st, all lakes in Algonquin Park have some ice cover, including a large number with more than 90% ice cover. Nowhere is the ice strong enough for ice fishing.

This is the most unusual lake ice break-up in the past 20 years. Usually ice break-up extends up to a 2- to 5-week period. This year it will be compressed to as little as 5 days and include an abnormal sequence of ice-outs.

There is limited shoreline moat development with many lakes melting out to open water in the centre of the sheet, while the ice cover is still often shorefast on southern shaded shores.

A large section of open water exists in Lake Opeongo from Bates Island to Sunnyside, with approximately 30% open water in the East Arm and 10% in the North Arm. The East Arm should be open by Saturday (April 25th) and the North Arm by Sunday (April 26th).

Dickson Lake is already almost ice-free. Happy Isle and Merchant are still strongly ice covered. White Partridge, Clemow, Grand, Stratton and Travers are nearly open.

All Highway 60 Corridor lakes should be open by Saturday (April 25th) and all interior lakes by Monday (April 27th).

Most portages, especially in swampy evergreen areas, have patches of snow. Off-trail under thick evergreen cover, the snow can be wet and knee deep. South-facing, open hardwood forests are snow-free, but north-facing slopes on the higher ridges in the central interior are still fully snow covered.

Flood waters on both the Madawaska and Oxtongue Rivers have receded so both the Highland and Western Uplands Backpacking Trails have been re-opened



http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/spring_accessICEsafety.html

I'm up here in Whitney for all of this week. I should be going into the park for a bit either tonight or tomorrow and I will then post an ice condition report of my own from the lakes along hwy 60 and what I can see from Opeongo.

When we drove in on Monday afternoon many of the lakes along hwy 60 still had at least 80% ice cover however here at the resort on Galeairy Lake there is no ice at all, so conditions seem to differ greatly depending on the lake.
I'll keep you posted.

Oh boy - 'All' is such a mis-used word - if only life were as simple to describe things as 'All' or 'Never'. They are not

ALL

ice-covered. They should use a percentage, but even that would be a guess. Maybe they are referring to only the hwy 60 lakes? Anyway, Sec, McManus, Smith, Whitson are open and likely many others along the east and south side and those at or below the 250 M elevation mark. Fret not, the ice will be gone by this weekend on all the biggies along Hwy 60 as sure as the Knucks will win the Stanley Cup

i think that the word that makes the difference is angling or angler.
angling is ok during open seasons.ice fishing is not angling.

K - In case it wasn't clear, Ice Fishing for any species in APark is illegal within the posted dates (exception: members of certain local Native Bands). There are plenty of other fish one could ice fish for besides char that inhabit the area (perch, walleye, pike, whitefish, etc) but luckily they designate the entire park as a sanctuary Dec 1 - 4th Sat in April. So no, you can't ice fish the lakes/rivers that fall within the boundary of AP for anything.

Yeah, I thought having the "sanctuary" dates posted at least twice was making it pretty clear. Ain't got nuthin to do with any particular race.

4th Saturday in April: in 2009, that's the 25th.

There's nothing to say that you can't "ice fish" in Algonquin after the 4th Saturday in April for species that are open.

They are just saying that it's not safe to do so . Which follows in line with the Park's standard safety precautions of travelling on lakes in winter, etc.

Quote:

As of Tuesday afternoon, April 21st, all lakes in Algonquin Park have some ice cover, including a large number with more than 90% ice cover.
Nowhere is the ice strong enough for ice fishing.

End quote.


geez, y'all are getting really antsy, eh?



Barbara

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I just want QUIET!
..and to get away from all the people that I have to deal with that still live on planet Stupid!
Gawd!


Antsy enough for ya?
LOL!



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

Isn't it illegal to ice fish for a fish that is out of season anywhere in ontario?

"So no, you can't ice fish the lakes/rivers that fall within the boundary of AP for anything. "

unless you happen to be ice fishing in Late April or November, which has been physically possible in recent history...

That's all I'm saying.

Maybe a little antsy Barbara. I need to paddle something!!

K

first nations can hunt. that is provincial given right.
however,, fishing is a federal right that has not been coughed up yet. if fishing occurs during closed season these people have been charged.

Oy vey........you guys.

It's enough to drive a person to drink.





Barbara

I don't like the 'race' word, it's more a status issue:

http://www.citizensalliance.org/organizations/Canada.htm

... decision by the then government of Ontario... to stop enforcement against illegal hunting and fishing by aboriginal people in Algonquin Park. The Interim Enforcement Policy was instituted on January 18th, 1991, ... The government's reasoning was based, in part, on a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, which supposedly "forced" Ontario to ignore Algonquin Park's protected status. The Ad Hoc Committee has attempted to raise awareness on matters pertaining to the Golden Lake Land Claim to crown lands in the Ottawa Valley south of the Ottawa River

Ice fishing is allowed in the Park for some members of certain local Native bands (that's as generic as I can put it). What form of ice fishing I don't know - whether it's 2 lines a person, gill nets, seining, etc I haven't a clue. It's a question I'll put to a CO officer if I'm lucky enough to come across one in APark.

Char season is closed Sept 30th, so any ice fishing up to the end of Nov would be for Pike/Walleye/Perch. Darwin award for anybody crazy enough to ice fish 4th Saturday in April.

Sorry in advance for contributing to this subtopic in an iceout update thread, but I do take issue with Swedish's comment that ice fishing is not angling. Having spent countless hours and hand augering hundreds of holes over the winter I would most definately consider my efforts to be serious "angling". The Ministry will back me up on this one as they list non-angling methods to be with the use of a dip net, seine net, spear, or bow and arrow. Although I have fished through some rather suspect ice conditions I wont be venturing out there on late april ice. I do however have a flat bottomed aluminum skiff and my auger has fresh blades hmmmmm......

A couple of people have mentioned char in their threads. Has anybody caught char in the park? If so where?

i think brook trout are char (as well as lake trout). Weird eh?

Brook trout and lake trout are most certainly char. Rainbow, cutthroat, steelhead, etc are trout.

Oh well. They all taste good

now they are suggesting that steelhead are salmon. My son showed it to me, not 100% on this one.

*urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_trout* In Canada, approximately 25% of the world's lake trout lakes are found in the province of Ontario. Even at that, only 1% of Ontario's lakes contain lake trout.*/url*

Sounds like they be tough to find. But That Won't Stop Me!! Nope Nope Nope.

Maybe the thin ice advisory is for aboriginal fishermen?

lol douG, I'm sure you'll find them - they are quite willing biters.


In an attempt to clarify: Despite their common name, both Brook Trout and Lake Trout are Chars (Genus: Salvelinus), not 'true' trouts like Rainbows, Atlantic Salmon and Browns (all in the Genus Salmo). Other Chars include Bull Trout, Splake (Brook/Lake Char cross) and Artic Char. Both Salvelinus and Salmo species are, taxonomically speaking, in the Salmonid Family. In addition to Chars and Trouts, the Salmonid Family includes Pacific Salmons (Genus: Oncorhynchus), Whitefish, Cisco, Grayling + a few others.

There are some key differences between Char and true Trouts: namely char are natively found in more northern latitudes, prefer colder water temperatures and are found at higher elevations. The Brook and Lakers were probably commonly called Trout before a true differentiation could be identified, and the name stuck - not sure. Spawning is not an indicator of a Genus though - Char all spawn in the fall, however Brown Trout (a 'true' Trout) do as well, rainbows in the Spring, and other Salmonids fall anywhere in between Spring - Fall (depending on species).

There were a few experimental introductions of Artic Char in some (3-4) lakes in Algonquin Park, but these to my knowledge were all unsuccessful. Artic Char are not native to Algonquin Park (at least not since the last ice age) and likely none of the lakes stocked with them still hold a population of the species either.

I took a short drive to Opeongo and back this evening before dinner (No wildlife spotted) of the little I saw Brewer Lake is still 80% ice covered however the west side of the lake is opening up pretty good. As I had mentioned earlier Galeairy Lake is ice free. Also The lake and creek running along side the road to Opeongo was ice free mostly except for the od area here and there. I was unable to get to the store to see Lake Opeongo however as the gates were closed. Tomorrow will be a busy day for me with some horseback riding and then likely some hikeing in the park while the better half is in the spa. So I should be able to give some more info tomorrow night when I get back.

Hi LAD_Mavric,

Horseback riding?
Nice.

If you get the chance, can you poop by Rock Lake and take a peek?
There's probably about 15-20 AA'ers that are probably wondering what's up down that way.
I got an email the other day from Bo Knows and he says that Rock Lake on Friday will be "Touch & Go".
Last year he said it would be open no problem and it was, mere hours before we arrived..so I'm much more anxious this year!



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

I forgot my manners LAD_Mavric,
I forgot to say "Please".
Please sir, if you're in the neighbourhood, can you check out Rock Lake for us?
I and others would appreciate an update, if you can.






Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

"Hi LAD_Mavric,

Horseback riding?
Nice.

If you get the chance, can you poop by Rock Lake and take a peek?
There's probably about 15-20 AA'ers that are probably wondering what's up down that way.
I got an email the other day from Bo Knows and he says that Rock Lake on Friday will be "Touch & Go".
Last year he said it would be open no problem and it was, mere hours before we arrived..so I'm much more anxious this year!"

Markus,
Yeah no problem I will likely head down that way and might even do Booths Rock Trail so I should be able to give a report on the ice conditions as well as the conditions of the road and access point if that will help. As I said earlier I plan on spending the afternoon in the park so I should be able to get back here to the resort and post the info for youguys sometime after dinner.

Markus

I am sure you meant POP by

Unless of course he comes by horse in which case it will
be "poop" by


You all have fun in the rain at Rock Lake

Monday will see me and Rob heading in for 6 days
(hopefully Laveille but it might be Greenleaf/Barron/Carcajou

Sadly it looks like RAIN,RAIN and RAIN the first three days

Can you catch trout at the Wolf Den?

Rac n

oh jeeez..

Sorry was past my bedtime when I posted that and I didn't bother to preview it.
LOL!
Yes I meant 'pop' by.
You're awesome an LAD! 'Mav.
Stop by for a cool frosty one and a warm handshake if in the neighborhood on the weekend on Rose Island.


Racoon,

Well it should stop raining by Monday as both Joan and I will have vacated The Park by then, so any rain after that is not our fault! Good luck and have fun doood!



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

I'd love to stop by to see youguys this weekend as I've been wanting to go on one of the AA group trips for a while now and I've so far only ever met Barry Bridgeford so far. But unfortunately I will be gone by Tomorrow afternoon. My wife and I have been here at Couples Resort (Bear Trail Inn) in Whitney, Since Monday for our 1 year anniversary, and we are checking out Friday morning, so it won't work this time around. But one of these days I'll get out there and maybe I'll try and drag Barry along too! lol.

Thank-you for the info. I should have been more clear with my question, I knew Brookies were Char, I was wondering if there were any Artic Char in the park.

"I'd love to stop by to see youguys this weekend as I've been wanting to go on one of the AA group trips for a while now and I've so far only ever met Barry Bridgeford so far..."

Ohhhh this made me smile - While Barry might not be a 'spring chicken' I don't think he is quite over the hill... yet... (smile)

mikE

Ok after a drive and an afternoon in the park today I have the following info: Brewer Lake 60%ice free, Rock Lake 100% ice free, Coon Lake 100% ice Free, Lake of Two Rivers 90%ice free except the east end, Smoke Lake mostly ice free but there were ice chunks floating around and the ranger said the south end was still frozen. She also said that Canoe lake was mostly frozen still. Tea Lake was about 60% ice free.

Hope this helps.