Georgian Bay Ice Fishing Success
Dustin Boczek shared photos from Georgian Bay where he landed 5 Cisco using light tackle over 4 hours. The fish were feeding on gobies and smelt, making them finicky to catch. Meanwhile, another angler posted pics from ice fishing on a Minnesota river as ice breaks up, enjoying the long rod despite no catches.
Cisco, or lake herring, were once a dominant prey fish in Georgian Bay, but their populations saw a significant decline. However, recent studies indicate that cisco numbers in Georgian Bay and the North Channel have been on an upward trend since 2015, suggesting that current lake conditions may be favoring their recovery. The successful ice fishing on Georgian Bay comes as Environment Canada reports thick ice in the area, with "8 tenths thick lake ice" and "consolidated thick lake ice along parts of the shores" as of March 6, 2026. However, a flood outlook has been issued for the region, with rain and temperatures ranging from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius expected, which will accelerate snowmelt and could lead to the weakening and breakup of river ice. The cisco's diet has adapted to the changing ecosystem of the Great Lakes. While their primary food sources are zooplankton and aquatic insects, they are known to consume other small fish. Studies have shown that in the Great Lakes, cisco feed on the invasive round goby, especially in the spring. This predation on gobies, which are abundant in Georgian Bay, provides a key food source for the recovering cisco population. In contrast to the solid ice in Georgian Bay, the ice fishing season in Minnesota is winding down. While anglers are still on the ice in northern parts of the state, many lake access points in the southern third have been compromised. The deadlines for removing ice houses from inland waters in Minnesota are in early and mid-March. The National Weather Service has indicated a below-average risk for spring flooding in the state, as most of southern Minnesota is without significant snowpack.
