Creel censuses from last winter have yet to be compiled, but Leanna Griffith, a biologist with the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Assessment Unit, says lake trout fishing is expected to be good again this winter. There were few complaints about the quality last year,'' she said. The same holds for whitefish, with perhaps even an improvement. Lake herring , however, are still in low numbers, says Griffith, although remaining fish are large. There are plenty of small rainbow smelt , though, for those who like lots of action and a tasty fish fry.
Smelt fishing is best at night.
Of Simcoe's warm-water fish, yellow perch are the prize catch. This winter, expect excellent perch fishing, says Griffith, with plenty of jumbos, based on spring and fall catches. Cook Bay and the Virginia Beach to Beaverton stretch are among the lake's top perch grounds. Last winter, no one keyed in on them with much success. Yet the lake is loaded with them, as the productive spring fishery and MNR trap-netting proves.