Rice Lake Ice Fishing-January 2026
This trip brought me back to why I love ice fishing.
It's about slowing down, hanging out with good company, and enjoying a warm cup of coffee.
This trip we made the quick journey to Bewdley Ontario just a quick drive from home and stopped at BJ bait and tackle and got some minnows.
I'd heard of BJs before but had never made the trip, the staff was super knowledgeable and had the minnows we needed!
After a top up in the bait department we headed for a quick walk out into the bay in search of the weed line.
After a 20 minute walk and some watching with the Navionics maps we found a sweet spot in 6.5 feet of water with some grass on bottom.
I was using a jigging rap in black and silver and my buddy had a small jig head with a minnow head. (I was on a pike hunt)
We had nothing going on for the first hour. Then BAM Trevor hooks into the biggest perch I've ever seen in my life.
As soon as that beast went down the hole my jigging rap got absolutely SLAMMED by a pike. Being my first pike through the ice you can imagine I was bouncing around inside the ice hut like a kid on Christmas!
After these 2 bites things slowed down a bit we caught a few more small perch things slow burned to a halt but we still had a blast.
If you're looking to get into what we did here's in information below.
Lake: Rice Lake Ontario
Fish Location: 6.5 feet of water grass bottom and on the weed line on a flat bottom.
Launch: Bewdley at BJ tackle( As a warning this launch is most likely closed for parking on weekends and in the summer.)
Rod: 36 Inch Medium Heavy
Line: 20 pound green braid.
Baits: Rapala Jigging Rap/ Minnow Head
Remember winter can a cold miserable time but if you're willing to put some time and effort it ice fishing it make it a great time!
Always Outdoors.
John.
