END of JANUARY, Well, So much for "First Ice!" Although he walleye bite slowed down throughout the month of January, Tuesday and Wednesday, (Jan 27-28) proved to be two of the most productive walleye days of the month, as Jason Hall and his two buds managed to ice a tolal of 11 keepers, ten of which were between 15 and 21 inches. Here is Wednesday's results. Their success brought some optimism for the upcoming weekend, but alas, the weekend of Jan 30 will go down on record as the first weekend in recent memory where not a single walleye was iced by a Kashaga Lodge guest (not even by a sober one.) Fish were being marked, but just couldn't be tempted. Apparently mid-winter walleye conditions have slammed into Lake Kashagawigamog with a vengeance. Watch the website for updates, as we are in the process of moving some of the huts away from the shallows into different structure.
February tends to be the slowest month of the winter for walleye production. They're still there, but not as hungry. Certainly, electronics helps level the playing field against the wiley walleye, but there's no substitute for experience and finesse when it comes to mid-winter walleye angling. And the good news is that the walleye bite tends to pick up in March prior to the spawning run.

HARDWATER WALLEYE on Beautiful Lake Kashagawigamog

In Haliburton County, the towns of Minden and Carnarvon offer some really good laketrout fishing. But the village of Haliburton is located on a a different chain of lakes fed by a different watershed. And it is this Lake Kashagawigamog chain that provides some of the best hardwater WALLEYE fishing south of highway #17. Zebra mussels do not propagate in these lakes, and unlike most other Ontario lakes, the walleye fishing actually improves from year to year. And Kashaga Lodge has the only walleye ice fishing operation in the County of Haliburton.

One of the reasons for the popularity of Kashaga Lodge's ice fishing package is that the huts are within easy walking distance of the cottages, enabling anglers to fish when the bite is on, and eat, snooze, play poker, or watch the hockey game in the comfort of their comfy heated cottage. Each cottage has fully-equipped kitchen, 4-pc bathroom, cable TV, and barbecue on a deck overlooking the huts. Oh, and don't forget your laptop so you can use the free wireless internet at your cottage to e-mail pictures back to your buddies whose wives actually think that household projects are more important than sitting on the ice doing scientific research with different colours and jigging techniques.
As of Feb 19, Lake Kashagawigamog is definately in mid-winter conditions, as in, they're there but not very active (or hungry.) Yesterday, Steve from Acton managed to coax a 17 incher to take his minnow, but, besides a flasher, it took 20 minutes, 3 jigs, and a rod change (light and small is good) to get it on a hook and onto the ice.
The walleye season on Lake Kashagawigamog closes on March 15, and traditionally the bite improves dramatically as we get into March, but February is a month for hardcore wallytes only.

For up-to-date info about ice fishing in southern Ontario, visit Ontario's favourite "go to" fishing forum: www.KawarthaAnglers.com.

		Ice Fishing Package Kashaga Lodge offers 8 heated huts, all within a 3 to a 10 minute walk from the cottages, and located on what is arguably the best walleye bay in Lake Kashagawigamog, or the whole five-lake chain for that matter. Other than the accommodations the package includes a heated hut with augered holes in and around it, and the hut fee is only $10 per person per day. Minnows are available on site at $5 per 20. For those with their own augers, spuds, and scoops, (ie. self-sufficient) 20 minnows p/p are included with the hut fee. All the cottages have a barbecue, and the operator can help you transport it to your hut if desired. There's a plowed walking trail to all the huts, and transportation is provided for those who need it.   Kashaga Lodge’s ice fishing package includes a wide choice of housekeeping cottages and suites as well as use of the heated huts. Larger groups may be interested in renting the entire five units of the lodge at a special discounted rate. Since Kashaga Lodge is the closest resort to the town of Haliburton, just 4 km up the highway, fishermen are never far from the conveniences of town. Groceries, coffee shops, beer and liquor stores, restaurants and bars as well as fishing supplies are just a five minute drive away. December /09 was the most productive hardwater walleye month ever from the Kashaga ice huts. Since the introduction of the this most popular game fish to Lake Kashagawigamog decades ago, the fishery gets better every year. NOTE: Haliburton is a unique part of Ontario, relatively unspoiled by over-development or over-fishing. It's lakes are pristine, and benefit from various MNR lake management programs. Any violation of hut rules or other irresponsible fishing from Kashaga Lodge huts will not be tolerated. Conservation Officers frequent the huts, and the hut operator does not hesitate to report violators to the authorities. Be aware that the new Fishing Regs for 2008 (and 2009) are now in effect. These include 3 significant changes for Lake Kashagawigamog: Lake Kashagawigamog is now a TWO-LINE LAKE, not one-line as before. So bring your tip-ups along with your jigging rods!!! Limit (with a sportsman's licence) is 4 walleye, only one of which may be over 18 inches. (Otherwise, no slot.) The walleye season now closes March 15, (not March 31 as previously.) 'TWAS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS: (Click thumbnails for full-size.) The first picture was taken Dec 17, 08 after 1 1/2 hours on the ice just 150 yards from the 6-bedroom cottage. A 17 inch and two 16 inch wallys (and a 10 inch perch.) The second picture was taken 24 hours later at the same location. This time it was a 25 incher and a 16. First Ice, Jan 2009
There's nothing like first ice walleye on Lake Kashagawigamog !!!