25 great places in Ontario to go ice fishing during Family Day weekend

It’s time to recognize that ice fishing is damn excellent, and this weekend offers as great a time as any to post up in a hut to hover your rod over a hole.

Not only will balmy temperatures make for a more pleasant than usual time to sit around without moving for hours, but many Ontario parks are offering the opportunity to fish licence-free from Saturday, February 18 through Monday, February 20. 

Alas, the answer to ‘What are we doing for Family Day?’

Here are 25 places in Ontario you can go ice fishing for free this long weekend:

1st Annual Pattie House Fishing Derby
The Pattie House
Coboconk , Ontario

February 18, 2017
7:00 am to 3:00 pm

WCFGC Fishing Derby (Horseshoe Bay)
Horseshoe Bay
Dunrobin, Ontario

February 18, 2017
7:00 am to 3:00 pm

Wolf Howl Fishing Derby
Wolfe Lake
Westport, Ontario

February 18, 2017
7:00 am to 3:00 pm

2nd Annual Harrison ice-derby
L’Orignal
L’Orginal, Ontario

February 18, 2017
8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Crowe Lake Pike Catch ‘n Keep Fishing Derby
Crowe Lake
Marmora, Ontario

February 18, 2017
8:00 amt o 4:00 pm

Island Lake Fishing Derby
Island Lake Conservation Area
Orangeville, Ontario

February 18, 2017 – February 20, 2017
8:00 am to 4:00 pm

See also

• It's so cold at this Canadian hot spring that it's freezing people's hair (PHOTOS)
• Toronto just got a brand new public skating rink downtown
• 12 places to go snowshoeing near Toronto
• 9 places you can go dogsledding near Toronto this winter

Calabogie kids school day fishing expedition
Calabogie Lake
Calabogie, Ontario

February 18, 2017
9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Cops, Kids Ice fishing (Youth ice fishing derby)
Herchimer Boat launch
Belleville, Ontario

February 18, 2017
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

ORWL Free Kids Day on ICE
Constance Lake
Kanata, Ontario

February 18, 2017
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

PIIFA/Oziles’ Ice Fishign Derby for CHEO
Petrie Island Ottawa
Ottawa, Ontario

February 18, 2017
9:00 am to 3:00 pm

8th Annual Hamlyn Invitational Ice Fishing Tournament/Derby
Constance Lake
Kanata, Ontario

February 18, 2017
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Arnprior Fish and Game Conservation Club Free Fishing Derby
Goodwins Bay
Arnprior, Ontario

February 18, 2017
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

OFAH Family Ice Fishing Day
BEL Rotary Park in Ennismore – Just North of Peterborough

February 18, 2017
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

11th Annual SCHBA Ice Fishing Tournament
South Shore Centre
Barrie, Ontario

February 18, 2017
All Day

2nd Annual Lake Simcoe Championship Ice Fishing Derby
Canadian Tire Keswick
Keswick, Ontario

February 19, 2017
7:30 am to 4:00 pm

Harbour Harvest
Nepean Sailing Club
Nepean, Ontario

February 19, 2017
8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Ice Fishing for the Cure
Gazebo beside the Marina
North Bay, Ontario

February 19, 2017
8:00 am to 1:00 pm

Manitouwadge Outdoor Enthusiasts Annual Family Fish Derby
Lion’s Beach Manitouwadge
Manitouwadge , Ontario

February 19, 2017
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friends and Family Ice Fishing Day
Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Sudbury, Ontario

February 19, 2017
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Shirley’s Bay Family Fishing Derby
Shirleys Bay
Ottawa, Ontario

February 20, 2017
6:30 am to 5:00 pm

Pinehurst Lake Family Ice Fishing Day
Pinehurst Lake Conservation area
Ayr, Ontario

February 20, 2017
8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Dryden Winter Festival
Government Dock
Dryden, Ontario

February 20, 2017
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Wellington Street Sportsmens Club Annual Family Ice Fishing Event
Wellington Street Sporstmens Club
Thames Centre, Ontario

February 20, 2017
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Thunder Bay Snowdays OFAH Ice Fishing Station

February 20, 2017
11:00 am to 3:00 pm