We Found First Ice Crappie | Southern Ontario Ice Fishing

First-ice crappie fishing is one of my favourite ways to kick off winter — and finding safe ice in Southern Ontario made this early season trip even better. ❄️🎣

Some years we’re fishing from the boat well into December… and some years we’re already drilling holes before Christmas.
This year winter came early here in southern Ontario, so we dusted off our ice fishing gear, tried out some new stuff (Mega Live Imaging 2), and got back out on the ice close to home. My sister and I were lucky enough to find a small pond holding crappie — and honestly, there’s nothing better than starting and ending the year on the ice.

The last five years have all looked different, and this season was a reminder of how much weather patterns and timing can change year to year. 2025 gave us an amazing stretch of ice fishing from January through March, and now we’re closing it out the same way we started — bundled up, chasing fish, and enjoying the quiet that winter brings.

If you love crappie fishing, first ice, and Ontario ice fishing close to home, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Thanks so much for all the support this year 🤍
I can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store.

Check out www.sail.ca for all your ice fishing needs!