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Gear I Wish I Had My First Ice Fishing Season on Lake Simcoe
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items My first winter on Simcoe was a disaster. Frozen fingers, a dead flasher battery, wet boots that stayed wet for three days, and a tip-up that jammed twice before noon. It took me two full seasons of trial, error, and way too much money to figure out ...
Sections
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Ice Fishing Rods and Combos That Handle Simcoe Perch and Lakers
Electronics and Flashers Worth Bringing on the Hard Water
Shelters and Huts That Survive Simcoe Wind
Augers and Drilling Gear for Thick Simcoe Ice
Heaters and Warmth Gear for Minus Twenty Mornings
Jigs Lures and Bait That Simcoe Fish Actually Eat
Ice Fishing Rods and Combos That Handle Simcoe Perch and Lakers
I snapped a cheap rod on a lake trout my second trip out. Spent the rest of the day borrowing my buddy's spare, which was basically a pool noodle with guides. These are the rods that actually survived Simcoe's mixed bag.
Grab this if you're targeting perch in 30-60 feet. I felt bites I would have completely missed on my old noodle rod. The sensitivity is unreal for the price.
St. Croix Mojo Ice Rod
Switch to this when you're going after lakers. It has enough backbone that I stopped worrying about snapping the tip every time a fish ran under the ice shelf.
Fenwick Elite Tech Ice Fishing Spinning Rods ET2ICE
Use this for panfish days when the bite is soft. My buddy couldn't feel anything on his setup and I was pulling up perch every ten minutes next to him.
13 fishing tickle stick opinions?? - Ice Fishing Forum
Perfect for someone who doesn't want to fuss with matching rod and reel separately. I handed this to my brother-in-law on his first trip and he landed a four-pound walleye.
GX2™ LE Ice Spinning Combo
Keep this as your finesse option. When the pressure is on and fish get lockjaw around Gilford Point, this thing picks up the subtlest taps.
Clam Dave Genz Split Handle Ice Rod
Snag one of these before your first Simcoe trip. The reel didn't freeze up on me even at minus twenty, which is more than I can say for the three reels I tried before it.
FRABILL ICE HUNTER COMBO 26" LT
For anyone on a tight budget who still wants something reliable. I used this my entire first season and it held up to everything Simcoe threw at it, including my clumsy hands dropping it on the ice twice.
HT Enterprises Official Web Site
Electronics and Flashers Worth Bringing on the Hard Water
I burned through a cheap fishfinder that died by 10 AM on a minus fifteen morning. Learned real fast that cold weather kills bargain electronics. These ones actually lasted.
Bring this and you'll actually know what's happening below you. I went from staring at a hole hoping for the best to watching fish come up and react to my jig in real time.
Vexilar FLX-18 Ice Fishing Flasher
Try this if you want the screen and flasher in one unit. The zoom feature let me separate my jig from a fish sitting six inches off bottom, which was the difference between a limit and a skunk.
LX-7 G2 Lithium Equipped Sonar System
For the person who fishes Simcoe regularly and wants to mark waypoints. I found a perch school off Beaverton one morning, marked it, and went back three weekends in a row to the exact spot.
Humminbird Helix 7 G4N GPS Fish Finder with Dual
Use this when you're running between holes. The lithium battery pack kept it alive for two full days without charging, which saved me from the dead-battery panic I had with my old unit.
Reconditioned FLX-30 Ultra Pack w/ Broad Band Ice-Ducer
Perfect for someone just starting who doesn't want to spend flasher money yet. The transducer arm actually works and I got solid readings through 80 feet of water on Cook's Bay.
STRIKER™ Plus 4 Ice Fishing Bundle
Toss this in your hole when you're scouting new spots. I used it to check depth and bottom composition before committing to drilling six holes in the wrong place. Pairs right with your phone.
Deeper Chirp 2 Sonar
Swap your old lead-acid battery for this immediately. I used to lug a twenty-pound battery across the ice. This one weighs nothing and lasts longer. My back thanked me within a week.
Lithium 24v Battery | StrikeMaster
Shelters and Huts That Survive Simcoe Wind
Simcoe wind is a different animal. My first pop-up shelter literally inverted on a Saturday afternoon and I chased it across the ice like a cartoon character. These shelters stayed put.
Get this if you fish with one or two people. It set up in under a minute and the insulated fabric kept the inside warm enough that I shed my outer jacket by noon. Anchored properly, it handled 40 km/h gusts.
Eskimo Fatfish 949i Insulated Pop-Up Shelter
For the group that brings four people. We fit four anglers, a heater, and gear without elbowing each other. The thermal fabric made a noticeable difference compared to my old uninsulated pop-up.
Clam X-600 Thermal - 6 Side Hub Shelter 17481
Bring this when you're setting up for a full day. The sled base doubles as a gear hauler, so I dragged everything out in one trip instead of three. Saved my legs on the long walk from the parking area at Jacksons Point.
Otter Pro XS Lodge X-Over
Try this if you want something compact that still blocks wind. The first time I used it on a breezy day near Gilford, I couldn't believe how quiet it was inside compared to standing exposed.
Frabill Fishing Gear
Perfect for solo anglers who move a lot. I packed this up and relocated three times in one morning chasing a school, and it never felt like a hassle. Weighs almost nothing.
QuickFish 3i
Switch to this when you want a permanent setup feel without the permanent setup. The flip-over design means you're fishing within seconds of arriving. I stopped losing the first hour of daylight to setup.
Kenai Pro Replacement Tents
Use this to haul everything from the truck to your spot. Before I had one, I was making three trips with armfuls of gear. Now it's one trip, and my rods aren't rattling around in a bucket.
Shappell Eagle Claw Jet Sleds
Augers and Drilling Gear for Thick Simcoe Ice
Simcoe ice gets thick. I'm talking two feet plus by February. My hand auger turned a fun morning into an arm workout I didn't sign up for. Power augers changed everything.
Keep this as a backup in case your power auger dies. It cuts clean and weighs almost nothing. But if the ice is over 18 inches, your arms will remind you why you bought a power auger.
Lite-Flite Lazer™ Drill | StrikeMaster
Grab this and never look at a gas auger again. It cut through 24 inches of Simcoe ice like warm butter, no fumes, no pull cord, no mixing fuel. I drilled 30 holes on one charge.
ION X Electric Ice Auger, 8 in
For anyone who wants reliability above all else. This thing has been on the market forever for a reason. I borrowed one before buying my own and it punched through every hole without hesitation.
HONEST REVIEW: Jiffy E6 Lightning Auger
Pair this with a Milwaukee drill you already own and skip buying a dedicated auger. I saved hundreds and it drilled just as fast. The wider hole is a bonus when a fat laker comes through.
K-Drill 6" Ice Auger
Use this for panfish-only days when you don't need big holes. It's so light I barely noticed it in my sled. Six-inch holes are plenty for perch.
RAZR Synthetic Ultra Auger
Get the 10-inch if you're targeting lake trout seriously. I had a laker that barely fit through my 8-inch hole and nearly lost it. Never again. The wider cut is worth the extra weight.
Trophy Strike: Ice Augers
Toss this in your gear bag as a lightweight option. Threads onto a standard drill and I used it as my backup all last season. Came in clutch when my buddy's gas auger flooded in the cold.
Eskimo Ice Fishing Gear: Drill-Adaptive Augers
Heaters and Warmth Gear for Minus Twenty Mornings
Sat in a shelter with no heater once at 6 AM in January on Simcoe. My fingers stopped working by 7. I packed up by 8. Never again. Staying warm is staying on the ice.
Bring this into any shelter and the temperature difference is instant. Within ten minutes my shelter went from freezing to comfortable enough that I took my gloves off. Runs on those small green propane bottles.
Mr. Heater 9000 BTU Portable Buddy Radiant Propane
Switch to this for larger shelters or really brutal days. I ran it on low in my four-person hub and we were warm for eight hours straight. Just crack the vent a bit for airflow.
Big Buddy® Portable Heater
Stuff two in your gloves before you leave the truck. They saved my fingers more times than I can count. Buy the bulk pack because you'll burn through them faster than you think. Stock up before December.
HotHands 10 Hour Hand Warmer | 40 Pairs
Wear this and forget about wind cutting through your legs. I stood outside my shelter for two hours jigging in open air and my legs were warm the entire time. Worth every penny.
Climate Bib - Black | Men's Ice Fishing Suits
For anyone whose feet go numb within an hour. My old boots were rated to minus twenty and that was a lie. These kept my toes alive during a full day on Cook's Bay in January.
25+ Mou Eskimo Boots for sale | Updated Oct 2026
Try this if you run cold and nothing else has worked. I looked ridiculous wearing it but I was the only person still fishing at 4 PM while everyone else had packed up shivering. Comfort wins over style.
IWOM HeatLoc Pro Insulated Hunting Suit
Keep one in each pocket. They're rechargeable so you stop burning through disposable warmers. I charge mine the night before and they last a full day on the ice. Pays for itself in a month.
Thermacell Rechargeable Pocket Warmer TC-PAK-L
Jigs Lures and Bait That Simcoe Fish Actually Eat
Brought a tackle box full of bass lures my first ice trip because I didn't know better. Caught absolutely nothing. Simcoe perch and lakers want specific presentations, and these are the ones that actually produced.
Drop this in 40 feet and rip it. The erratic action drives lake trout crazy. I caught my personal best laker on this color near the Georgina shoreline. It's the first lure I tie on every trip.
Rapala Jigging Rap 05 W5-GT Glow Tiger 2" 5/16 oz Ice
Use this tipped with a waxworm for perch. The glow holds in deep water and I out-fished everyone in my group using plain jigs. Re-charge it with your flashlight every twenty minutes.
Custom Jigs & Spins Open Water & Ice Fishing Baits
For anyone who wants a proven laker lure that's been catching fish on Simcoe for decades. My dad used these in the 80s and they still work. Tip it with a minnow head and let it flutter.
Swedish Pimple Nickel
Pair this with a live minnow and deadstick it on a second rod. Half my fish last season came from the rod I wasn't even holding. Set it and forget it while you jig actively on your other line.
Northland Forage Minnow Jig
Grab these for deep water perch. Tungsten sinks faster than lead so you're back in the strike zone quicker. On a hot bite, that extra speed meant two or three more fish per hour.
VMC Tungsten Tubby Jigs
Try this when perch are being picky and ignoring everything else. The small profile and glow combo triggered bites on days when nothing else worked. Tip it with a spike or euro larva.
Lindy Tungsten Ice Worm Jig
Toss this in your box for lake trout. The flutter on the drop imitates a dying baitfish perfectly. I watched on my flasher as a laker chased it down from fifteen feet above. The take was violent.
Ice Jig ™
Safety and Survival Gear You Hopefully Never Need
Watched a guy go through thin ice near a pressure crack on Simcoe two seasons ago. He was fine because he had picks around his neck. That image stuck with me. I carry all of this now, every single trip, no exceptions.
Wear the picks around your neck every time you step on the ice. Not in your pocket, not in your sled, around your neck. If you go through, your hands won't work well enough to dig through a pocket.
Ice Safety Kit
Strap these on your boots before you walk out. Simcoe ice gets glassy after a thaw-freeze cycle and I watched three people wipe out in one morning. One of them cracked a rib. Cleats prevent that.
HT Enterprises Ice Fishing Cleats Polar Ice Claws PIC-10 FREE
Keep this in your sled in case someone near you goes in. You can toss it from a safe distance without getting close to bad ice yourself. Hopefully you never use it, but you'll be glad you have it.
NRS NFPA Rope Rescue Throw Bag
For anyone who fishes far from shore or in remote areas of the lake. Cell service can be spotty on Simcoe. This sends an SOS with your GPS coordinates even with zero signal. Peace of mind for your family too.
Garmin inReach® Mini 2 | Satellite Communicator
Use this for early morning walks out and late afternoon walks back. It gets dark fast in January and navigating ice ridges and cracks without light is asking for trouble. Rechargeable battery lasts all day.
BLACK DIAMOND Spot 400 Headlamp
Bring this to check ice thickness as you walk out, especially early and late season. Drill a test hole every hundred meters. If you're getting less than four inches of clear ice, turn around. Simple as that.
Mora Ice - Ice Auger & Ice Chisel
Wear this if you fish early or late season when ice is unpredictable. It's a flotation suit that keeps you alive if you go through. Expensive, yes. But I'd rather have it and never need it than the alternative.
Ice Commander Rescue Suit | Mustang Survival USA