Only 75 days to Ontario walleye opener

Nice Lake of the Woods walleye

Each March many people are getting tired of winter and start the countdown to the walleye opening weekend. To many it marks the 'beginning of summer' to some it means having fresh walleye again and to some it means heading up north to their annual Canadian fishing trip.

After being closed for spawning, the walleye season opens up again in Northwest Ontario the 3rd Saturday in May each year. In 2013, that means May 18th is the day many have been dreaming about. While some anglers get fresh walleye by going ice fishing in the winter, those that are unable to make it to Sunset Country in the winter or just prefer to fish in the summer dream of opening day.

Fly-in fishing at McKusker-Keeper Lakes Camp

You can download the 2013 fishing regulations from the Ministry of Natural Resources website. To fish in Ontario, you'll need an outdoors card as well as a fishing license. The Ministry of Natural Resources is encouraging you to buy your Ontario fishing license online before you head out on your fishing trip. You can purchase either a Sport or Conservation license. The conservation license has lower limits. You can download the Ontario fishing regulations as a whole book or just the zone you will be fishing. Be sure to check the exceptions as certain lakes have special limits and slot sizes.

If you haven't booked your 2013 walleye fishing trip yet, you'd better pick a place quick before they fill up. Check out some of the lodges in Ontario with walleye fishing now.

Let the countdown begin!

Which sculpture rates best in 2013?

Once again one of the main attractions at the Kenora Winter Carnival is the snow sculpture competition. In a post last year, we asked which 2012 snow sculpture you liked best. It was hard to choose. The theme this year is 'Lake Life'. Here are the 8 sculptures from the 2013 Kenora Winter Carnival.

#1 - Q104 Boat

#2 - Frog

#3 - Ice Fishing

#4 - Chair

#5 Eagle

#6 - Snowmobile

#7 - Mermaid

#8 - Women of Courage 

#9 - Bear/Bird/Wolf

Check out what else is happening at the 2013 Kenora Winter Carnival. The carnival runs from March 1-3, with the judging for the sculptures taking place on Friday evening.

It's going to be another hard year of judging, which one do you think should go home with first place?

UPDATE: #7, the Mermaid won first prize. I thought they were all great. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Plenty to do this Ontario Family Weekend

You don't need a fishing license Family Day Weekend

There's a ton of stuff happening in Sunset Country this weekend including tons of free events.

Free Ontario Family Fishing Weekend
 
Ontario Family Fishing Weekend is a province-wide opportunity for Canadian residents to fish Ontario waters without the otherwise mandatory fishing version outdoors card. The Ontario Government designates two periods throughout the year as license-free, one of these being this Family Day weekend. You can fish license free from February 16-18, 2013 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Monday). In the summer you can also fish license free from July 6-14, 2013 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday). During all other time periods, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years must purchase a valid fishing license to legally fish in Ontario. If you've never been ice fishing, this weekend would be an opportune time to get out there and fish. You can also take a friend fishing.

Participants fishing without a license must fish under the Conservation fishing license limits which are set out in the current Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. With the exception of the licensing requirement, Ontario fishing regulations, fees and limits continue to apply during license-free days.

Snowmobile our winter wonderland

Permit Free Snowmobiling

The OFSC is also having a 'Try Our Trails Permit'. The Try Our Trails Permit is only valid for available OFSC trails on Ontario’s Family Day Long Weekend February 16-18, 2013.

• You will be required to enter your sled license plate number, VIN, make, model and year when applying for this permit.*
• Print the permit yourself from confirmation email you receive after registering online.
• Permit must be affixed to your sled.

The OFSC wants to invite new participants, former riders and out‐of province visitors to try OFSC trails at no cost. They encourage all regular permit buyers to invite their families and friends to obtain a 2013 Try Our Trails Permit, so they can Take a Friend Snowmobiling. What a great opportunity to try the OFSC snowmobile trails. Find out more at the Ontario Federation of Snowmobiling Club website. 

2012 'Pimp Your Ice Shack' Winners

Winter Festivals

Check out the Dryden Winter Festival February 15-18, 2013. Celebrate winter outdoors with family and friends. There's a pancake breakfast, horse drawn sleigh rides, skating, sliding, snow kiting lessons and demos, snow sculpting, family fishing derby and so much more... You can download a printable schedule of Dryden Winter Festival events.

The Vermilion Bay Kin Karnival will kick off on February 14 with the Kin Baby contest at 6:30 p.m. The event continues on Friday with the annual fish fry at the Lions hall. There will be events all day Saturday including a pancake breakfast and a mini kids carnival, and a new event - the trapline challenge dog sled race. It's a mass start at 10:30 at the government dock. After that there will be having a kids mutt run. Sunday events include the Kin Family Fish Derby, which is often called the main event. Those interested in signing up for the fishing derby will be able to at the carnival. For more information on event registration contact Scott McEwan at 227-2904.

Mount Evergreen Ski Hill is open Family Day

There are also many Family Day Activities throughout the cities and towns in Sunset Country.

In Kenora, visit the Kenora Recreation Centre for a free public skate from 12:30-2pm and a free public swim from 1-2:30pm. Mount Evergreen Ski Hill will be open from 10-4pm and they have special pricing for the day. Beaver Creek Ranch is also open from 2-4pm. They will have sleigh rides, petting zoo, crafts and a bonfire.

In Thunder Bay there are lots of great things happening this Family Day weekend! There's Fort William Historical Park's Voyageur Winter Carnival all weekend and Winterfest down at Prince Arthur's Landing on February 18th. 

An “Indoor Planetarium” is coming to the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre on Monday, Feb. 18 (Family Day). Pick up your tickets for one of the six shows, which cost $2/person.

That's just a taste of what's happening in Sunset Country this weekend. Now get off the computer and head outside!