Written by Pam Stewart

Mississippi Lake is located a short distance in between the towns of Carleton Place and Perth and provides great angling opportunities all year long. You can find several types of fish species in it such as Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie and more. Ice anglers enjoy fishing this lake because it has easy access to a great and successful fishery. The most popular public launch is located off Highway 7 at the Mississippi Lake National Wildlife Area, also known as Grasshopper Point. There is a large parking area for vehicles and trailers. This launch/walking path connects to a shallow weedy bay at the south end of the lake that gradually extends off the shore to a large flat with various types of weeds with a depth ranging from 3-20 feet. This area is very popular for anglers and families to use during the winter fishing months, as baitfish love to be around those weedy vegetation areas. Where there is bait, the predatory fish aren’t far behind.

Recently I spent a day on the ice in search of Walleye and Panfish for catch and release purposes.  Myself, and a couple fishing friends started walking out off Grasshopper Point in the early afternoon, with our safety gear in hand, checking the ice as we walked with a spud. There was already a small community of anglers fishing outdoors and with portable hubs setup about half a kilometer out from shore and further, spread out over a wide area. We walked a far distance in search of the edge of the weedline and started drilling holes and ultimately found a small section of structure with weeds surrounding it so we setup for the ‘prime-time’ bite, covering a large area. Before dark I caught a beautiful Yellow Perch while jigging. Shortly after I heard my rod snap upwards on my set line, and I knew a fish was on. I ran over to it and ended up reeling up a beautiful 24 ¼” Walleye, screaming with excitement once we got her topside. It was a very cold and windy day out there so keeping fish care in mind my friend helped me keep this fish wet and in the hole while I took some photo’s then released her to spawn this spring.

1.  Licensing And Regulations

It is very important to make sure you plan your fishing trip ahead as much as possible, and to purchase a fishing license before you intend to fish, if you require one. Also, be sure to read up on the rules and regulations as it can vary between waterbodies and fishing management zones. It’s very important to follow all regulations for all fish species as it is detrimental to sustaining our natural resources for future generations to get out and enjoy for many years to come. You can pick up the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary along with a fishing license at some local stores in the surrounding towns, as well as online at Ontario.ca.

2. Ice Safety Tips And Equipment

The last couple of years our winter months have been mild, and it’s taking a lot longer for the lakes and rivers to freeze up. Before you consider venturing out onto any ice, the most important thing to always consider is Ice Safety. Always pay attention to the weather leading up to your trip, and try to inquire about what the current ice conditions are. A great way to do this is to try to get in touch with some local anglers. You can check out some online fishing pages on social media where anglers will often chat about current ice conditions during the early and late ice seasons to ensure everyone returns home safely. Another way to inquire about this is to visit some local fishing tackle shops who are always willing to share where to go and what areas to avoid that are unsafe. If you are also interested in looking into finding a local, licensed fishing guide, local tackle shops may be able to help with that information as well. I never venture onto any body of water without my safety gear on and in hand ready to use if the unthinkable were to happen. Some ice safety equipment that I always use is my Striker Brands Flotation Suit, a spud to hit the ice in front of you before you step, ice picks that are easily accessible to the front of my chest, and ice cleats for walking. I always travel with a friend and communicate with others on my return time off the ice.

3. Know Your Fish Species

A quick google search of the fish species you’d like to target can help a lot in determining where these fish like to spend their time during different months of the year. Knowing a bit about their history and behavior can help you determine what they like to forage on and can help you narrow down where you’d like to start drilling. If you’re interested in species such as Walleye, Northern Pike, and Panfish, Grasshopper Point checks all the boxes, and is within walking distance of the launch. The reason for this is because of the structure in that area that draws baitfish and larger fish into the ‘feeding grounds’. It has a variety of different types of weeds and rocks that baitfish love to hide in and use to feed as well. The larger predator fish such as Walleye and Pike, use structures such as rock humps and shoals to prey on the smaller fish.

4. Helpful Applications

There are a variety of fishing applications out there to help you look at lake depth contour maps, and to locate shoals, humps, and other types of structure. This can be very helpful when new to the area. Navionics is my favourite for its consistency and ease of use. If you want to explore and make a fun getaway experience with friends and family then Fish ON-line is an online website that helps to locate waterbodies and fish species across Ontario. It also shows all stocked waterbodies with species, numbers and sizes of fish. Along with public launches, lake depth contour maps, and many more helpful features. I recommend checking it out before planning your next adventure to Lanark County.

5. Suggested Gear

I always have a ‘don’t forget to-bring’ list with me before I head out fishing.

•Fishing License & Ontario Fishing Regulations

•Striker Flotation Suit

•A Spud

•Ice Picks

•Ice Cleats

•Insulated Rubber Boots

•Electric or Handheld Ice Auger

•Sleigh

•Comfortable Chair

•Electronics such as a fish finder

•Scoop

•20 litre pail to carry live bait (make sure to check the regulations on using live bait in the bait management zones you intend to fish)

•Tackle tray with various kinds, sizes, and colour options for lures to help draw those fish in

•Insulated portable ice fishing huts with a heater and a 5lbs propane tank

•Rechargeable headlamp

•Water & Snacks

6. Jigging vs. Set Lines

There are a wide variety of angling methods you can use to catch fish. The most popular way is jigging with a rod and reel combo which allows you to feel the bite and set the hook manually. You can also use tip up’s for set lines that trigger a flag to stand upright when a fish eats your bait and can be brought up the hole with your hands. There are also other options such as a JawJacker with a hook setter base, which uses a rod and reel on a base that is anchored to the ice and when a fish eats your bait it will trigger the rod to go off and will set the hook for you.

7. Come & Stay Awhile

Mississippi Lake is conveniently located under a 20 minute drive from Perth and Carleton Place. Both towns offer a variety of hotel accommodations available for you along Highway 7, perfectly located for access to Mississippi Lake. These towns also offer a variety of dine in or take out options to fill that hunger void and to get you back on the ice sooner. For my day on the ice to Mississippi Lake I started my morning off by grabbing a hearty breakfast at The Thruway Restaurant in Carleton Place, followed by a refreshing beverage at Starbucks before heading out to the lake for the day/evening. For dinner, I grabbed a quick hot pizza at Law & Orders Restaurant in Innisville as it’s just a short distance from the launch.

Pam Stewart is a Lanark County local. She is a year round multi-species angler, Cabela’s Canada Pro Staff, outdoor enthusiast & public speaker. Instagram Facebook

Pro Tip: For Walleye, my favourite rod and reel combo is the Cabela’s Fish Eagle 50 in a 28”-38” Medium to Medium Heavy Power. The power of a rod means the heaviness or stiffness of the rod tip. You want significant power to get a good hook set on the fish, and to fight that fish up the hole without breaking a rod. I pair that with a size 500-1000 spinning reel spooled up with a 10-12lbs braided line tipped with a 8lbs flurocarbon leader. My favourite bait for walleye are the Freedom Tackle Flash in a 5/16oz size, in either colour Fire Tiger or Perch Glow. I also have a panfish rod with me as well incase a school of Yellow Perch come cruising through. My preferred setup for panfish is a 24” Ultralight rod with a size 500 spinning reel with a 6lbs fluorocarbon line.