BARRIE With just two weeks before the end of the ice fishing season, ice hut operators are hoping for a deep freeze after a difficult season. “We went from thousands of people [last year], to six, today,” said Rob Crosbie from J’s Fish Hut Rental in Innisfil. He says 90 percent of his clients come from the United States, and without them, he’s lost most of his business. Without the travel from our American customers being allowed into Canada, I don t think we can recuperate this year, said Crosbie on Saturday. The weather conditions have also been less than ideal. A warm start to the season meant Crosbie didn t open up until February 8th. With the weather the hot, the cold and the snow the ice formation didn t come as quick as it usually does, said Crosbie.
BARRIE, ONT. There were some tense moments on Lake Simcoe Saturday as three vehicles broke through the ice on Cook s Bay. No one was injured as the vehicles sank into about four feet of frigid water. A tow truck pulled the vehicles out while scores of people watched on. It s a reminder of how uneven and unreliable ice on Lake Simcoe remains despite this week s deep freeze. Even after repeated warnings from police and ice hut operators, about a dozen people parked on the lake Saturday morning. Do not park on the ice, do not drive on the ice, it s not safe yet, says Jack Hayward, producer of the Blue Ice Report.