With temperatures hovering above zero, Family Day 2022 in Innisfil saw many out on frozen Lake Simcoe, fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and hiking.
Gail Loder and Donny Crowder of Hot Box Huts were busy shuttling families to and fro the middle of the lake for an ice fishing excursion. From Feb. 19-21, residents were able to fish for free in Ontario without a license.
Loder and Crowder live around the corner from their ice fishing operation on the 2nd Line in Churchill, which they opened five years ago. Hot Box Huts has around 30 ice huts and offers a full-service ice hut rental, including bait, heaters and transportation to and from shore.
"We are bait harvesters, so we harvest the bait and put them in the lake, it's pretty cool," noted Loder.
Loder says their business has remained steady throughout the pandemic, with a slight increase in bookings this year due to the loosening of COVID restrictions.
"It's so great out here," said Loder, who enjoys interacting with all the tourists and locals coming to experience the lake in the winter.
Ice fishing season in Ontario ends March 15.
"That's when we legally have to have all the permanent huts off the lake," said Loder.
The Henao family from Richmond Hill were out fishing in one of the huts early Monday morning. Mother Andrea Henao said the family of four started ice fishing last year, during the pandemic.
"What else is there to do? Last year was our first time taking the kids out, and it became a little tradition," she said.
Marlene Goshko and her husband from Alliston were out Monday morning ice fishing with Gail's Hot Box Huts. The couple were out two weeks ago and caught around 25 perch.
"It was awesome," said Marlene. "This is the way to go, with heated shacks. Excellent service, we had no problem at all. It was really good."
Loder and Crowder recently partnered with the town to launch the ice hut art installation project, featuring the work of 11 local artists who transformed plywood huts into vibrant works of art for a public art installation across Innisfil.
Richard and Ellen Vanderkloet were out walking on the lake Monday morning, admiring all the art installations that are located on or near Lake Simcoe. The couple has a family cottage nearby which used to be owned by Ellen's parents over 50 years ago.
"We just love being here," said Ellen.
On Sunday, the Vanderkloets drove through Innisfil to check out all the ice hut art pieces.
"We are just trying to track them all down," said Ellen. "I am just loving the idea. The ice huts are iconic here and to do this, it's just beautiful. I think people will look at ice huts with a fresh look now."
To learn more about Gail's Hot Box Huts, visit their website here.
To see the list of the ice hut installations and their locations, visit the town website here.
