Author Archives: Michael

When a grown man stood up to 1″ fish

May 16, 2014

Last year I had quite the blunder trying for my lifer rainbow darters. Lots of wind and freezing water. Today I had my revenge! Armed with some sampling information, I went out in search of a lifer Redside Dace… instead I found something just as colourful darting around! Read more

Bury my yak in whitefish

May 12, 2014

It’s a rare day when the collection of variables that influence a day’s fishing just seem to mesh perfectly. Today was one of those days. I began fruitlessly trolling out from Simcoe’s shoreline at 5:30am on glass-calm water. When I got to where I wanted to be, I dropped anchor and got ready for some jigging. Read more

No ice this time!

May 11, 2014

Out the door at 3am and the anchor was down at 6am. I fished the same place with the same rod, same lures, and with the same technique as I employed through the ice. The result was the same coveted Lake Whitefish! Read more

Burbageddon

April 11, 2014

Last year, I experienced a Burbot disaster, this year I experienced the Burbageddon. Uncertain if last year’s burbot spawning ground would close to ice fishing forever, I was exceptionally fortunately to be able to spend three nights there in this 2014 ice season. Read more

How to not find burbot on Simcoe

March 22, 2014

Super lazy day today, didn’t get onto the ice until 12:30ish and I had a long sled ride ahead of me. With temperatures increasing it seems like prime time to find spawning burbot. The target was a shoal I’ve had my eyes on but never had the chance to fish before the season closure for lake trout and whitefish. Read more

Three days up north

March 20, 2014

It all began with the idea to add Round Whitefish to my fishing lifelist. What began with the unknown ended with the familiar. I quickly realized that I was quite alone in my hunt for a round whitefish through the ice. Read more

Once more, with feeling

March 13, 2014

… or whatever you can feel when it’s -30 in the morning. Stuck to my guns this morning by setting up on the same spot as yesterday. I arrived a bit later than I would have liked (there was already light out), but by 10am I was 2/3 on whities. Read more

The Corn Syrup Hole

March 12, 2014

I’d take honey over corn syrup any day, but, for this season at least, corn syrup will do. What’s a corn syrup hole? Well it’s a spot that will give you a slow trickle of semi-active fish. It won’t skunk you, but it won’t be a trans-formative, transcendental experience. Read more

Soft-mouth syndrome

March 1, 2014

Today’s plan was to cover as much water as my arm-powered 8″ fin bor III would allow me to. I launched from Jackson’s point, drilled up to the north end of Georgina Island, and then drilled my way back home. 16 holes in total. Read more

Jumbo laker chasing jumbo perch

February 24, 2014

Willow beach is the nearest Lake Simcoe access point near my place, so I figured I’d give it a quick shot before work started at 3pm. I’ve been there three times before. The first time, hiked 6+ km and marked only 2 fish. Read more

You never know until it’s in the hole

February 22, 2014

I figured the same spot I caught the whitefish at last weekend was worth another look early in the morning. I had my line wet at 7am and stared at a blank screen for a long time. A few hours later, I moved around and marked some fish deeper (60-70fow) but they were just as inactive as they had been the last 50 times I have tried for them. Read more

Wendy took me back!

February 16, 2014

Even though Wendy had caught me cheating with Luna and Layla yesterday, she took me back! She even brought one of her friends along to meet me. Some say if you can win her friends over, you’ve won her over. Anyhow, who’s looking for brains when she’s rocking ten thousand golden scales. Read more

Catching Them All

Michael Verdirame's journey of fishing.