Tag Archives: Ice Fishing

The elusive hungry whitefish

January 26, 2016

Returning from Belize and preparing to depart to Hawaii in a few days time, I had all but one day to spend on the hard water this season. The whitefish must have been aware that I wouldn’t be bothering them much this year, because they decided to return the favour by making my one day quite a memorable one! Read more

On the ice, in the dark

March 30, 2015

As dusk fell on Lake Simcoe’s icy expanse, the moon’s silvery glow began to take hold. The wind calmed and an absolute silence settled in its place only to be broken, yet again, by the roar of my Jiffy auger. The night was approaching and I was back, drilling another hole, in search of a fish that had captivated my late ice fishing endeavors. 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

Don’t cheat on a whitefish

February 15, 2014

Thanks to a lift on a friend’s ATV, I was able to start fishing nice and early as the sun was coming up. This was critical because I didn’t want to be late for my Valentine’s date with Wendy Whitefish. Even though I was hellbent on Wendy, I just couldn’t resist the temptation to suspend something for Luna Lake Trout. Read more

Catching Them All

Michael Verdirame's journey of fishing.