For the last couple of years I have been unable to compete in the Canadian Ice Fishing Championships (CIFC) on Lake Simcoe because of commitments
to participate in Conservation Director Meetings during the Bassmaster Classic in the US. For the last few years both championship events are held on the third weekend of February. This year my meetings were cancelled so tournament partner Gerry Heels and I signed up to fish the 16th annual CIFC.
After a couple of days of pre-fishing, we figured the nearby lake trout and whitefish action would be slow. We did manage to get onto some nice perch however and were able to figure out their activity levels and several of their preferred baits. We hoped this would hold true for the competition the next day. First though would be the mandatory pre-tournament meeting the night before.
It was great to see several familiar faces who have fished this premier competition over the years - including my good friend Joe Montgomery from Niagara - who at 86 "almost 87" years of age is still going strong and a force to be reckoned with on and off the ice. That night it was also a pleasure to see the 2010 Bill Bond Memorial Award handed to Peter Waring of MNR's Aurora District. This annual award goes to the person who has demonstrated his/her commitment to conserving and promoting the fishery of Lake Simcoe. (See related press release here.)
On day one, all 80, two person teams met just east of Jackson's Point and converged in 25-35 feet of water. We all had to stay and fish within the strict boundaries - approximately ½ square kilometre. We could not be more than 30 paces from our partner or closer than 50 feet from another competitor. The goal for each team was to catch the heaviest 15 perch they could and to keep them alive in a five gallon pail. At the end of the day, they would be weighed and released.
Wil waiting for a perch to hit
Gerry and I both relied heavily on our Lowrance Ice Machine Sonars throughout the day. These units detected our small micro baits and equally important the perch interested in them. Within minutes after the 9:00 am start we began catching perch. Like the day before - they were still finicky, yet willing to gingerly peck away at our baits until we coaxed them just enough to set the hook.
A perch in the hand was a sought-after commodity on day one of the CIFC.
Most teams caught them but few could find enough of Simcoe's Jumbo's that the lake is famous for
For Gerry - his top producing bait was a small HT football head tipped with a bright orange Berkley Micro Power Craw and live maggots. My bait of choice was a chartreuse and orange HT Marmooska jig tipped with a brown Berkley Micro Power Craw and maggots. Light action HT Polar Lite rods and the new Accucast reels were used with 4 lb test line.
Although several other anglers in the area were frustrated with the lack of fish - or possibly their inability to connect … our action remained steady all morning long. Even though the afternoon was silent, we were able to persuade the occasional loaner perch into taking a smaller Marmooska with one pound test and two single maggots. By the end of the day, our total weight wasn't outstanding but we were still in the hunt with 4.87 pounds for our heaviest 15 perch.
After day one we headed back to Peninsula Resort where we were staying for this tournament. Located right at the mouth of the Pefferlaw River where it enters Lake Simcoe, this is a popular destination for visiting anglers from across Ontario and the Border States. I have known the owners Jerry Kucharchuk and his family for many years; have eaten home cooked meals at their restaurant and fished from their "Pefferlaw Fish Huts," operation. But, for one reason or another, I had yet to stay there overnight even though I heard from several former clients that these accommodations were top notch. As we learned firsthand their rooms are exceptionally clean, quite large and offered a separate kitchenette and sitting area that I know visiting anglers appreciate.
Gerry Heels in foreground and Wil in back. ATV's and snowmobiles are not permitted
within the fishing zone- so this one is just outside the boundary.
The next day we were straight out and slightly to the west of Jackson's Point in a similar sized zone as the day before. This time however we were all delegated to deep water and bigger fish - like lake trout and whitefish. Depths ranged from 60-70 feet. Under bright blue bird conditions fishing was unbearably slow.
On day two we upgraded our Lowrance sonars - Gerry was using the new HD unit and I had my trusty LMS 322 that I have on my bass boat. Both were equipped with ice transducers for maximum efficiency. We were able to detect a few loan whitefish near bottom on these units and I did have a lake trout chase my white tube jig all the way from bottom up to the 40 foot level. It was clearly visible on my screen and exciting but nothing would strike.
So- despite the fact that good sonar can make your fishing excursions more fun and sometimes more productive they do not make the fish bite or catch the fish for you! That day 160 anglers caught a total of five fish and we weren't one of the lucky ones!
2009 CIFC Winner took 10th spot
and caught the biggest lake trout
in the 2010 event
Our overall standing was a respectable 19th place. One ‘big fish' would have certainly moved us to top ten - but several teams could make the same claim. The winners - Con Adlock & Mike Chedly from Quebec took home the $10,000 winner's cheque. Last year's winner Joe Adragna teamed up with his daughter Melissa this time around instead of his wife Darlene. They placed 10th and received a $500 cheque but Joe also caught (and released) the biggest fish of the event a gorgeous 31 inch Lake Trout that earned them an extra $1,072.
It was good to be able to compete once again in the 2010 Canadian Ice Fishing Championship. While we were there the world's best bass anglers converged on Lay Lake in Alabama were the undisputed king of competitive bass fishing - Kevin Van Dam of Kalamazoo Michigan won his 3rd Bassmaster Classic title and the cool $500,000 top prize.
CIFC 2010 Champions Con Adlock & Mike Chedly (middle)
flanked by CIFC president Rocky Madsen (left)
and the mayor of the Town of Georgina Rob Grossi
Wil Wegman
www.wilwegman.com
Photos by Tegan Leach and courtesy of CIFC
For more information on the CIFC visit: www.georginafishingseries.ca
To check out the Peninsula Resort or Pefferlaw Fish Huts visit: www.peninsularesort.net
