Sparky's Photo Gallery
2024 - 2025
December 27, 2024
It was getting a bit frustrating to start the ice season off but finally the ice showed up...
I walked out to my favorite spot and set up... I marked some fish but was only able to bring three top side.. That's the way it goes... just rusty...
January 6, 2025
Got out again with a friend to my spot.. Really didn't see many but managed a couple fish for the outing.
January 10, 2025
Back at the same spot, but this time I came away with my limit plus put a couple back.. Its odd how it goes!!
January 15, 2025
I can finally use the 4 wheeler to get out on the bay! This is a first using it ice fishing!! I got to my spot in no time and set up!! I only managed to get a couple of fish for the day but still it was a good day until I happen to touch my auger blades... ouch!! At least I know they're sharp!!
January 17, 2025
We finally got some snow and was able to get out on our new to me Ski Doo Tundra, that I picked up this past spring. I only managed 1 fish for the day but marked many for the day... With a front coming in, it sure turned the fish off!!
January 31, 2025
Finally back out on to Lake Simcoe!! I went out and around a friends permanent hut. I marked a bunch of fish but had no takers. Chris and his dad came out as well a bit later. Around noon I finally hook into a decent sized ling for my first and only fish of the day. Later in the day Chris hooked into a decent whitefish. Finished off the day with the one ling and Chris with the one whitefish. Still a good day on the ice!!
February 5, 2025
Back at on Simcoe... It was a nice sun rise that's for sure!! So out to some of my usual spots in search of some whitefish.. Got to the first spot and fished for awhile and marked one fish so it was time for a move.. On the way to my second spot my auger mount broke off and when I realized in I turned around to go back and find my auger fell into a slush bed.. Oh the joys!! Got to my spot and the auger was frozen up... it wouldn't work... Got the hut set up ands the heater going to thaw it out but in the mean time I used my hand auger.. thank god the blades were sharp!! There a lot of ice!! Finally got the auger working but I also got my two whitefish for the day!!
On the way back in my hitch broke... well, I lost one of the pins. I didn't have others so used some rope, which didn't last long.. I tied some more on and it lasted a bit longer.. once it broke I just said screw and carried on into the parking area. I had some more at home so it was repaired...
February 8, 2025
Back at it again out from Beaverton....
Lots of people out and about this morning but it was a bit of a trip out with a dense fog... I almost came up on shore once LOL. I got to my spot and set and set up... I marked a few but no takers so I decided on a little move to get away from the others.... As the day went on people left the area and the fish became a little more active. I lost one fish but got one as well... It seems with the amount of ice we have this year there are more people out enjoying ice fishing....
Yet another good day on the ice!!
February 9, 2025
Back at it again out from Beaverton....
It was a bit of a snowy morning but I went out... I tried a few different areas this day but all I marked was smelt. You could see them down the hole... Its nice to see them coming back but what a pain trying to get away from them to get into some whitefish!! No fish for me today, but still a fun time.
February 23, 2025
I decided to take a break from Simcoe and try something a little closer. I tried Loughborough Lake, north of Kingston. I have heard some good things about the lake and the population of Lake Trout in it.-, so why not try it for myself. It was a bit of an adventure getting to the spot with lots of slush. I went as light as possible but still was slowed down a few times by the slush. I got to a spot that I was told about and there was a couple of other guys fishing it .. they were marking fish and had a nice laker on the ice. I set up a distance away and marked fish and had a few chase my lures but I just couldn't connect with any fish. Still it was a nice time on a new lake. I'll for sure be back to try it again next year, depending on the ice.
February 26, 2025
A little bit of maintenance goes a long way!! I had a piece of square tubing laying around so I picked up a new set of Koplin mounts and made a decent auger mount for the from of the snow machine. During the summer I'll take it off and paint up and put it back on.
March 2, 2025
I went back to Lake Simcoe for another try... Got set up and wanted to try something a bit different so I tried a Simcoe tip-up... LOL... Still no fish for me this day! I was also sporting my new toque I got for my birthday. I'm staying over night at our usual B&B so I'll be back at in the morning.... A nice meal at one of the local restaurants and a good nights sleep...
March 3, 2025
Back on the lake, early this morning...
Went back towards my usual spots and set up.. First thing on the agenda... breakfast... I always get the breakfast burrito to go so I can heat it up on my buddy heater... Always sooo good!! Well, back to fishing... All I marked was schools of smelt in my spots this morning, so a move was in order... I moved towards my buddys hut... Got set up there and it didn't take long.... first whitefish of the day caught on the high hook!! Once again some schools of smelt showed up but didn't hang around long. Another fish up.. this time a beauty ling, which went back. That was it for the day...
March 9, 2025
It was a beauty day on simcoe today other than the time change!! Went to a different parking area today and what a nice area to park for easy access to the lake!
It didn't take long to hook into a beauty sized ling!! A short time later I hooked into my first whitefish of the day.. It was caught on the high hook with one of Grumpy baits gobies... In the mean time Chris and his dad were also out in their hut.. They had lost one half way up but marking a decent amount, but just not biting. I on the other hand hadn't marked many... its funny how they can be in one area say 30 feet away and not in another... later in the afternoon I finally got my second whitefish of the day. Chris hooked into a nice ling... Both of the ling (Burbot) went to the people who own the B&B I stay at as they love them... It was also Chris and his dad's last time out with the permanent hut this year... Off it went to be stored away till next season
March 10, 2025
Back on the lake, early this morning...
Went back around where I was yesterday... Seems like that entire area has a huge ling population.. maybe they were coming in shallow in preparation for their spawning season?? I hooked a beauty ling and taking this one home to try a poor mans lobster dinner down the road!! I decided to move out to deeper water in search of some whitefish. I headed to an area a friend had taken me to some time ago... Didn't bother putting up the hut.. The sun was out and holy did I get a burnt face! I had only had one mark but got it again on the high hook! Later in the day I did have a few more marks but no takers. A couple of other guys were near me and they had gotten into a few from what I saw... I packed up for the day and called it a fantastic season, even though it could have been longer, but with the amount of snow and slush you just couldn't get around as well... Until next year, its time for stuff around the house and of course some well needed maintenance on my gear and replenish my stuff.
Sparky's Photo Gallery
2025 - 2026
December 15, 2025
Got on some first ice on my favorite area of Quinte this afternoon. I spudded my way out to find mostly 4 to 5 inches of good ice but still you had to check as there were a few soft spots where the spud went through on the first hit. I didn't get to my favorite spot but I was close enough in about 18 FOW. I set up near some other huts and checked for fish and it didn't take long for a couple of fish to show so up went the pop up which made it a bit more comfortable. I stayed until near dark and marked a lot of fish but none wanted to bite. Made it back to shore just as darkness fell and I spoke with a couple of other guys who had the same luck as I did.. glad I wasn't the only one marking fish that wouldn't bite!!
This was the earliest I got on the ice so its all up hill from here, I hope!!
December 23, 2025
Back on Quinte this afternoon. Not much to tell... Lots of perch and Walleye.. Thats about it!!
January 4, 2026
First time on Lake Simcoe... likely the earliest I have been on the ice there in a lot of years!! The entire lake isn't solid but where we were was good enough!!
Met up with Chris at Brechin Point huts and off we went!! Got set up on a spot and found 14 inches of ice in one spot and 7 in another.. still good enough for the snow machines though! All the huts and machines worked well for the first time out this season!
We marked plenty of fish but nothing came top side... I hooked one but lost it at the hole after it hitting some pack ice.
We shall be back at it in the near future and hopefully bring home a few fish!
January 8, 2026
Out solo on Simcoe.... Not much to tell really!! It was a beauty morning and day to be fishing but today wasn't my day! No fish!!
January 14, 2026
I changed it up and went back to the Bay of Quinte to see if I could any walleye... I was set up in my old spot which has always produced fish but other than a jumbo perch, which I tossed back, that was all she wrote! I marked fish but they just wouldn't bite!
January 17, 2026
Back to Quinte for one last kick at getting some walleye for a fish fry and for the freezer! Went back to my usual spot, this time with the snow machine... a lot easier than walking in the snow!
I got set up and began marking fish almost right away... Got a couple of nice jumbo perch and then a good mark appeared and after a bit of playing bang a good fish on! After a bit of a fight a nice walleye came up and out of the hole!! FINALLY!!!! That was it for me! After cleaning the fish I checked to see its full stomach... Lot of people had said they were full of shad which generally leave early around the same time the ice shows, but not this time... my fish was full!! Still it was fantastic to have a nice walleye for the freezer and a future fish fry!!
January 29 / 30, 2026
Simcoe is such a great fishery but it can also be very frustrating!! You go for one species of fish and catch another!! I didn't manage any whitefish this day but did get a few beauty jumbo perch!! The next day it was all about the smelt! Again no whitefish! Still it was a good couple of days on the lake!!
February 3, 2026
Out on Simcoe solo today... Went to Brechin area we generally fish... Marked fish as I was setting up... didn't even have a rod out as yet... Finished setting up and marked a couple of more fish and then finally had one come in, bite and up she came!! First whitefish of the morning!! It began to snow mid morning.... then it really came down... complete whiteout for a bit!! Early afternoon came and so did my second whitefish of the day!! Once the snow finished for the time being I decided to made it for shore! A good day on the ice for sure!!!
February 9, 2026
Back out and with a new fish finder... I was finding my other one wasn't marking my lures at a shallow depth plus its old... I've had it well over 20 years and I bought it from a friend used... it was time for a new one!
Well, I set up... I had marked some fish and had a solid hit and miss... Then finally got a nice whitefish on the high hook.. A little while later I hooked in to a burbot, which went back... then I got another... and another.... That was it for the day... 1 whitefish and 3 burbot..... It was a cold day but its always nice getting out fishing and with the heater going in the hut!!
February 17, 2026
Back out and this time meeting up with Chris and his dad... Holy it was a foggy morning!! Couldn't 30 feet in front of you! Chris called saying his auger went down, while I was on shore.. off I went to locate him... It seemed like I was going around in circles trying to find him!! Finally they appeared from the fog!! I got set up near them and fished outside as it wasn't bad out... Chris managed a couple of burbot but we ended up moving to another area as the fish weren't cooperating.... I moved further away from Chris to try an old spot... A short time later someone else showed up and set up about a 100 feet away from me...
The new area brought hope and seeing some fish! Finally later in the day I hooked into a whitefish and then a while later a burbot, which went back. The day ended with the fog lifting so we could see our way in!!
February 23, 2026
Tried something new.... Lake Ontario after some Lake Trout.... Got to the parking lot and found some others already out or on their way out! It wasn't a far ride out to over 70 feet of water!! I marked several fish but also lots of bait fish! I had a few follows but this being my first time fishing here I didn't have all of the proper plastics and heavy enough jigs to get down fast but it was fun watching the fish follow up even though I didn't get any hook ups! I'll be back next year for another try at it!!!
February 26, 2026
Things didn't go as planned this morning!! I got almost there and got a flat tire on the trailer! This happened just after 6am! I was able to get off the road into a driveway... The owner at some point came down and I explained what happened and that I've contacted CAA.. he said all was good... CAA didn't arrive until around 930am Turned out that I had a bent axle... Tire was changed and I limped home... I managed to locate an axle with the help from my buddy Scott.. the axle was up in Bracebridge... It finally got repaired on some days later and I was back up and fishing!!
March 5, 2026
Scott finally came out fishing!! We met up in Brechin and headed out... We got set up and it wasn't long before Scott got his first fish... a nice burbot.... Then a beauty whitefish and yet another burb! I only managed one burbot which I gave to Scott.
We moved a few times before calling it a day, however when we went to head in my machine wouldn't start... We played around with it for a bit but it was a no go... I had to take the tow from shame with a tow in... as we hit the main road I tried the machine and it started... Got it to the trailer and loaded!
I took it in to my sled guy and it turned out to be a module which holds the coil and a couple of other things.. It was changed out and the machine is back in good working order...
