Fall 2019: It was our last morning fishing beautiful northern Lake Huron out from Blue Heron Resort on the Spanish River.  The rocky terrain was quite similar to that of this Great Lake’s Georgian Bay way to the south where fishing partner Doug Wadden and I have each spent far more time; yet in some respects it’s even more rugged and displays far less sign of human activity. Every morning we would be blessed with an eagle sighting followed by tremendous success catching smallmouth bass. 

For many years now, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy the early catch and release bass fishing season that New York State has to offer. Trips to lakes like Chautauqua or Oneida at the end of May or early June were a great way to get a head start on the late opener we have throughout southern and central Ontario where I live and usually fish. When an opportunity however arose to experience and promote some of this province’s home grown, fully legit, year round open bass season – in an area of the province I where I haven’t spent a great deal of time … I jumped at it.

Saturday August 11, 2018 seemed like a long ways off way back in March, but as soon as I heard the date, I quickly marked it down in my calendar for the annual Sun City Swim in Orillia.