Warm Water Muskie
Judging by the steady drop in the largemouth bass population along the Ottawa River below Ottawa, it’s safe-to-say that the Muskie population is thriving.
Entries by
A time to Jig and a Time to Dropshot
Fishing with jigs is quite possibly one of the oldest forms of fishing using artificial baits.
A year for Getting Back to Basics
I am quite fortunate to have the backing of a number of terrific sponsors – most of which have been with me for over ten years.
Ice Fishing Ottawa River Walleye is About Time and Place
Twice in January I ventured out on to the frozen Ottawa River and had two terrific days of Walleye fishing. Same river, different times of the day and different strategies each time. Timing: During daylight hours the Walleye stay deep just off the main current. At dusk, they move shallow to take advantage of low […]
My Adventures on the Water with the Late Tred Barta
I was saddened to learn of Tred Barta’s passing in August 2019 in an automobile accident. So many memories came flooding back – his desire to do everything the hard way “the Barta way” could certainly bring out the worst and best in people. People either loved him or hated him, but no one could […]
Competing Blind in the America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament
(First published in Bob Izumi’s Reel Fishing Magazine) Few who know me would disagree that I enjoy fishing more than most. Having been registered blind at age eight and then living through a gradual and now complete loss of sight has done little to dampen my enthusiasm. In fact, some might say my enhanced sense […]
Blind Fishing Sailfish Using Bait-and-Switch
I first crossed paths with Tred Barta in Colorado where we teamed up to compete in the American International Fly Fishing Cup. I had the chance to witness Tred catch five-pound plus rainbows on a one-weight fly rod. Tred told me later he knew I was good for a challenge when I insisted on trying […]
Walleye Opener and the Law
Getting out on the Upper St. Lawrence River for the opening of Northern Pike and Walleye season has become a sort of ritual. It entails arriving at the launch around 1 a.m. after the crush of boats are launched, and there truly are a lot. This year it was my buddy John joining me for […]
The Idea behind the Charity “Blue Fish Canada”
As many of you, my attachment to fishing began with adventures with my father and three brothers as we captured and then consumed all we caught. Even after I was declared legally blind, I still pursued my passion for fishing, and by my early 20’s, I was fishing commercially for Atlantic Cod aboard wooden dories […]
Walleye Dropshot fishing Tips and gear
(This article was first published in Northern Ontario Tourism in March 2018) As North America’s only totally blind professional angler, I’ve competed in well-over 75 Walleye tournaments and most often finish near the top. When I’m not competing, I over-see Blue Fish Canada, a charity dedicated to the future of fish and fishing. All this […]
Top 10 – 2018 Highlights
As North America’s Only Blind Professional Angler, outdoor Writer, Podcaster, Film Maker and conservationist, it would appear my commitment to the future of fish and fishing is keeping me busier than ever…
Following Bottom Contours with Sound
The Talking Tackle Depth Whisperer is a handy little automation that provides intuitive audible feedback on important depth changes. I’ve been assisting its inventor for the past several years to get the technology just right, including a plug-and-play version that takes advantage of the NMEA output produced by most modern fish finder sonar devices such […]
My Feature Documentary: What Lies Below
I created, researched, wrote and hosted the privately funded documentary, What Lies Below to explore the future of fish health and sustainable fishing in Canada. Your first impression may be that it’s an inspirational” piece focusing on my personal story of vision loss. However, we worked hard to portray my visual disability as an asset […]