OUT WITH THE GIRLS
Forget fishing with the boys! These hardcore female anglers know exactly where to hit the water, as our roundup of their favourite fishing hot spots reveals
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AUGUST MILLER
Millbrook, Ontario
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Recreational and competitive angler, who’s often on the water with her dad, Angler & Hunter Television host Mike Miller.
Website: www.ahtv.com
#16 STURGEON LAKE, ONTARIO
Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are large and plentiful on Sturgeon. The lake hosts serious tournaments, but you can also teach friends and family how to fish here, and they never leave empty-handed. There is easy public access, with places to stay in nearby Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls.
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Best time: Summer
Must-have lure: X-Rap Prop
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Learn more: www.gofishinontario.com
ASHELY CROWDER
Muskoka, Ontario
Multispecies angler, tournament competitor, fishing guide and ice-hut operator. Facebook: Caspersonashley
#17 LAKE SIMCOE, ONTARIO
Southern Ontario’s largest inland lake, Simcoe offers diverse habitat and trophy fish. It’s especially known for the size and quality of its yellow perch and whitefish caught through the ice. Simcoe is also highly accessible during the winter, with the south end only 45 minutes from the Greater Toronto Area.
Best time: Winter
Must-have lures: Meegs jig, Simcoe Bug and Slab Grabber
Learn more: www.hotboxhuts.com
DIANA ROCCO
Durham Region, Ontario
Multispecies, year-round angler with a passion for steelhead, who’s known in fishing circles as Diana Danger.
Instagram: @dianadangerr
#18 GANARASKA RIVER, ONTARIO
Fishing this river feels more like hunting—you have to read the water, adapt to changing weather conditions and put in the effort to locate the fish. These elusive steelhead require skill and patience, but catching powerful, lake-run fish that would otherwise require a boat adds to the thrill.
Best time: Spring and fall
Must-have centrepin baits: Acrylic Beads, pink worms and dillies
Learn more: www.gofishinontario.com
AVERIE ROSE BONIN
Port Rowan, Ontario
Passionate lifelong angler who shares her experiences on YouTube and her TV show Hooked.
YouTube: @AverieRose
#19 LONG POINT BAY, ONTARIO
This picturesque shallow bay on Lake Erie’s north shore has plentiful largemouth bass and an exceptional number of trophy smallmouth bass. At times, you can catch both species in the same spots. During the fall, football-sized smallies come up onto deep shoals and eat anything in front of them.
Best time: Fall
Must-have lures: Tube jigs (smallmouths); topwater frogs (largemouths)
Learn more: www.gofishinontario.com
CHELSEA BIRMINGHAM
Thorne, Ontario
Multispecies angler from Northern Ontario with an abiding passion for the great outdoors.
Instagram: @chelseasoutdoorlife
#20 LAKE TEMAGAMI, ONTARIO
Temagami’s deep, crystal-clear waters are home to trophy lake trout, walleye, northern pike and bass. For visiting anglers, there are many local guides, lodges and campsites to choose from. Temagami also features houseboat rentals, allowing you to stay on the water and anchor near prime fishing spots.
Best time: Mid-July to early August
Must-have lure: One-ounce jig with a 4.3-inch swimbait
Learn more: www.northeasternontario.com