Brad Thorn is an angler, adventurer, and Legend Boats Brand Ambassador. He’s been boating and fishing his entire life, and agreed to share some of his favourite tips and tricks with the Legend Fam. 

Where it All Started

Being born into the boating and fishing lifestyle, Brad has plenty of experience on the water. 

 

Brad grew up going to the family cottage which is water access. When he got old enough, and once his parents felt that it was safe, Brad was allowed to use one of the tillers that were at the cottage. 

 

“I think I was about 9 years old when I was able to take the tin boat out. It wasn’t until I was 14 or so when I had my first rod/reel and tackle.” 

 

Like Brad, his wife, Mary, was also born into the fishing and boating lifestyle. Although Mary grew up with 3 siblings, so everything was a competition. Needless to say, they now enjoy each other’s company on the water… with just a tad of friendly competition. 

Fishin’ Favourites

While fishing new lakes is always a thrill for Brad, there’s also one lake that he enjoys the most – Lake Temagami. 

 

“Lake Temagami is huge, has a good variety of species to target, and big fish, so you can always find your own spot.” 

 

If Brad loves fishing on a lake with such great variety, it would only make sense that he’s a multi-species angler. But if he had to choose one species to target, smallmouth bass would win in his books. 

 

Getting Ready for a Day on the Water

Familiarizing yourself with the body of water you plan on fishing is key – and it’s step one of Brad’s preparation for a day on the water. Once he decides on a body of water, he needs to determine which fish to target. This decision allows Brad to then plan what equipment he needs to pack. This includes not just his rods and tackle, but the net, rod holders, and trolling gear. 

 

Next up is safety gear. Brad ensures that the boat is loaded with the appropriate safety gear – including the correct number of life jackets. Last but not least is checking fuel levels and making sure the batteries are all charged. 

 

The last thing that Brad makes sure to pack is a camera. 

 

“In both my family and Mary’s, if you don’t have a pic, it’s just a story and essentially never happened.” 

Superstitions as an Angler

A superstitious angler is nothing new, but this particular superstition might be! 

 

Brad recalls a time when he and a few friends were on the water, and they were struggling to catch anything. One friend suggested they trim the motor up. After laughing about it for a minute, the rod went off! A few minutes after releasing that fish, the rod went off again. Now, whenever he’s fishing, Brad must have the motor trimmed up a bit. 

 

Creating Memories 

When it comes to making memories on the water, Brad has some tough-to-beat stories. He recalls one very special day in particular – the birth of his nephew. 

 

“My wife and I were on a 5-day camping/fishing trip on Lake Temagami and we knew that he was due any day. In an attempt to get service to our cell phone, we climbed one of the famous lookouts and once we reached the top, we saw the email that he had been born. We were able to call the happy parents and even stopped at their place on the way home to meet the little guy.” 

Another story that Brad recalls is that of his engagement to his wife, Mary. They got engaged on their very first boat, and the adventures just keep coming. 

 

“I like fishing with her because it’s just so easy and peaceful. We never fight and the adversity we do run into highlights our teamwork and only makes us stronger as a couple.” 

Loving Legend 

As a multi-species angler, Brad has a few favourite things about his Legend Boats 2013 18 Xtreme, and Legend Boats in general.  

 

“I do like that it is the only FULLY Canadian boat company. This provides me with a sense of pride knowing that I am supporting a Canadian business with Canadian employees. Not to mention, it also reflects that the boats are built with Canadian waters and fishing in mind.

 

The ‘bang for the buck’ with Legend is non-comparable in the price range for quality, durability, looks, and power. 

 

I enjoy the rear casting deck that folds up into a bench. When we’re going out for a dinner cruise, the boat converts nicely with a comfortable bench, but when it’s fishing time, there’s a nice large deck for an angler to work on.”

 

Thank you, Brad, for sharing a glimpse into your life on the water.