Jon Sipko, an avid angler,  X-Series owner, and Legend Boats Brand Ambassador takes us on a fishing adventure aboard his Legend X20 on Lake Ontario. While Jon is an avid angler, he has also been around boats almost his entire life. As the size of his boats grew over the years, so did his love and knowledge of the boating and fishing lifestyle. 

 

Jon, as a Legend Boats Brand Ambassador, with his expertise in boating and fishing, shares valuable tips for anyone interested in these activities. Jon gives us his favourite boating and fishing tips, as well as walks us through his experience being a Brand Ambassador so far. 

 

 

Where it All Started 

Jon is no stranger to the open water. When he was a child, he would visit his grandparent’s house on Lake Harrison in British Columbia. With fly-in fishing experiences also under his belt, Jon is nothing short of a pro! 

Jon’s love for fishing sprouted at a young age, as his family would attend a Family Weekend fishing derby at his grandparent’s house. To Jon and his family, winning was never the goal – it was all about having fun and making memories!

As Jon grew older, his love of fishing grew with him. Now, his favourite place to fish is Lake Ontario. He loves it because Lake Ontario has an amazing variety of species. You can find Pacific Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Pinks), Rainbow Trout (Steelhead), Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Bass, Pike, Musky, Whitefish, Sheepshead, and Walleye. Lake Ontario is fishable almost year-round, barring temperatures falling too low. 

 

Preparing for a Day on the Water

Being prepared for your day on the water is key to a successful fishing day – especially when you’re on the big water. Jon is no stranger to the importance of being prepared, so here are some of his biggest pointers. 

The top 4 tips for a successful day on the water, in the eyes of a Legend Brand Ambassador, are:

1. Watching the weather – from wind speed and direction to temperature, possible precipitation, and wave forecast. These all contribute to deciding where and how you fish as fish move with water temperatures. 

   • “Windfinder gives me a forecast of what’s going to happen over the next few days, as well as information on waves. 

   • Great Lakes Coastal Forecast System from Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA) has a wealth of data that often extends further out than traditional forecasts, allowing me to make a decision or plan further in advance. 

   • Downloading the Windy App is an easy way to see a lot of information in an app on my phone. It has many of the same metrics as other apps but works better on a phone when I don’t have access to an iPad or computer. 

   • Downloading the Fishing Times App is what I use to determine when major and minor periods are, and when there are solunar influences that will increase fish activities, like feeding.” 

2. When it comes to getting the boat ready, the boat is always ready after each trip. He cleans it up, checks the fluids, and makes sure everything is charged up and ready to go. When it’s time to head out, he simply hooks up the trailer and is on his way. 
3. Ensuring your gear is ready to go is also a significant step in the preparation of your boat. Especially if you’re fishing for Salmon. When putting away rods after a day on the water, checking for frays or abrasion indications, and replacing the line if necessary are all important steps. It’s also possible for hooks to snap, so checking over all of your hooks and making sure they are intact, and replacing the ones that are not, is another step in the preparation process. Restocking tackle after every trip is also ideal. 
4. Having multiples of everything when you’re on the water is also key. This is because equipment can break, so having a quick replacement is what you’ll want. Included in this is also having a lot of rods in the water, so if one breaks, you can get another one in the water and quickly reduce the amount of downtime you have. 

 

 

A Brand Ambassador’s Advice to New Boaters and Anglers

Trying any new activities can be intimidating – add in waterways you haven’t navigated before and technology that you have yet to use, you might be nervous to get started.

As not only a Legend Boats Brand Ambassador but also a lifelong angler, Jon has some great advice for new boaters and anglers:

1. Find someone else to go fishing with a couple of times. Don’t be afraid to learn from other people – a lot of anglers love sharing what they’ve learned and experienced. 

2. Once you have the chance to gain experience and comfort on the water, try finding a charter in your area with a Captain who consistently does the same kind of fishing. 

3. Soon enough, you’ll be ready to start boating and fishing alone!

 

Living the Legend Life 

Jon has the Legend X20, a 20-foot aluminum fish & ski model. We asked Jon about his experience owning his X20, and how he converts it from a fishing boat to a boat the rest of his family can enjoy, too. 

What makes this a family-friendly fish & ski model? With carpet in the nose and on the sides of the gunnels, the X20 is flexible and comfortable for the family. It provides the space you need to set up the rig you want but also allows you to easily convert it into the perfect family boat. 

“I love the fact that it allows us to enjoy the outdoors, just be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. When you are out on the water and the sun’s going down, or just coming up. It’s truly magical! Especially when you are with your people!” 

 

 

The Legend Experience

At Legend Boats, we always strive to provide unmatched service to our Legend Family. We asked Jon about his experience as a Legend Boat owner and the after-purchase service he received from his local Legend Dealer – Legend Boats Barrie. 

Jon’s experience with Legend Boats thus far has been a positive one. He describes the service he has received so far: “Legend has been fantastic in supporting me as a new owner, right through the entire process from choosing my boat to resolving any issues I’ve ever had. I have not had one bad experience with customer support or service.” 

The X20’s Maiden Voyage

Jon had an unexpected start to his first vacation with his X20, but thanks to his dealership working with the dealer closest to his cottage, he was able to get back on the water in no time. 

“In fact in my experience, I’d say Legend will go above and beyond to help fix any issue, my example being the first day I picked up my boat in 2020. I drove to our vacation spot and got the boat ready to put in the water. When I drove back down to the launch ramp and put it in the water, everything looked normal. I got out on the lake and it was a bit rougher than I expected and so I didn’t get a chance to open it up and get the break-in done, but no sooner did the main engine die.

Nothing, not a beep tone, or warning tone. It was dead. Fortunately, I had contact with my rep in the Barrie office and he was as perplexed as I was. I got a tow off the water and spoke with him after I got the boat back on the trailer and back to our cottage. My rep arranged for me to take it to the Legend Dealer in London, who put me in the shop as the doors opened at 8 am, and I pulled it out of the shop at 10 am after having repaired a wiring harness pin that was broken. Long story short, I was back on my vacation in under 4 hours and we had an uneventful remainder of our vacation.”

A Lifetime of Memories

Jon is no stranger to the value of creating memories – especially on-water memories. Whether it’s catching a massive 40.1lbs King Salmon with his dad, to fishing for Bullheads at his grandparent’s house, and now creating new memories with his family in his Legend X20, Jon is a memory-making (and fishing) machine! 

Thanks, Jon, for giving us a glimpse into the life of a Legend Brand Ambassador!