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Chapleau, Ontario plays host to award winning Canadian television fishing program The Dimestore Fishermen.
09/15/2007
Canadian outdoor television fishing program The Dimestore Fishermen's host & producer Jim Hoey catches lifetime fish in Chapleau.
September 3rd is not a date Jim Hoey is likely to ever forget. On this date, he caught and landed a lifetime trophy 14 pound near 34 inch Walleye at Racine Lake near Chapleau, Ontario. Close many times to a big fish, Jim has always come up just a bit short for so many reasons.
"Over the years I have been in the boat for so many other anglers landing 10 pound plus Walleye. I have been on the water watching other boats land them like our Dimestore nation watch us on TV. I have had one on the line 3 times over the years and because of a tragedy or comedy of reasons, depending on who you talk to, these fish consequently got off the hook. Until now, I have never landed a Walleye over 10 pounds. I have caught trophy fish in every other freshwater category." Jim says he thinks this is a real career milestone. "When you consider I have caught and landed thousands of walleye in my lifetime this is pretty significant. It really demonstrates that anglers who routinely catch these fish are special. I am not talking so much about Erie or Lake St. Clair. I am talking about outdoorsmen who get out on their local water systems which is what happened here. Goodness knows I have met and fished with some of the greatest anglers on the planet. I do not consider myself in this category. I think anyone who would say they do probably doesn't belong in this category. This sport is about humility. I think that mother nature is the one in control. A lot of times it is right place, right time. A lot of times it is statistical. How many times are you on the water? Eventually it will happen. When I see anyone try and take credit for their fish it really does remind me of why we ride the way we do. It is a spiritual experience and should be treated that way. Certainly there are things you can do to up your chances. However, coming off like you know is going to tell me you don't know. I tell the guys all of the time that you'll get a few standing in front of the net. You have to move your skates to get in front of the net and you have got to move your skates to stay in front of the net. Position is everything. In other words you've got to be good to be lucky."
Jim says that local fisherman and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Officer Tim Mutter was the reason this fish was caught.
"I give him all of the credit. He said that he had a few spots that he had a great deal of faith in. We had a not so great experience the day before with an operator in the area and Tim said 'hey, we can do this on our own'. I thought it was the turning point in the attendance. Tim is a real fisherman. He is the real thing. He was born and raised in Collingwood. He has fished his entire life. He is humble and hard working in his approach. I consider him a lifetime friend. That is one of the greatest things about fishing and the outdoors. It is the friends you make that last a lifetime. I know people will connect with the excitement in this episode. Especially someone who has either dreamt about or in actuality caught and landed and milestone fish. It was great having a chance to tell the Mayor of Chapleau Mr. Earl Freeborn and some of the Town Councilors, the story of this fish. Most of them are outdoorsmen themselves."
The episode featuring Chapleau is projected for completion in April of 2008. It will likely air in all of the markets that The Dimestore Fishermen broadcasts in May of 2008.
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