Over the years I have had the privilege of sharing in a countless number of phenomenal outdoor adventures with some of the greatest people to ever fish and hunt our Canadian wilderness. An ever changing dynamic of characters and personalities keeps my job infinitely interesting and without a dull moment in sight. It is the guys like John and Owen Nasgovitz that make my days fly by and keep my big fish memory bank at an overflowing capacity.
Pictured above is Owen, the gator-slayer Nasgowicz, a seven year old fishing machine whose focus, determination, and ability to out fish his dad have earned him a place in the Manitoba record books. It is one thing to land a massive 44 inch super-tank, but it is entirely another to do so on a medium-light action rod with eight pound test line while jigging for walleye. Owen set the hook and the fight was ON! It isn't uncommon for walleye to stay down but when this fish wouldn't budge and inch, the whole boat went into trophy mode as Owen began the fish-battle of a lifetime. Most grown men could have easily lost this fish but Owen kept his cool and followed instruction with unparalleled FOCUS!
Massive runs under, out, and around the boat kept our hearts pumping as we attempted to subdue the predator at large. She was just barley hooked in the corner skin flap of her jaw so we had to patiently await for our chance to greet her with the trophy basket. Following several gear tearing runs and with my net fully extended to it's nine foot maximum reach, we sealed the deal and the rest is a bit of a blur honestly. A massive injection of adrenaline sent me sky high as we snapped a couple quick pictures and released her back to the depths to continue her onslaught of walleye terror. I have never been more proud of a young angler than I am of Owen; his level of patience and ability to keep composure, and follow instruction, made him an absolute pleasure to fish with. YOU ROCK LITTLE BUDDY!
Massive runs under, out, and around the boat kept our hearts pumping as we attempted to subdue the predator at large. She was just barley hooked in the corner skin flap of her jaw so we had to patiently await for our chance to greet her with the trophy basket. Following several gear tearing runs and with my net fully extended to it's nine foot maximum reach, we sealed the deal and the rest is a bit of a blur honestly. A massive injection of adrenaline sent me sky high as we snapped a couple quick pictures and released her back to the depths to continue her onslaught of walleye terror. I have never been more proud of a young angler than I am of Owen; his level of patience and ability to keep composure, and follow instruction, made him an absolute pleasure to fish with. YOU ROCK LITTLE BUDDY!
Prior to Owen landing his super-tank, his dad John set a great example as he landed this beautiful 44 inch hog while jigging for walleye during our first morning together. We were fishing a rocky point in the lakes central basin in 14 feet of water when this walleye eater decided to take the jig. John showed exemplary patience as we fought the beast to the boat. Especially windy conditions made for an exceptionally challenging fight but John's ability to resist horsing the fish led to an early victory for team Nasgovitz. No need to wonder where Owen inherited his skills from!
In addition, John also landed this awesome gator that fell just short of trophy status but is certainly worth an honorable mention! GREAT WORK JOHNNY!
Despite an awesome bite for big pike we made sure to take some time to enjoy some of Utik lake's phenomenal walleye angling. It wasn't long before Owen was wrangling dozens of beautiful eyes to the boat. It was a heart warming experience to watch John and Owen figure out the walleye bite together and as the afternoon came and went I couldn't help but be reminded of my own father-son fishing adventures.
Some of my own fondest memories in life are the trips that my dad and I took together to fish-camp and it was a true privilege to be part of Owen and John's special experience. Time is precious and in a world where cell phones and business meetings can often get in the way of spending quality time with our loved ones, it is more important than ever to make the effort to get outdoors with our young anglers and hunters. My hat truly goes off to John and Owen for making the absolute best of a Canadian fishing adventure. It is trip's like yours that truly make my job, the best in the world. Thanks for letting me be part of your adventure guys! I look forward to doing it again soon!