JASON GAUTHIER
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING?
I have been fishing since I was 6 years old along the shores of the Winnipeg River in Pine Falls, MB for walleyes, before fishing these famous greenbacks became so popular! We used to catch them with a Pickerel Rig tipped with frozen minnows and casting from shore. We would anchor the old fiberglass rods with the Zebco 404 green and white reel, spooled with 20 lbs mono (you know the kind) in between rocks, and would sit and wait. We would patiently watch the rod for any kind of movement, sometimes we would even tie a ribbon or a bell to the end to help notice any bites. When you noticed a twitch on the tip of the fishing rod, you would set the hook and reel the walleye in. It was always a lot of fun, and it brings back great memories of fishing with my dad Maurice just talking about it now!! Makes a person realize how far the fishing industry has come in the last 35 years!!
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LUND PRO-STAFF?
I always watched the Lund team at events and how they conducted themselves. I noticed a lot of the charity events they were involved in. I was honored when I was asked to join the Lund Pro-Staff after emceeing the Mid Canada Boat Show and have always felt like part of a great group of people and company!!
CAN YOU TELL US THE LARGEST FISH YOU HAVE EVER CAUGHT?
I have been blessed with having one of the best freshwater fisheries in the world right here in my back yard: the lakes and rivers of Manitoba and Ontario. I have had the chance to bring in many large fish of many species, from walleye, perch, pike, sturgeon, bass, catfish and even the elusive musky. The biggest fish I have caught was a 48 inch Musky on the Winnipeg River system near Minaki Ontario! That was an awesome day and one I will not soon forget! It actually was caught as we were filming the first Jason's Adventure TV episode which airs on Adventures North Television, talk about timing eh!!
WHERE DO YOU MOSTLY FISH?
I mostly fish walleye tourneys and really enjoy fishing out of my 2075 Lund Pro V Tiller with the 250 Mercury; lots of boat and lots of power, and I wouldn't change a thing about it, although I do find myself explaining many times at gas stops and boat launches that a tiller that big is easy to drive and so much fun. I have even had a fella and his wife get me to pull over on the trans Canada Highway one day on a trip to Lake of the Woods to take a look at my boat and question me on what it was like to run a 250 tiller! As for which tourneys I will fish this season, I enjoy the Pine Falls events as well as the Lake of the Prairies tourney, which I am proud to say that my business partner Kiley Horvath and I are proud to have Howard Johnson Hotel and Hat Tricks Sports Bar as our sponsors!! The most memorable tourney I have fished was the Never Alone Foundation event to raise money for cancer. Corporate teams of 2 were paired up with a Winnipeg Blue Bomber and a Lund Pro Staff Guide. They would spend a day on the Winnipeg River, having laughs and telling stories. My sister Carol, who at the time was fighting ovarian cancer, was my guest that year alongside her son Kiley, who is my nephew and business partner. She was not always the most technical angler in the boat but that day she was a star. She had us laughing and crying all in the same breath, and she managed to catch the biggest fish in our boat that day. She later passed away that year after fighting so hard! She is my hero and will always be with me when I am fishing! There is another memorable tourney I will never forget, I was lucky enough to be partnered with Ryan Sproule from the Lund Boat Company one year and we won the 2011 Garry Roach Walleye Championship in Minaki Ontario. Ryan managed to bring in a beauty over 28 inches on day one that pushed us into the lead. We never looked back after that. That is one tourney I will never forget, and Ryan and I will never let our friends forget either!
WHAT IS THE BEST FISHING TIP THAT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
The best fishing tip I ever had was simple: when all else fails remember... a Walleye will always bite a jig and a minnow!! Thanks to my pal Big Al for that one!!
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE ANGLING COMMUNITY?
I have been lucky enough to get involved with emceeing fishing events across Canada and the Northern States. I am a strong believer in doing charity events to help folks that need help. Just being able to help bring the fun and exciting sport of angling into the lives of people that may not always have the chance to experience it brings a smile to my face! The fishing community in Manitoba and our brothers and sisters in Minnesota and North Dakota have to be some of the most generous people out there! It never ceases to amaze me how much these folks help out! I am proud of each and every one of them and all that they do! I am lucky enough through these events to have been asked by Steve Macinnis of Adventures North to be a part of his TV show and introduce my own clips, Jason's Adventure, across the country on global TV and Wild TV, which showcases some of the local waters in and around Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. This also lead to me getting the emcee gig at the highly successful WILD TV HUNTFEST events across the country. It was so cool to be able to meet, hang around and introduce some of the biggest names in hunting. I was also lucky to be on the Bob Izumi show; that was fun. Jeff Gustafson who is also a Lund pro Staffer and good pal has had me do a couple shows with him on Cat fishing and Angler Young Angler as well. It really has been an honor to be on the shows of these guys who are true icons in the industry for over 25 years!
PICK 5 WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Energetic, Honest, Funny, Humble, and Appreciative.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
The best advice I have ever received was from my sister Carol, who as I said earlier passed away from cancer. She told me just a few weeks before she passed to be generous, to give as much as you can, listen to people and, this one sticks with me each and every day.....to live like each day was your last!!!!
WHAT TRAIT DO YOU ADMIRE IN PEOPLE?
I admire honesty and generosity in folks.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MODEL OF LUND TO FISH OUT OF AND WHY?
My favorite boat to fish out of is my 2075 ProV Tiller, but I have to admit the smaller Lund Pro Guides are the best back trolling machines on the planet, and are a true gem to fish out of. They track like nothing else on the water and are designed with the angler in mind!
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO OUR ENTIRE STAFF AT LUND BOATS?
I just want to say thanks to the good folks of Lund Boats for all the great work they do, not only on the boats they build, but the industry and charity events they hold, support and sponsor. It is really tough to be at a fishing event and not see the Lund Boat banners proudly sponsoring those events; they are involved with everything fishing! I remember just before I purchased my first Lund Boat my friend Craig said to me, "Once you buy a Lund your life will change!!!" Boy was he right. I owe Lund Boats a lot of thanks for everything that I have been lucky enough to be a part of in the fishing industry. Thanks to all the Lund folks, right from the people who build them to the folks that run them! It really makes me proud to be part of such a great team!!!! A big THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!!
