JEFF “GUSSY” GUSTAFSON

How long have you been fishing?

I've been fishing since I was really young. I fell in love with it at 7 or 8 years of age. I can remember my parents used to take me to the weigh-ins for the first couple KBI tournaments on Lake of the Woods, and my love for bass fishing bloomed from there.

What inspired you to become a Lund Pro-Staff?

The fact that Lund in so prominent in the North makes everybody proud to be a Lund owner. I have worked at many camps and resorts over the years, and have all brands of boats, and I can honestly tell you that Lund makes the best product on the market with regards to fishability, durability and good looks. To be able to align myself with a great brand and so many great people makes my job of fishing a lot easier!

Can you tell us the largest fish you ever caught?

The largest fish that I have ever caught was a 35 lb lake trout from Lake of the Woods. I'm a bass guy, so my biggest bass holds a special place in my heart. Biggest bass from the North was a 5.72 largemouth from Lake of the Woods during the 2009 KBI tournament. I have been bass fishing in Mexico a number of times and I have caught about a half dozen 9.5-pounders there...so the 10 lb mark is the magical one for me. It's a lot harder to catch an honest 10 pounder than people think. It's like a 170" Boone and Crockett whitetail.

Where are you from?

I'm from Kenora, Ontario in the heart of Lund Country. I have grown up on the shores of Lake of the Woods and I can't think of a better place for an angler to grow up and live. "Woods" has the most World-Class fishing opportunities of any lake in the World.

Where do you mostly fish?

I truly am a multi-species guy, but I am a bass-head at heart. I'm fishing bass tournaments across Northwest Ontario and into Minnesota and Wisconsin a bit. You can find me at the Canadian Bass Championship on Rainy Lake, the KBI on Lake of the Woods and the International Falls Bass Championship on Rainy Lake later in August.

What is the best fishing top that you ever received?

The best fishing tip I have ever received came from Canadian bass fishing legend Rocky Crawford. He told me when I was really young that any time you fish a new body of water, the first place to start looking for bass is around the most 'blue' water on the map. What he means is start fishing shallow in the most likely bass spawning areas, and work your way out from there.

In what ways are you involved in the angling community?

I am involved in the angling community in a number of ways. First, I am a multi-species guide during all seasons on famous Lake of the Woods. I am an outdoor writer that contributes to magazines across Canada and the Midwest. I do a number of public speaking engagements to promote the sport of fishing, and I fish in as many bass and walleye tournaments each year as I can.

Pick 5 words to describe yourself

Honest, Competitive, Ambitious, Happy, and Fun-loving.

What was the best year of your life?

I have to say that 2009 was right up there. I had the best tournament season that I've ever had, and was given a lot of good opportunities by my friends and sponsors to succeed in the fishing industry.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

The best advice I've ever received was from my Mom when I was a little kid: ALWAYS BE NICE and TREAT PEOPLE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED!

What trait do you admire in people?

I admire people that have a passion for what they do and show loyalty. I really appreciate the people in the fishing industry that are in it for the right reasons; guys like Al Lindner and Gary Roach, because they truly love to fish.

What's your worst habit?

My worst fishing habit is that sometimes I like to fish too fast. That is my deal though and when it works out, it's all good.

What's your favorite model of Lund to fish out of and why?

My favorite Lund model is the boat I own, the 2010 Predator. The huge deck, massive storage areas and dry ride all make it the best boat for what I do. It is truly a fishing machine, built for hardcore anglers.

Anything else you would like to say to our entire staff at Lund Boats?

I am proud to be part of the Lund Pro-Staff because the whole brand is all about fishing. They are good people that know how to make a good product because they fish too. The anglers appreciate that the staff wants to hear our opinions on how to build a better boat. So THANKS for listening all these years!