Page 13 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 88

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #88 March 2020 13

Wishin’ I was Fishin’...

19442 Hwy. 2, SUMMERSTOWN Tel. 613-931-1443 • www.rogersmarina.ca

Chris Smith Talks Working as a Professional Guide for

Crow Rock Lodge and His Passion for the Sport

By Molly Kett catching the big one or out-
producing one another, to the most
0-year-old Chris Smith is living technical aspects of targeting a
4many fishermen’s dream: he’s specific species of fish and size.
working for Crow Rock Lodge as Every trip on the water fishing -
a full-time professional guide. And, God delivers many blessings. It’s
as expected, he loves the job. up to each person to identify your

“Being a fishing guide is blessings and enjoy it. Fishing is an
tremendous for someone like amazing sport.”
myself who is so passionate about You might be wondering, though,
the sport. My passion has allowed how Smith landed such an amazing
me to thrive in the industry and has job.
given me a great sense of purpose. “I lived in northwestern Ontario
I love to provide an amazing day for a number of years in the early
on the water to my clients. It gives 2000’s. It was my first time being
me a sense of accomplishment,” exposed to six of the largest
says Smith. “The best part of freshwater lakes and I began the
being a guide is that every day on process of learning how to fish Lake
the water is different: the clouds, of the Woods, understanding it and
wind, current, weather, and fishing the guiding industry in that area,”
patterns all constantly change. I says Smith. “In 2012, I applied at a Chris Smith guiding for Crow Rock Lodge on Lake of the Woods largest
always anticipate that the next time bigger resort knowing they needed boated musky of 2019 for my boat. Photo Submitted
out will be one of those amazing competent guides and was given an creatures to show off and eat.”
days on the water where the opportunity. This season will be my and I told my Papa that my father
weather’s perfect and everything 8th season.” His favourite fishing memory was going to be mad because he
lines up together to catch the most also comes from his younger years broke my line. That’s the day that
possible and the largest of all Like many fishermen, Smith of fishing, when he was about six I clearly remember wanting to
species targeted. Memories of those became passionate for the sport at a years old. catch and land big fish. Challenge
days last forever.” very young age. “I hooked into a gigantic Northern accepted!”

As you can probably tell, fishing “My earliest fishing memory is Pike casting a red devil while my Currently, Smith’s favourite spot
is one of Smith’s great passions. when I slept at my family’s cottage grandfather fished perch. I was too to fish is the Lake of the Woods,
located in Summerstown, Ontario young to fight such a large fish, so and he’d recommend for everyone
“I am completely in love with to give it a try.
and being awoken after dark and my Papa, Leo Poirier, had to take
fishing because of the tremendous
led down to the shoreline of the over for me,” recalls Smith. “During “To convince anyone who hasn’t
joy one receives from the entire
St. Lawrence River to be shown the ensuing battle between Papa and fished before, I say give it a try and
experience,” says Smith. “From
the giant musky that my father this monstrous fish, my grandfather you will inevitably start building
the simplest things, like the wind
and grandfather had caught,” says managed to get the fish to the boat memories and taking blessings
flowing through your hair as you’re
Smith. “Back in the day, anglers multiple times, but ultimately the from each journey which will allow
traveling along the water, the
were less informed on conservation, line broke. I was very upset because you to appreciate the outdoors and
lighthearted banter from friends
so they would keep these amazing I was using my father’s rod n’ reel fishing in general,” says Smith.
or clients discussing potentially

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