Page 9 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 94

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #94 November 2020 9

Wishin’ I was Fishin’...

19442 Hwy. 2, SUMMERSTOWN Tel. 613-931-1443 • www.rogersmarina.ca
Fishin’ with Al Wagar

By Molly Kett thinking about trying fishing for the
first time?
ocal fisherman Al Wagar is “If they’re looking for a place to
L64 years old and he has lived unwind it’s a very tranquil, great
in Cornwall all his life. He’s place to get away and if you know
accomplished many things, including what you’re doing it can be a lot of
marrying his wife Carole, working fun,” says Wagar. “The biggest kick I
many years for his family business, get is taking my nephew out. He just
and coaching hockey. Wagar has also started fishing and wants to learn.
had a passion for fishing since he was He can’t get enough! And I can’t
about five years old. wait to take my grandkids out.”
“I find it very relaxing. I love the Recently, not only did Wagar see
peacefulness when you’re out there some great fish, but he also saw a
and it’s a great place to see sunrises 10-point deer.
and sunsets,” says Wagar. “My “It came across the river near
earliest memory would be of my
Marlin’s Orchard,” says Wagar. “He
grandparents and parents packing up was swimming behind Canal Island.
the car and heading off with us to fish
Another gentleman and I got behind
along the banks of the Raisin River him in our boat and slowly pushed
for perch and catfish in the spring.”
him towards Ile Simard. He was
He also remembers fishing in fourth swimming in circles, and we didn’t
grade with his friend. They decided to want him to drown as he looked tired.
skip school one spring day and head He got on the island and I thought he
down to the cotton mill area. This is would be ok, so we said our goodbyes
a memory that truly depicts Wagar’s and I went back fishing again in
love for fishing. front of the island - there is a good
“As we were fishing, a reporter from walleye run near it. As I was fishing
the Standard Freeholder asked us a and looked east, there he was back in
few questions and he took our picture. the water heading to Montreal. So, I
Well, not thinking anything of it, the got behind him again and got him to
next day I remember when my dad Hopkins Point where I left him. He
was reading the paper and asked me was headed towards Fort Covington
how school was going, I knew I was - so now he probably is an American
in trouble. My dad chased me around buck.”
Mattice Park. He never did catch Wagar has caught plenty of fish,
me, and I promised I would only fish but the biggest one was a sturgeon on
on weekends.” light tackle. Wagar says it was a great
Wagar spends much of his time fight and a lot of laughs catching that
enjoying the St Lawrence, as he has one.
fished it all his life, so he knows it What’s next for Wagar’s fishing
well. He likes to fish perch and plans? He hopes to get back south to
walleye in our area, and sometimes Florida one day.
bass.
“They have great fresh water and
What would he tell someone surf fishing,” says Wagar. Photos Submitted
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19442 Hwy. 2, SUMMERSTOWN Tel. 613-931-1443 www.rogersmarina.ca