Dave Pitcher says fishing is a family tradition, as well as a chance to give back to the community through various events
The Sault’s Dave Pitcher loves to fish and enjoys sharing that passion with others.
An Algoma University graduate, OLG employee and Algoma Fish and Game Club board member, Pitcher began fishing at an early age.
“We have a family camp just north of the city on Trout Lake. I started catching rock bass right off the dock. That’s probably the best training you can have for kids.”
His sons Noah and Cole have inherited their dad’s love of fishing.
“My two boys basically followed in my footsteps of fishing off the dock at camp and they just love it.”
“I find that rewarding. I actually get more fun when I see people in the boat catching fish than when I catch them myself,” Dave said.
He said his favourite catch involved a king salmon caught in his teens near Ranger Lake.
“I felt the power of this big fish. I was knee deep in the water fighting this fish. It was running up and down the river and there were lots of people watching,” he recalled.
“The adults were cheering me on, hoping I would land it. I caught it, got it to the shore and held it up. It was pretty cool.”
The fish weighed 25 pounds, was approximately 35 inches in length and took Pitcher about 20 minutes to reel in.
Though he has gone on some charter fishing trips to places such as Lake St. Clair near Windsor, Dave said he feels the best fishing can be found in the waters in the Sault and Algoma District.
“Honestly, the area we have is pretty cool.”
“Without being biased, other anglers that come here say we have an unlimited number of species you can target just within a couple hours drive outside the city. You name a species you want to go for outside of saltwater species and you can find it around here.”
Describing himself as “not a river guy,” Pitcher said he loves fishing on lakes from his boat.
As an Algoma Fish and Game Club board member, Pitcher said he not only enjoys the camaraderie he has with fellow anglers but is also pleased to be part of a club that gives back to the community.
The club held its annual Take A Veteran Fishing Day June 6.
The event is for veterans of all ages and is designed to provide a pleasant day of rest and relaxation for ex-soldiers.
“You don’t just get to share your passion for fishing with others but you also see the appreciation from the veterans, and it’s really genuine. It’s nice to show your thanks for their service,” he said.
He said his favourite club event is the Annual Fall Kids Fishing Day.
The event includes an introduction to fishing for kids, orientation instructions with Sault Search and Rescue, youth archery with the Sault North Archery Club and education on invasive species and wildlife.
“These are kids that haven’t fished before, no access to a boat or anything. We basically set up some big fish tanks out at Hiawatha and we had over 350 kids last year,” he said.
He described the club as a small but strong, community-minded group.
“There’s a personality with a lot of outdoor enthusiasts. These are folks that if they ever saw you stranded or lost they would give you the shirt off their back and help you out.”
“We share fishing stories but you keep your favourite fishing spot a secret,” Pitcher said with a laugh.
He gave a two-part answer when asked why he loves fishing.
“I love figuring out the mystery of trying to get fish to bite and figuring out what works. It’s like a puzzle to be solved. When you get all the right clues and put all the pieces together, you can have a pretty fun day on the water.”
The other part involves friends and family.
“I have so much fun when I have the family out on the boat. We have so many laughs and memories and we have a full photo album. Investing in a boat was not cheap by any stretch but getting my boys, my dad, my brother out in the boat, getting my inner circle together makes a fun space and we all get to share that.”