Big Catch released for another day

by Karina Hunter 

Sylvain Bernard with his entry at the 2009 Dubreuilville ATV Club Father's Day Fish Derby.

Sylvain Bernard’s family is not new to angling; with his wife and son often enjoy fishing from their camp on the Magpie River. At the 2009 Dubreuilville ATV Club Father’s Day Fish Derby, Bernard partnered with his father Roger Bernard to place 6^th, and though they won a great participation prize: a Princecraft boat they were a little vexed to have come so close just to be beat out on the river they’ve fished in for so many years.   

It is no surprise that Bernard and his father have already registered for the 2010 Father’s Day Derby hoping to get lucky and take home a Premium Fishing Package at Loch Island Lodge this year’s Early Bird Registration Prize to be drawn May 1^st. What may surprise you is that Bernard has already caught the fish he intends to weigh in at the derby, a 28 inch walleye pictured. 

Sylvain Bernard with his 28 inch pickerel.

This winter, during a weekend at camp with his wife and their niece Meggy, Bernard decided to spend the day on the ice and catch some fresh pickerel for supper. The trio headed out early in the day, it was a mild -14⁰C, unseasonably warm for mid-winter in Dubreuilville so they loaded up the quads and made a B-line for Bernard’s ice fishing hut.  It was only about ¼ of a kilometer across the river from his camp but they were none the less grateful when the fire was established and beginning to warm the hut.  

It was a day much like any other fishing the Magpie River. Bernard is a sport fisherman, believing strongly in the merits of catch and release angling and so more of the fish he caught were released then kept to be eaten, and even then, those few making it to the ‘keep’ pile were
prime specimen.  

As the afternoon was ending, Bernard reeled in the lines from their three holes and was ready to pack up when he thought better of it and left one in.  Throughout the years friends have teased Bernard that he is just ‘too lucky’ when it comes to fishing; they insist he must have a sixth sense which helps him instinctively know when and where to drop a line.   As he turned to toss the remaining lines on the bike, Meggy let out a squeal “Mon Oncle Sylvain, ça mord!”, translation [Uncle Sylvain, fish on!]  

Bernard quickly dropped to one knee, and began pulling up the line, he could feel from the tension and weight on the line that this fish would be supper. It fought a little, Bernard responded, giving it more line to allow it to tire itself out. After only 2 or 3 minutes it started letting up; like most fish during winter, it hadn’t fought long nor very hard.  As he pulled it up however, Bernard was still convinced this fish would be part of their feast; it was obvious that it was no light weight. Meggy’s eyes opened wide and his wife let out a cheer as he brought it to surface. Seeing the huge walleye he knew he’d have to work quickly, this fish was too nice to keep, it would have to go back to the chilly waters of the Magpie.  His wife had been recording the moment on video and quickly swapped for her camera as Bernard explained they would not be keeping it.  She could not believe it, releasing this beautiful fish? Bernard remembered the moment “I knew the minute I saw it that this was a fish I could not keep, my first thought was of the Dubreuilville ATV Club Annual Father’s Day Fish Derby – he could be my 1^st place fish!”  

Bernard gets some help from his niece Meggy when ready to release the big walleye.

His wife snapped a few quick photos before pulling the measuring tape from her husband’s pocket. When they measured any question that  might have remained as to the fate of this pickerel was answered; a healthy twenty-eight (28) inches, it would be released.  Bernard, with the help of his niece, returned the fish to the icy hole from which he had caught it, not however, before whispering to his catch “I’ll see you again my friend”.

If you’d like to join Bernard and his father at one of the most popular Fish Derbies in Northern Ontario this Father’s Day, visit www.dubreuilvilleatvclub.com/tournaments.html. There you will find all the details of the 2010 Dubreuilville Father’s Day Fish Derby which has in excess of $12,000 in cash and prizes to be won, as well as photos of past derbies and details of top winners.  Register before May 1^st and you will be entered into a draw for a Premium Fishing Package; 4 days for Two at Loch Island Lodge with boat, motor and unlimited gas – an anglers dream!