Local anglers making a splash on YouTube

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/01/2022 (1018 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has been a tough month for those who want to explore and spend time outside. Bitterly cold temperatures, combined with a good amount of snow has made travel perilous in many cases.

It has certainly cut down on the ice fishing effort. Jamie Bruce, who lives in Kenora says travel on Lake of the Woods is iffy at best. With large amounts of snow, there are some giant drifts on the lake. Combine that with areas of slush and it pays to be extremely careful.

Given the current health situation and weather, right now I have time to cruise YouTube. I am always looking for the next video from hardcore anglers who are posting their fishing experiences in this part of the world. Jamie Bruce is one of those. After years of successful tournament fishing and appearing on other fishing shows, three years ago he decided to start his own YouTube channel. Living in Kenora and with his knowledge of fishing the region he figured it was a perfect opportunity to share his angling expertise. His channel, Bruce’s Canadian Fishing, has experienced rapid growth as more and more anglers find it and subscribe.

Bruce said he was inspired by the success of Jay Siemens, who grew up in southern Manitoba, but moved to Kenora three years ago. His channel, Jay Siemens, has become very popular. Siemens got into the fishing business guiding at Eagle Nest Lodge, the same place where I got my start in the industry. Siemens guided there for two years, then two years up north, finishing in Saskatchewan.

He says what triggered his career was a desire to take better fish pictures. After he bought his first SLR camera, a Canon Rebel, he enrolled in a one-year photography program. Just before he was scheduled to start, Aaron Wiebe, of Uncut Angling fame asked him to become his videographer in 2011.

Siemens said it just went on from there and in 10 years he has become successful in educating the angling public. Siemens says in this modern age, there are really no barriers to entry in the YouTube world. If you have a smartphone and laptop, you can shoot and edit your own content and turn it all around in three days if you want. Siemens is much more than that and his film work and videography is outstanding. He has done several high-quality films involving the outdoors which are available for viewing on his channel.

Bruce has also used his YouTube channel to promote and market his recently developed Clackshot rig. An offshoot of the dropshot rig, he wanted something that could call the walleye in from a distance.

The Clackshot rig has the loudest rattles on the market. Combine with a live minnow above or a soft plastic and you have the perfect setup for finicky fish. You can find out more about both Jay Siemens and Jamie Bruce on The Complete Angler podcast. Look for it on your favourite music provider or from the Hooked website.

Anglers Notes:

Lake trout are still on the prowl. Usually, the cold weather doesn’t slow them down, just overcast. There have been some real nice fish caught in northern Manitoba on Clearwater and Lake Athapapuskow, just to name two. Many of the Manitoba northern drive-to outfitters are open for business. You can find out all about them at huntfishmanitoba.ca.

Meantime Jamie Bruce and his wife, Ashley, have been on the hunt for them by snowmachine on Lake of the Woods. Jamie says they are finding the lakers on outside turns, sharp points, and reefs near big water basins. Jamie says it’s worth spending a little extra time getting on a nice sharp break. A 3/8 BT Smeltinator head with a four-inch Pearl or Smelt Hula stick has been working. They have also caught some fish on the new Rapala Jigging Shadow Rap.

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