Over the years of fishing the Northern Ontario Walleye Trail, you have read that I fish against some of the best walleye anglers in northeastern Ontario. Each year more and more anglers from other areas of Ontario, other provinces and the U.S. come up to compete in the NOWT.
In this week’s Angler Profile is an angler that has been competing in some of the biggest walleye tournaments in Canada and the U.S. for many years.
I am happy to introduce this weeks angler Jason Doyon.
Q: Where were you born?
JD: I was born in Blind River, Ont.
Q: Who played a role in getting you started in fishing?
JD: The two people were instrumental in getting me into fishing were my grandfather and my father.
My parents started taking me fishing really young. They would take my car seat out of the car then strap it into the boat. I have a lot of memories fishing with my grandfather with a cane pole and a spring bobber as well for Bluegill.
Q: As a youth, where did you fish and for what?
JD: As a kid, I grew up fishing a lot of inland lakes for panfish such as bluegill and perch. We also ice fished for lake trout and speckled trout inland as well. As I got older we would venture out on the Great Lakes for salmon.
Q: How did you get into Walleye Tournament Fishing and why?
JD: I started walleye tournament fishing the first year I bought my first boat at the age of 20 here on the St Marys river. The first two to three years were just local walleye tournaments. Growing up watching the In-Fisherman TV series and the PWT, I just knew that was what I wanted to do. In fact on stage at my high school graduation, it was announced that my career choice was to be a professional walleye fishing.
Q: What was your most memorable fishing experience and why?
JD: My most memorable fishing experience was catching two large chinook salmon with my dad less than an hour apart on the last day with about two hours left of fishing at the Manistique Salmon derby. Those two salmon are mounted upstairs today.
Q: List any Anglers that helped you learn more about fishing over the years?
JD: Other than my father and grandfather, I would have to say I have learned the most from two of my fishing partners, Rob Laframboise and Nick Huckson. They continue to get me out of my comfort zone and make me think out of the box constantly.
Q: List sponsors and tournament finishes.
JD: I am currently very happy to be working with Ranger Boats. In the past 10 years or so I’ve had some great tournament finishes including:
Four local tournament wins
Three NOWT wins
Eleven NOWT top 10’s
Two MWC 2nds and 11th Detroit River
Fifth World Walleye championships Bay De Noc
Third PWT St. Marys river
Thirteenth at the NTC in Green Bay
Four cheques on the NWT including a 10th at the Championship on Lake Winnebago
Two MWT top 10’s
Q: Biggest fishing supporters over the years?
JD: My biggest supports have been my wife and parents.
Q: What are some of your favourite fish you like to fish for and why?
JD: Although walleye is a species I angle for mostly in tournaments, I enjoy fishing for salmon, perch and whitefish as well. Catching big chinooks is one of the best trills in open water fresh water fishing. Whitefish are awesome to eat but can be very tricky to catch. Perch are the best to eat but is by far the best action!
Q: What is your favourite fishing technique(s) for walleyes?
JD: Catching walleyes on artificials is by far my favourite method. Catching giants on the great lakes on rippin raps or huge paddle tails is a blast!
Q: Why do you fish walleye tournaments?
JD: Fishing walleye tournaments is by far the best fishing experience I know of. The thrill of competing with many other top skilled anglers is a rush. There is so much strategy, different techniques and on the fly decisions to be made that it makes for a lot of fun.
Q: Why did you agree to have your bio done?
JD: Having my bio done is a great honour that I am very appreciative of.
Q: Any tips you would give to a new walleye angler looking at fishing the NOWT?
JD: If you are looking to fish the NOWT for the first time I can offer a few pieces of advice. One, put the effort in during practice and two, think outside the box and don’t always do what everyone else is doing.
Q: What would be some of your greatest accomplishments over the years of fishing?
JD: The greatest fishing accomplishment in my career has been placing third in the PWT (In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail) here on the St. Marys river in my first pro event in 2008. This was because I had a chance to compete against my fishing idols in the last season of the PWT. Fishing against legends such as Mark Martin, Mike Gofron and Gary Parsons just to name a few was a surreal experience.
I would like to Thank Jason for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to partake in having his profile done.
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