Listen in to this deep dive…
The Monster Sturgeon Adventure
Noah had one big goal. That, to catch a huge, monster sturgeon on the mighty Fraser River in British Columbia! And he was going to do it with his special OG Classic model PEETZ reel. He was determined, ready, and just about to make his dream come true.
He came into the PEETZ workshop at 2740 Rock Bay Avenue in Victoria, nervously asking if I could make his reel perfect in just three days! I worked hard to convert a classic 6-inch reel into a super cool Evolution drag system just in time for his big trip with his dad, who was flying all the way from Ontario just to fish for sturgeon on the Fraser River.
On Friday afternoon, I called Noah to tell him his reel was ready. He was so excited! He said he’d come by Monday morning, just as he was heading to catch the ferry to Vancouver. He couldn’t wait to get on the water and try out his new reel.
The next day, Noah and his dad went fishing. They caught a few small sturgeon, but Noah was dreaming of the big one, the monster! He asked his guide if he could try using the special reel to catch a giant fish. The guide chuckled but said, “Sure, give it a shot!”
Not long after they dropped the bait into the river, they had their first bite! But Noah didn’t pull hard enough, the hook did not set and the fish got away. Bummer! But he didn’t give up. Soon after, they had another hit. This time, Noah leaned into it, pulled hard, and “BAM” the fish was on!
The fight was unbelievable. The reel was cranking as tight as the drag could go, and the huge fish started pulling line like crazy. Noah’s hands were working hard, trying to hold the reel. The fish kept fighting for what felt like forever, but it was at least two minutes of pulling and tugging!
The reel was spinning so fast that Noah’s hand started hurting from the knobs hitting his palm. He had to ask for a glove to protect his hand while he kept fighting the beast. It was a tough battle, but Noah and his dad worked together, slowly tiring out the monster for over twenty minutes.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, they got the big fish close to shore. Carefully, they landed it, measured & scanned it’s tag for data to document the creature for the conservation program, and took some pictures and video of the release. Noah had never fought a fish this big before it was the biggest, most exciting battle of his life!
He came into the workshop the next morning, full of energy, telling me all about it. He showed me photos and videos and he was still buzzing with excitement! He said the guide was super impressed with how well the old PEETZ reel worked, even with such a huge fish. The guide even said he’d never use a PEETZ as a regular sturgeon reel, but he couldn’t believe how awesome it performed for that giant fish!
The reel is now hanging proudly on the wall of the PEETZ workshop, signed, dated, and marked with the length and weight of the monster sturgeon.
This was the second time I’ve seen a big sturgeon battle, the first was with Tom Cavanaugh, who also caught a fish of a lifetime on the Fraser River. Both guys say it was an unforgettable fight, a memory they’ll cherish forever.
And guess what? Both of them love PEETZ reels!
Other Articles
Does color matter?
