Bill Landrie, pictured here with his prized catch, a 64-pound sturgeon out of the North Saskatchewan River. (submitted photo/Janet Lynn)

By Martin Martinson

Into the river

Man vs. beast: The catch of a lifetime

Jul 17, 2019 | 8:00 AM

North Battleford’s Bill Landrie has fished in the North Saskatchewan River for essentially his entire life.

Ever since he was three years old and his parents first took him out to cast a line off the shore, Landrie, like countless fish since – was hooked.

Flash forward to Sunday night and Landrie was back out to take part in his favorite hobby just as he had so many times before, in the North Saskatchewan River, down by the flats.

This time, however, what Landrie found awaiting him, was something rare and magnificent that would ensure this trip to be unlike any other.

That special creature was a lake sturgeon weighing in at a whopping 64 pounds and measuring 60 inches long with a 28-inch curve.

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Landrie was with his cousin Ange when the behemoth first took hold. A veteran of the banks, he said he knew right away this fish was a gem he couldn’t let get away.

Determined to hang on and get the best of his nemesis, Landrie knew he’d need an extra set of hands in the water to help corral the monster and get it onto the shore.

Landrie called his wife, who had left his side just 15 minutes prior, requesting assistance from the couple’s son, Lucas, to help haul the stubborn fish to land in what can likely only be described as a tone mixed with raw jubilation over his pending catch and physical struggle as the scaly sturgeon fought back with all its might.

Bill Landrie, pictured here with his son, Lucas after the pair hauled the big fish out of the water to measure the creature. (submitted photo/Bill Landrie)

The fight continued on for what seemed like an eternity, with both Landrie and the water beast going toe-to-toe, with neither giving an inch until the requested backup, Lucas, arrived.

“The fight took long enough that when I called for backup, they actually got there before I had landed the fish,” he said with a laugh. “Lucas came down and got in the water up to his waste; he got his arms around it and muscled it up on shore so we could take measurements and get pictures before we released her.”

Landrie said Sunday’s catch was a personal best, beating out a 46-inch jackfish he had caught last winter. He said it’s days like Sunday that feed his passion for fishing.

“I can’t really explain it,” Landrie said. “It’s getting outdoors, and the fight; when you catch a 64-pound fish like a sturgeon, the adrenaline is [immense]. I was still shaking the next day I was so excited.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1