I Have an Addiction...

[@frontierfishingwithRyanMacD]

I grew up fishing and hunting in Southwestern Ontario and was an alcoholic by the age of 25. I always knew I wanted to do something with fishing but was just never too sure how to break into it… In 2005 I met a friend of a friend at a wedding and he just so happened to be on camp leave for this wedding we were at and I asked him what his “camp job” was and he said he was working at a fishing lodge in the NWT as a fishing guide..Sounded VERY intriguing to me! I was in the process of finishing university while working at a brewery & decided I needed a change of life and scenery… So I applied to a bunch of lodges and got a job as a Guide at Brabant Lodge on the Mackenzie River - a pike fisherman’s paradise! And the experience definitely put me on a much better path in life and I still continue to guide (Frontier lodge - NWT) to this day whenever I can… Watching videos like these remind me of Guiding on the Mackenzie River and catching big beast northerns like these daily! Thanks for the great videos Clayton - keep catching BIG fish!!!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Great story man! Glad you found guiding!

[@patgingras5974]

That intro really spoke to me Clayton. I’ve been clean off the drugs for 5 1/2 years now, and sober for 3 1/2 years. Fishing has definitely replaced those addictions. I definitely have an addictive personality, and when the wife gives me crap for fishing too much, I always remind her that I could be out doing way worse things. Thanks Clayton

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Congrats to you for being on the right track buddy! Fishing really helps with all of that 100% Appreciate it as always!

[@patgingras5974]

@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors Thanks Bro! I was at a crossroads in life and made the decision to go down the right path. Now my spare cash goes towards buying a new boat and new fishing gear instead of pissing it all away haha 🎣🎣🎣

[@sclement328]

Man, you couldn't have hit the mark any better on what you said. Don't really like to comment on social media because of the back lash/negativity and false information but I have to on this one! I've always seen you as one of the most down to earth genuine people in the KZbin fishing community. Today with this video I now know you are #1. Wish I had someone like you as a fishing buddy where I live❤ Love that Big Action Baits perch colour, I believe it would slay where I live.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

The back lash/negativity is another subject I really want to talk about more in the future as well, it just... well... Sucks... I appreciate the kind words and you watching the videos, Thank you! Keep it real my friend!

[@normpayton4999]

I'm a addict I traded some bad addictions for a fishing addiction best thing I did for myself and now my youngest son is addicted to it too money well spent and nothing but unforgettable healthy life moments

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@normpayton4999 I love to hear this!! Hats off to you for fighting the addiction and I’m so glad you found fishing!! You’re right it’s expensive, but it’s money well spent. :)

[@blueaggie64]

That's awesome. Been there. Never again. I eat breath and sleep. GOD and fishing.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I love this so much!! Happy to hear you are able to have your son to fish with!!

[@normpayton4999]

It's people like you Clayton that fuel the addiction and keep that spark by teaching people different things and ways to catch fish and big ones if I could only show pictures on here the fish me and my son have caught by tips from people like you keep it up man great stuff

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@normpayton4999 this makes me happy!!

[@captynkirk1970]

2.5 years sober for me so far. Fishing has become my trade addiction. it’s given me peace, serenity and allows me to meditate and get in touch with my higher power of my understanding. Thanks for sharing your positive thoughts on addiction. ❤

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@captynkirk1970 good for you man!! I love hearing that!

[@peachypeaches62]

The first step is admitting it Clayton...mine was hard liquor before I found fishing! Keep spreading the good word about its positive aspects!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Happy you found fishing man!! Sure sounds like a lot more people than I even imagined that found fishing to help them with addictions.

[@IcatchTuna]

I am 16 years sober. I was a fisherman before but it truly truly became even a more giant part of my life. Sense getting sober I have accomplished some huge fishing goals personally with many trophies. My issues in my past life had caused me to be inadmissible to Canada until last year when I was able to return with my father to Cormorant lake and have an epic trip. I will be back next year 3 or 4 times to Canada and can't wait. Lastly for maybe someone like me who is watching this stuck in a bottle only dreaming thinking it will never happen or no one cares. I am here to tell you I may not know you but I care about you. Get help reach out, and it can all be yours.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Love the message! Happy to see you can come back to Canada! I need to get to Cormorant lake!

[@IcatchTuna]

@ClaytonSchickOutdoors gotta get there great lake for pike. I am trying to do Cormorant spring , lake of the prairies summer , and Amisk in the fall next year.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@IcatchTuna that would be a great combination!’

[@chadheydt8221]

❤

[@keeginlablance859]

Fishing helped save me from addiction. I’m now 6 years sober from drugs.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I am happy to hear that you have been sober for 6 years! Congrats on that!

[@jerryesau1311]

Most hardcore Fishermen I know and hang out with have that addictive personality, I do too. But I also apply that to other hobbies. It gets expensive!!!!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@jerryesau1311 100%

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@jerryesau1311 it gets very expensive:)

[@randygagnon9175]

Fishing is very therapeutic! Takes away all life's problems albeit for a short time.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Sure does!

[@fishman8662]

17 yrs. sober for me, and yes fishing is my addition for sure. Question is do you have to be barbless on all fishing techniques of fishing in Canada?

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Good for you man! Parts of Canada are barbless yes, but usually for Pike I always go barbless no matter what, for treble hooks, 100% of the time :)

[@adammead8197]

Another grind pays off. Love it. 50 inch musky hunt sometime next season? Cheers Clayton

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@adammead8197 yup! Lots has changed and I can do some more trips like that in the future :)

[@victorsimonsen921]

thanks for taking us along

[@EXILE_OUTDOORS]

Another awesome video clayton, living that dream, chasing that high catching monster fish. Hell yeah. Cheers !

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@EXILE_OUTDOORS chasing the high is right!! Cheers!

[@tjsguideservice]

You’re a good man, Clayton! Just a bonus that you catch big fish 😉 I agree - I can’t do anything half way. If I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna go hard!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Full speed ahead right? :)

[@douglaswhitcomb9729]

Another great video and wonderful advice. That first big pike smoked that glide bait. Fun to watch!!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Sure did!

[@joshbraun3743]

Great video Clayton. Crazy how many people hate fishing pike and only like walleyes. I get that catching “hammer handles” sucks but your videos show how catching good size and BIG pike can be freakin awesome!!!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I love my some BIG PIKE!

[@JustinWatrobka-dg5ps]

The absolute best times of my life have been on water. Boat or shore. Mostly boat love being on my boat. Always brings the family together.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I love my boat too!

[@HairlipButcher]

Love walleye! The Columbia River has no limit on them. Pretty sure there are some monsters in that river system. Biggest one I've caught was 13lbs.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I would love to fish that river one day!

[@konopelskifarms]

Mepps cyclops is my go to. Silver or gold. Good side to side action. Catching big fish is addicting but what’s more addicting is being out in the outdoors. There is nothing better. Great video Clayton

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Good bait right there!

[@billkeller6023]

I've always had a passions for fishing. But when I decided to quit drinking, my addiction for fishing really took off. I could drink a case of beer and make bad decisions, or use that money to make great memories on the water with my Kids. 4+ years sober now! 🤘

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Congrats on being 4 years sober! Enjoy that time on the water with your kids!

[@Fishingfan-bb9js]

Great fish Clayton. I took my brother and nephew out this weekend never caught big ones (small pothole lake) but we did land 65 pike in 4 hours biggest being 29.5 but fun catching

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

65 pike!! That is amazing!!

[@dogtoots8923]

The Larry Smirh story was awesome. He’s got a tell all video regarding the difficulty he had growing up with… extreme ADHD I believe. Larry seems like a normal well adjusted guy, then you find out he sleeps very little and used that extra awake time to focus on fishing and business.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@dogtoots8923 sounds a lot like me!!

[@JB-kv7zo]

Fishing Saves lives ❤

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

100%

[@tommylaplante6903]

Fishing has helped me hyper focus and distract myself. Fishing helps me de-stress.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I get this for sure!

[@tommylaplante6903]

@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors I’m 5462 clean and sober. I take others fishing and give a crash course on relapse prevention. Life’s good

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@tommylaplante6903 you are doing a good thing for people and I applaud that so much!

[@mikemccarthy2226]

My number one pike bait is a 6” phantom Softail. So many big pike on that bait.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

That is a good bait!

[@matproulx2153]

I get why you don't use the drone. I'm the same way when I'm alone. However, it's so cool. It would be a good addition to your videos.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Agree 100% I am going to work into more and more!

[@fedonkey4573]

Addicted to your damn videos!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

It's a good addiction :)

[@FishingNorthernOntarioCanada]

Great message ✌️

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Cheers man!

[@TheSideGigGuru]

Clayton likes big fish and he can not lie....

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

100%

[@chris_2714]

Interesting about the spoons. I've noticed the same thing with pike (lots of bites with spoons, but lots lost) but never knew why, but that makes complete sense. Also, what baitcaster are you using? Don't think I heard it mentioned in the video

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

For sure way less fish stay buttoned :)

[@tiredredneck8159]

The fishn addiction.. The tugs the drug.. Wont stop till..Till the line pop..

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@tiredredneck8159 yes!!

[@saskbowman]

Dopamine hit

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

100%

[@rodmorris9690]

Pinching the barbs down, even when it isn't the law. Nice work Clayton.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I always fish barbless for Pike and I would for Musky as well! Anything that requires multiple trebles.

[@alblankenship7472]

I do that all the time as well as remove the treble as well a put single hooks I loose alot but I would rather loose all the fish at the boat Its a blast

[@SandskiFishing]

loved the video my man! Trying to be like you!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Cheers! Just be yourself :)

[@davidwarner2768]

I know you fish with barbless being in Manitoba, but here in Alaska we don’t have a barbless requirement. Do you think you lose more fish with barbless hooks, or not really? I like crimping my barbs for grayling and stuff, but for bigger fish I wasn’t sure if the barbs do much for keeping the fish pinned.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

You will not be losing more fish because of barbless in MOST circumstances. One would be like a heavy tube jig, it is a lot easier for that jig to fall out when there is a lot of weight on the actual hook.

[@jasonfisher281]

How come you use both left and right hand reels? Reason or just what you have paired with diff rods?

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I kind of wanted to get good at fishing both ways so I can be flexible in different applications and situations

[@David-wb9vw]

A lot of us have a fishing addiction but cannot scratch the itch because we're always on the job

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I get that 100%

[@shanemutter4662]

Great job man

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Cheers!

[@sonnenburgoutdoors]

Thanks so much!! What drone you using ??

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@sonnenburgoutdoors the mavic air 3 :)

[@sonnenburgoutdoors]

Thanks . Thanks for the follow👍👍🐟🐟​@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@sonnenburgoutdoors cheers my friend!

[@johnwest2396]

Question and maybe you already addressed this in one of your videos when did you leave otter and go to Eskimo and why did you get rid of the hummingbird

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I have been with Eskimo for all of last ice season and will be again for this year. :) It was just the best decision for the direction I was taking my channel. The Humminbird thing was a little different, as I had supported them for several years, and when I would ask for anything it was always pins and needles and then my final conversation with someone there he said "Clayton I don't even know what you really do for us" So that was a VERY easy exit from them and honestly? It was the BEST thing that ever happened to me in regards to technology the Garmin products have made me a way better angler!

[@johnwest2396]

Makes perfect sense don't blame you one bit I follow you when I can and I don't catch all your videos I just happened to notice that and I was just curious.... I've always had hummingbird products I do like them but there's been some customer service issues and I'm slowly kind of switching over to Garmin I've always had Eskimo or clam hubs and flip over shelters never owned a otter

[@angrybird9925]

Just 1 time I'd like to have a day like this. Alberta fisheries are completely f ed. Lucky to catch anything these days. Years and years of abuse and a lack of policing has led to a totally decimated fishery in this province. It's sad.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I hear ya man! Lucky to have the waters we do in SK and MB

[@mikebennewitz7019]

I absolutely cannot agree more with this use of fishing to escape the entrapment of unhealthy addictions! However I do always say as a muskie angler my life would be cheaper if I had gone to gambling instead 😂😂😂

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

You are right! haha :) Fishing is $$$

[@andywazy4383]

I went to Cabela’s today to get one thing that was supposed to be $8 I walked out spending $450. I think I need to find a new addiction maybe some blow would be cheaper😂

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

HAHAH!! Right??

[@fishinggeeks]

❤❤❤

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@fishinggeeks cheers boys!

[@RodStafford-q5b]

What is the lens color on your Costas?

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

These ones are Green Mirror :)

[@brendenjohnson1258]

What rods you use for these big pike?

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I have a couple different rods I use, I need to cover this in a future video :) This one was a Savage Gear Battletech Rod

[@brendenjohnson1258]

@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors thanks man

[@dashybaby255]

I like you Clayton!

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I Like you too!

[@TheEzrider403]

Nice !

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Cheers!

[@tuiflies5869]

👏🙏

[@chadheydt8221]

Clean off of meth for 4 years fishing might have saved my life❤

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

Good for you man! Makes me happy!

[@shawncayer1233]

I had to quit drinking to support my fishing gear habit.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

RIGHT? :)

[@scottrouwhorst881]

Nice

[@MarcusSpjut]

You basicly got adhd and talking about kid with it as well you know that right.:P And Im 100% with ya. xD The Abu Atom 55g probebly the pike lure in sweden that cough most amounts of pikes of them all. :) (I put a swirvle in the back to give the fish less momentum shanking that head.)

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

100% ADHD!!

[@jasonjamesbisson]

Addiction is addiction. Dont let the addiction fool you ! Your brain has been hijacked! 😂

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@jasonjamesbisson I’m in control :)

[@zoomzoomgt]

This guy.........his definition of small is 40 and under....while I'm here still waiting to catch my first 35 lol Please do a full in depth video on live scope (garmin) the difference models and what you prefer and why. I've seen a few 32 models that ppl r are selling. Wondering if I should pull the trigger or not.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I hear ya man! I’m very spoiled with the size of fish that I have been fortunate enough to catch. I can try to do a review, but IMO you want the lvs 34. The 32 would be good as well! But the 34 is the best out there right now. You will be happy with the 32 as well though!!

[@gregporth356]

Hot tip of the day... Don't hook yourself 😂 love it 🍻

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@gregporth356 haha :). Exactly.

[@Nautilus23]

I love spoons

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

They are fun!

[@kingofsl8891]

Me personally? I’m addicted ti buying euro pike baits

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

HAH!! YES!!

[@magic2066]

bec u r the best

[@Unapproachable_Light]

Clayton, having dealt with the same addiction, I just wanted to remind you that, "One cast is too many and a thousand is never enought!" Why take the risk of getting hooked?

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@Unapproachable_Light never worth the risk :)

[@dalbert4991]

A grinder for sure. Good pay off though. 😊

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I love when it's a grind, but also really nice when it comes together!!

[@bsimmons00]

He likes BIG FISH and he cannot lie...

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@bsimmons00 100% true!

[@Nakoyak47]

Give me your boat and all your gear then I can be addicted to fishing .

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@Nakoyak47 anyone can have the gear and boat I have if you work hard enough and dedicate your life to fishing.

[@kylejordan2654]

Lets go dont care thats its 9 pm.

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

@@kylejordan2654 haha!! Yes!!

[@CashGravel]

I want my guides to be addictive personalities, but I want my fishing partners not to be lol

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

HAH! That is good :)

[@alextitchenal2537]

I can’t wait to come up to beckers

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

bakers :)

[@alextitchenal2537]

@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors that’s right it should be a great time

[@Tafka_miessa]

30 sec Ago🔥

[@ifishmn4645]

Jealous of the size pike you get biggest I've got is 34 & ⅞ 😂 makes it look like a baby to the ones you catch

[@ClaytonSchickOutdoors]

I am a lucky guy!