The producers of the Canada in the Rough documentary TV show trekked to the lakeside community of Mitchell’s Bay in Chatham–Kent this past December.
The mission was to hunt the famous Canvasback duck on Lake St. Clair and produce an episode for television.
“We have had Lake St. Clair duck hunting on our radar for a number of years now and this fall we finally made it happen,” said Keith Beasley, co-producer of Canada in the Rough, in a media release.
“We see now first hand, the value, importance and high quality of Lake St Clair as a valued place for migrating waterfowl and a world class hunting destination.”
The production crew consisted of two cameramen, host Keith Beasley and hunting guests John Ward of Camillus/ Cuda Canada and Al Gallagher of Eastern Outdoors Sales Inc. Beasley chose local hunting guide Rob Stanley of Robert Stanley Guide Services to set the stage and take them to the hunting grounds.
“It was a true honour to escort these boys around my home lake, a lake I have grown up on and a lake I cherish with all my heart,” Stanley said in a press release.
“I am proud to be able to show the world the great hunting that Lake St. Clair offers and the reason I hold this lake dear to me.”
The production crew stayed at Parkside Cabins at Mitchell’s Bay and enjoyed the home cooking of Parkside Restaurant including the locally famous perch suppers.
In two days of hunting, they shot a multitude of species including Bluebill, Redhead and Canvasback ducks – all classified as ‘diver’ ducks which Lake St. Clair sees huge migrations of in November and December.
“We were hoping to see the ‘King of the Ducks’ – the Canvasback and Lake St Clair’s beauty and Rob Stanley did not let us down,” Beasley said in a press release.
“We had some fantastic hunting, got some Canvasback and it will all be presented in a great future episode.”
John Ward added: “I feel I have now been to a world class duck Mecca with world class boats, blinds, decoys and guides. The expertise and equipment makes hunting the big water comfortable and effective. Lake St. Clair proved to be one of the most important resting locations for migrating waterfowl this side of the Mississippi River.”
Canada in the Rough TV airs on six channels across Canada and the USA including the Sportsman Channels, CityTV, CHAT TV, CKPG TV and CFJC TV.
The ‘Late Season Canvasback’ episodes will begin airing the first week of April of 2021.
The production was made possible with support from Ontario Tourism, Chatham-Kent Tourism and with assistance from OutdoorSpot Media Group.
