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"A Family Tradition for 130 Years" By Jeff Mitchell ® Port Perry Star VER SINCE he was little, Dave Mercer's been angling for a television fishing show. And now he's landed one. And is taking to it like a fish to water. The affable Dave, a Scugog Island resident who's been a long-time fish- ing guide in the area and works now as sales manager for a tackle com- pany, is the host of a weekly 60- second fishing feature on the New VR, a television station based in Barrie. "It's basically a 60-second tip I do every week on the.evening news," said Dave, who used to write a fish- ing column for the Port Perry Star. He describes the Wednesday even- ing installments as "high-impact, high-energy" sessions, during which he tries to impart fishing tips and environmentally-friendly ideas. He uses humor and catchy visual images to attract not just die-hard fishermen, but also others who may only occasionally wet a line. "We want to show these tips to the average Joe," he said. "Because it's true, angling is getting tougher. There's a lot more pressure on the lakes. "There are a lot more people fish- ing, and a lot more people learning to fish." Dave explained that he cast his _idea for a fishing spot to manage- ment at the recently-revamped Barrie station, and got a bite. He said his upbeat focus on recreational use of the area's lakes was just the kind of bait the station was looking for. "They're the perfect station for me to work with," he said of VR. "We're on the same wavelength. We want to do something upbeat and exciting." He'll have a new spot every week, 52 weeks of the year, providing cur- rent, relavant information on local WINDOWS & PATIO DOORS f PORT PERRY + (905) 985-3333 LINDSAY = (705) 328-1402 « (705) 878-2023 Reach industrial Park - Reg Rd. 8 (1/4 Mile East Of No. 12) S.A. W.D.A.C. nth et Gene f) FINANCING AVAILABLE FOR COMPLETE HOME (ENERGY SAVING) RENOVATIONS ON ALL ALCAN PRODUCTS Dave lands a TV fishing show TV is a dream come true for the avid Scugog angler 1 angling opportuni- ties. He wants to relay info on tech- niques and local conditions, but stresses the need for the program to be fun for viewers, too. It's all part of lur- § ing a new audience for angling shows, and fishing itself, says Dave. "Fishing's kind of got the image of a few fat guys, sitting out there watching the bobber," he said. "I'd like to attract a younger audience." And he'd also like | = to attract more air | time. Dave says he hopes to see his spot : grow to occupy a half-hour on tele- vision, and in a choice, prime-time slot, not tucked away on Saturday, between the car- toons and college football. He's alrea- dy working on assembling a pro | staff of experts to § help out in guest spots, and will work at landing a few celebrities for his current time slot 21 ed to have my own fishing as well. It's all something of a dream come "I was the lunatic who was out in true for a guy who decided, after winning a trophy in when he was 10 years old, that he "Th . 1 wanted to make his living fishing tor Oe a ought and, eventually, be the host of a tele- Not that any of that matters now. vision fishing program. VR's happy, Dave's happy, and "Very few. people they actually wanted to do when i were have taken to the weekl they were little kids," said Dave. by y "Ever since | was a SENIORS DISCOUNT DAVE MERCER: Local man has spot on news show. front h tisi Jdrdd; hr front of wy Bey practising my get to do what once to the station reveals that kid, I've said I Hook, line, and sinker. EDUCATION LUNG EXERCISES HEALTH TiPs Dear Friends, : Fall has arrived! RELAXATION our new Lines are great P 1 our newly 'carolyn o'Neals", ORMERLY KNOWN AS "DARNE'S. Regards THE TLUNG ASSUCTATION | Neal & carol ward mir | i | t =o 7189 Zuween . '. Tort Porry (505) 985-7221 VitalAire - Cen 7 Days a Week -