Northern Ontario anglers are famous for their tall tales about fishing. So what if I told you about Pleasant Cove Resort in Pointe au Baril, Ontario where mounted trophy fish are apparently so plentiful, the locals are giving them away.

A buddy of mine, Frank, was walking the public dock at Pointe au Baril, when he spotted a very impressive walleye lying in the bow of a boat. What really caught his eye was that this trophy was already mounted. Thinking it would look great over his mantle, Frank asked to whom the fish belonged. An older gentleman replied that it was his, but he wanted to get rid of it.

Suddenly, Frank found himself the proud owner of a mounted trophy. I razzed him that having a mounted fish handed to you was cheating. Any true angler would be ashamed to acquire one without putting in the hours, energy and cash to catch it properly. Frank responded that he’s been fishing for years and this way, his mantle wouldn’t have to sit empty forever. Besides, he was already working up a bogus back-story about the blood, sweat and tears expended in hot pursuit of this prize catch.

Maybe there is something to be said for ending up with the fish of your dreams without actually going fishing. At least when Frank goes fishing from now on, he won’t always be trying to reprise the big catch of a lifetime. He can just relax and be happy netting his usual small fry, secure in the knowledge that his mantle if full.

Chuckling to myself, I thought: maybe this is the next instalment in our world of instant gratification. Go to a fishing resort like Pleasant Cove and get your pre-mounted fish -- no mess, no fuss, no bother! So in keeping with the long tradition of taking promo photos to capture these rare prize moments, I lined Frank up beside Pleasant Cove’s owner, Bruce Bishop, and snapped the attached fishing picture.

Next time you visit Pointe au Baril, you can decide for yourself whether to troll the water or the docks to find your own trophy fish -- or ask Bruce to show you where the big ones really are!