Canadian actor Elias Edraki is obsessed with fishing—especially yellow perch. Here’s why

Elias Edraki recharges when fishingWhen Montreal-born Elias Edraki isn’t acting, rapping or providing voices for animation, video games and commercials, he says he’s either fishing or thinking about fishing. Just how hardcore is he as an angler? During his wedding vows five years ago, he teased his wife that he taught her to fish so he would get partial credit for any lunkers she caught. “You might say I’m obsessed with it,” says Edraki, whose acting credits range from TV’s Degrassi: The Next Generation to the recent romance flick Tehranto.

First hooked on angling at age 11 when his dad took him ice fishing in Alberta, the 39-year-old Newmarket, Ontario, entertainer often fishes several times a week, usually on his home waters of nearby Lake Simcoe. We asked him to share his thoughts on the appeal of fishing, as well as his tips for catching his favourite fish—yellow perch.

BENEFITS

According to Edraki, wetting a line helps him handle his intense work schedule. “I think that fishing is my escape. It’s essentially my reward for my hard work,” he says. “You can set your problems aside when you get out there on the water and stop thinking about everything that’s going on in the world. Fishing allows me to relax and recharge, which is really important.”

TACKLE

To target perch, Edraki recommends a light set-up, starting with a light-power, fast-action spinning rod paired with a 1000- or 1500-series reel. On the business end, he uses a small live shiner or a two-inch soft-plastic minnow pinned to a 1/16^th-ounce jighead. For line, he uses six-pound-test braid because of its increased sensitivity for detecting subtle bites, even from jumbo perch. “They just suck it in in one shot, so you have to set the hook immediately or they spit it out,” he says.

TECHNIQUE

Since perch are a schooling fish, Edraki notes, you may have to hit a few spots to find them, but once you do, they’ll usually bite right away. And if you don’t get a hit within five minutes, he says, move on. To find perch, he looks for drop-offs, weedbeds and rock piles in 15 to 25 feet of water. “I drop my jig all the way to the bottom and reel up about a half-foot.”

ATTITUDE

When things aren’t going your way on the water, it’s crucial to keep matters in perspective, Edraki says. “It’s really important to remember that you’re not out there just to catch a fish,” he says. “You’re out there to take in the fresh air, to spend time with family and friends, to practise patience, appreciate nature and build memories.”

Follow Elias Edraki’s career and angling outings at www.instagram.com/eliasedraki.