When you hear the name Maximum Limit Fishing, you might expect the same old fishing show. But this is not the case for the Northwest Territories-based production. Maxim Bloudov has created a truly Northern experience to share with all.
“I watch fishing shows religiously and have been fishing my whole life, 80 per cent of them are catching bass and this isn’t cool anymore,” says Bloudov, the show’s host, producer, editor, marketing team and occasional cameraman.
As the number one watched Canadian fishing show, with 64,000 weekly viewers, and the number three overall Canadian show on Wild TV, he has proven this is the case.
With a basic $800 camera and six pilot episodes in hand he went to Northwestel and got a spot on community TV.
“There is no script, this is real,” he says. “It is not like the shows down south with multiple boats and many cameras. There are no cuts, no ‘let’s do it again.’ We just roll it how it is. Whatever happens happens.”
The format is simple, but it works.
“(Northwestel) gave us a start,” says Bloudov. “It was really popular and I got a lot of feedback, so with some government funding I was able to shoot 12 episodes for season two and 13 for season three.”
The sponsorship from the show started as local small businesses helping out with whatever they could. Now that the show has gone national he has secured sponsorship from some big companies like Yellowknife Chrysler, Lucky Strike and Okuma fishing tackle.
Each episode brings you a new experience. When you get on the boat with Bloudov you might be heading out fine dining on Northern pike, or learning how to set your down rigger for trout. Either way you are not staying in one place to long.
“We will hang out for seven to 10 minutes then we’re moving if there is no action.”
Bloudov believes geography is one of the key factors that has helped his show prosper.
“The North is like a big magnet and down deep in everyone’s heart they want to come up here,” he says. “Some can’t afford it and we are the only fishing show in the N.W.T. so we bring the North to them.”
Maximum Limit Fishing airs on Northwestel Cable channel 20 daily at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on Wild TV on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m., Fridays at 2 a.m. and Saturdays at 5:30 p.m.
To see episodes online go to www.MaximumLimitFishing.com.
