Hooked on a new life ‘adventure’
- Sr Perspective
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Osakis man left his career as a doctor to become a professional fisherman
BY JULIE PARENT

National fishing champion Bruce Samson enjoys fishing on his favorite lake. Although he has fished in waters all over the upper Midwest and in Canada, he likes the lake he has lived on for 11 years in Osakis the most.
“When you live on a lake, you do a lot more fishing than when your boat is in a garage, because it’s just so easy to get in your boat and go,” Bruce said. He goes out anytime of the day to catch different fish species in the boat he loves because of its smooth ride.
Bruce began fishing as a child growing up in the small town of Cavalier, N.D. He had a wonderful dad, but his dad didn’t fish. So, Bruce fished on the banks of creeks and rivers. And he was “hooked right away.”
As an adult, Bruce became a doctor. He was a family practitioner in the Minnesota cities of Cambridge, St. Cloud, and Minneapolis. When Bruce wasn’t working, he would enter fishing tournaments. In 2002, when Bruce won a total of $362,000 fishing, he left the field of medicine and became a professional fisherman.
“It was a difficult decision, but I liked to be outside, so I tackled it,” Bruce said. Since being a doctor was his backup plan, he made sure he renewed his medical license for the next 20 years.
Preparing for fishing tournaments was not for the faint of heart. Bruce is competitive and he was there to do a job.

“I fish to win.” And the secret to winning... “spend all your time looking for big fish,” he said.
Days before the tournament began, Bruce would travel to the tournament location to collect and analyze data during every waking hour. Bruce stayed at a campground away from the partying contestants where he wouldn’t be distracted. The mental focus it required was intense and brutally taxing. His dedication gave him an edge. By the time the tournament started, he had a good idea where the biggest fish liked to be in the lake based on a lot of different variables.
“Just like being a doctor, you have to study to keep up and do a good job,” he said.
About two dozen tackle bins, approximately 20 rods and reels, and fishing lures wrapped around swimming pool noodles were in his boat in good working condition so he could use whatever he needed at a moment’s notice. Not being efficient on the water could mean missing the opportunity to catch the winning fish. “The window is short,” for catching walleyes.
If he was a leader on the last day of the fishing tournament, a television cameraman would be in his boat with him. Bruce would always tell the cameraman not to talk to him so he could concentrate. The more effort he put into it the more success he had. According to the Lake-Link website, since 1986, Bruce has “won 10 major tournaments while competing on the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC), Professional Walleye Trail (PWT), RCL/FLW Circuit and AIM Pro Walleye Series.” He has been inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame and the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wis. According to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame website, “The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is the international headquarters for education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sportfishing.”
Bruce’s biggest claim to fame was his mastery of marine electronics. As a professional fisherman with big sponsors, he wrote articles for magazines, attended sport show events, and taught classes on how to use marine electronics at resorts and large sporting goods stores. He was the shortcut for people to learn how to use their equipment. He took the frustration out of fishing and not catching anything by teaching people how to read their computerized screens and use all the fancy buttons and menus. The stores with classroom space were happy he brought in customers. Oftentimes, the customers would upgrade their equipment because of what they learned sitting in Bruce’s class.
Bruce knew the importance of sonar, GPS, and maps.
“I had better maps than other people,” he said.
He made his own depth maps using government data, put the maps on SD cards, and sold them. When a writer called him Doctor Sonar, Bruce trademarked the nickname. Before there was a lot of information on the internet, Bruce also made DVDs explaining how to use all the marine electronics features. The hardest part about making the DVDs was he had to edit them himself. He couldn’t hire anyone to do the editing, because nobody was as knowledgeable about the topic as he was. Still well-known and respected for the skills he’s perfected, Bruce can occasionally be heard speaking as a guest on a fishing podcast.
Usually, Bruce catches more fish than he can keep. Although he freezes some fish to give to friends and family members, he prefers to eat fish immediately after catching it. His favorite kind is walleye. After fileting it, he dips the walleye in beaten egg, coats it with fresh-grated Parmesan cheese, Panko breadcrumbs, flour, and seasoning salt. Then, he fries it in butter. Bruce claims the trick is to cook it at just the right temperature, so the outside gets crispy, but the butter doesn’t burn.

One of the best things Bruce ever reeled in was his partner, Dottie Guilbert. They met online. When he took her out on his boat, they both agreed that they found the sound of the water slapping on the side of the boat soothing. She is amazed by his expertise, like when he carefully removes the hook from a fish being thrown back without injuring it or retrieves a lost fishing pole from the bottom of a lake.
The two of them spend winters in Tucson, Ariz. where they enjoy playing outdoor shuffleboard, golfing, and riding bikes in the desert. Bruce also plays pool obsessively.
“I’ve always been happier being busy. If I’m bored, I’m miserable,” he said.
At 76 years old, Bruce still likes teaching the kids he knows how to fish, because “I see myself in them,” he said. When he is with someone who doesn’t have any fishing experience, he likes to use bobbers because it is exciting for them to see the bobber go underwater when a fish takes the bait. Although he doesn’t work as a guide, Bruce recommends people who want to catch fish hire a guide who will teach them how to fish on a particular lake.
Bruce uses all kinds of bait. If someone in the boat doesn’t catch a fish within a few minutes, he has them try a different approach. His preferred method of fishing is the one that “catches the most fish.” He likes to fish away from other boats or on windy days when he has the lake to himself.
When it comes to fishing, Bruce feels like he has done it all. He refers to his extensive collection of fishing stories as “the great adventure in life,” because he caught a large Muske; he caught a huge Marlin when he went to Hawaii; he swam with dolphins in Florida; and he picked exactly what he wanted to do for a living. When asked what he is most proud of, Bruce replied, “Being brave enough to start the adventure.”
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