2009-AOY BarryGraves

The Time on the Water Angler of the Year is awarded to the OBFN member with the most outstanding achievements acquired in various tournaments he or she fished that year.

This year’s recipient is Barry Graves of Keswick, ON, a member of the York Bassmasters, and of Team Ontario 2009. Barry, fishing with partner Jason Gough, made his mark early in the year by winning the season opener Casey Cup on Lake Simcoe/ Couchiching. He came out on top, besting a field of 130 teams by almost two pounds and earning a $10,000.00 pay cheque. Encore performances the next day in the first Bassmania event of the year lead to a close second place finish behind no other than the formidable Mike Desforges (2008 OBFN BASS Federation Nation Championship contender) and Doug Brownridge, both members of the Mississauga Bassmasters.

In the B.A.S.S. Federation Eastern Divisionals, Barry placed second on Team Ontario to good friend Dave Johnson, another top contender for this award.

It was a year of many outstanding performances such as Charles Sim’s, a member of Ottawa South Bassmasters who broke the 30 pound barrier for five bass on Lake St. Francis, or Mike Desforges of Burlington ON and a member of the Mississauga Bassmasters who won the Stren Series on Lake Ontario along with multiple high finishes in other tournaments. But when we looked at all the events that Barry either won or placed top 3 in, the results became clear and so did our decision to award him our first TOTW Angler of the Year Award.

The season ending Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open tournament had the same net result as the Casey Cup season opener for Barry. The similarities between the two events were as remarkable as the stark contrasts between the events. Barry fished each with Jason Gough. Both were hosted out of Orillia. For both the dynamic duo focussed on smallmouth. Both times they elected to leave Couch and spend their time on Simcoe. But the similarities ended there. For the prestigious Bass Pro Shop Lake Simcoe Open they fished deep... 20-35’. For the Casey they were shallow in 3 to 12 feet. For the Casey rough weather wasn’t really a major issue. For the BPS Open it was all they could do to stay on their open water spot and make it back safely to Couch. “Hats off to Barry for unbelievable boat control to keep us constantly in that zone,” Gough reported in BassMan Magazine. With 29.00 pounds for five fat smallmouth at the end of the day – they became one of only a small handful of anglers to come that close to breaking the magical 30 pound barrier. For their efforts they collected over $33,000.

The difference in winning tournaments and placing well can come down to a matter of ounces over an entire season. At this level of the sport everything has to come together and you have to be prepared when opportunity knocks. Although a little luck doesn’t hurt, cashing top place cheques is a matter of work ethic and time on the water efficiently used. Others have dominated seasons either alone or with partners. Anglers like David Chong, Mark Kulik, Mike Desforges, Doug Brownridge, have all had spectacular seasons and remain a threat in every tournament they enter on any body of water.

Barry, an extremely versatile tournament angler uses every tool in the box and every inch of water to fill the livewell. He can finesse if needed but ultimately he is the consummate power angler along the likes of Kevin Van Dam or Skeet Reese of the B.A.S.S. Elite series. When Barry returns for weigh-in, the gas tank is most likely empty as he covers a lot of water looking for fish as aggressive as his approach.

With the level of success on the water Barry has enjoyed it’s difficult to believe tournament fishing is only his avocation. He is also a successful stock broker, husband to Lisa and father of Allan so planning a tournament season is difficult at best.

From your peers and the gang at TOTW, congratulations for a great year and we wish you a repeat year in 2010 as the inaugural Time on the Water Angler of the Year.

Angler of the Year 2009