Season Extended
By the time November rolls around, most have the boat winterised and away for safe keeping. But if there is anything Global Warming has done for us besides lengthening the growing season for bass, it would be adding another month to the season. Many claim the season is just heating up when its cooling down and that all the really big fish get more aggressive and put on the feed bag before settling in the winter haunts. In the south west of the province on the north shore of Lake Erie there is more activity than there is in July as every weekend there is a tournament.
Along with the great ice conditions of 2009 came great fishing and the crisis of our decade for many was a little less painful. It was great to see so many families enjoying the great outdoors and spending time on the ice together. Many quickly realized the cost of an ice fishing excursion is nowhere near as expensive as other winter pastimes such as skiing or snowmobiling.
One of the more positive things anglers soon realized during the ice fishing season was the increase in wild lake trout and whitefish they were catching. These 2 to 5 pound fish were complete with all fins present … unlike their stocked cousins which have at least one fin clipped. Whether these natural fish were as a result of better water quality, improved habitat conditions, higher oxygen levels or a combination of all three … the bottom line was that more of these fish were reproducing on their own.
Herb Quan, president of the Aurora Bassmasters sits on the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee. They meet once per month (for the last two years) and are tasked with advising District managers with the Ministry of Natural Resources about future management and regulations. One of the things they examined closely in 2009 was the increase in natural lake trout production. They evaluated the 100,000 lake trout per year stocking level to determine if this figure should be maintained. They heard several science –based reports about the lake trout fishery. After reviewing many options, the group acknowledged that 100,000 hatchery fish per year could actually be holding back the wild population and decided to recommend that stocking be reduced to 50,000 annually. This reduction in stocked trout would not come without safeguards however. It would be a five year project to begin in 2011 and then re-evaluated.
Lake Simcoe wasn’t the only place where Lake Trout had been rehabilitated as The Sound in Parry Sound has been nursed back to populations not seen in years. Our hats off to the MNR! They are an incredibly dedicated and passionate group working for us
Time on the hard water started off with a bang in 2009, but the same could not be said ‘off the water’. It began with bad news and it just kept coming. You couldn’t turn on the radio or TV without a new financial disaster with all of the experts giving a gloomy prospective of how things would unfold for years to come. Economic cycles are as much about sentiment and conditioning than reality and the world was conditioned in lock down mode expecting the worst.
In Canada things got bad but not as bad as the rest of the world. Still – in southern Ontario for example, many of those working in the auto or manufacturing sector were laid off. You know, an odd phenomenon occurs when people get laid off. They suddenly find out they have more time on their hands than they’re used to and they want to keep busy. They realize that at some point they will have to tighten their belts and find ways to pay the bills, but for now they may as well take advantage of the opportunity and ‘do something fun and fulfilling’. For ardent anglers who had free time on their hands in January and February, they didn’t have to think too long and hard before they figured out what to do. They hit the ice en masse and began to drill holes a plenty … and collectively made the hard water resemble a piece of Swiss cheese before they were done!
Putting Time to Good Use
The lakes were full of ice anglers throughout the winter of 2009. The UIC Team (Unemployment Insurance Corp.) was out in full force and it seemed every day was Saturday on many lakes. Local tackle shops reported record sales of ice fishing equipment. On the weekends it was family day and more and more families took to the ice for an inexpensive day of fun together. Ice conditions were perfect throughout most of the province and used snowmobile and ATV’s were snapped up as fast as a for-sale sign could be posted.
For many, it was a year to experience ice fishing for the first time. They soon realized it could be as expensive or in expensive as they chose. Many wanted to learn more about their new hobby and read everything they could on the subject … including several articles here in time on the water. Many also attended seminars and guys like OBFN Conservation Director Wil Wegman reported attendance seemed to be at an all time high. He has given ice fishing seminars since the mid 1980’s and feels ice anglers are increasingly learning to be proficient at what they do.
There was a sense of community and optimism as families took to the ice for an inexpensive day of fun
Fish wasn't the only thing caught through the ice. Who could forget the Mooooskoka Bassmaster rescuing a young moose while returning from ice fishing. Steve Bossence (the one on the left) seen with the new club mascot. Both are well and planning another hard water season. full story...
Spring has Sprung
As spring approached things began to look or at least feel a little better in the economic front. The disaster that was to be wasn’t quite the disaster that was. Many in the fishing community, particularly the boat and motor manufactures were hit hard. Today we still hope that a feeling of optimism that so many are getting will reflect in their recovery.
As bass season drew near it generated an air of excitement. Despite the economy, the tournament schedule was unscathed and some events were bigger and better than ever. But before the bass tournaments started there was a gambit of open pike tournaments scattered all over the province. The biggest was the Muskoka Bassmasters tournament on Lake Muskoka. Many think that Muskoka has a lot of snobby bass that only eat gourmet bait, but the pike are big, there are lots of them, and they are as aggressive as anywhere in the spring. Wes Foster of the Muskoka Bassmasters and Mike Reid took the top prize of $10,000.00. What a way to start the season. The same team also won the 2008 event.
There was more to the tournament than just catching and releasing fish. The Muskoka Bassmasters and the MNR teamed up in a research project that would see transmitters surgically place in several fish to track their migration paths and general health after their release. Several times a week a club volunteer with a boat would take the MNR out with a transceiver and track the progress of the fish. What was amazing was that after the first day some fish had migrated several miles back outside Gravenhurst Bay. All of the fish survived and the data is still being accumulated. This is yet another of many trail blazing research projects initiated by Bassmasters across the province.
Transmitter being suricaly implanted in a pike from the Muskoka Pike Tournament
Bass Season Countdown
The countdown was on and the Casey Cup was approaching. Day after day the ramps and parking lots were full and the scouts were out in full force. With the season still closed anglers left their rods at home and many could be seen with their hands shading their eyes as they scoured the bays and shoals looking for where the big fish might be.
If the economy was bad you certainly wouldn’t know it by the number of boats in the Opener, 130 in all. The morning of the tournament was perfect weather and allowed everyone to run to their spots. As the day wore on the wind started to blow and the waves got bigger and in typical opening day fashion Mother Nature reminded everyone that contending on these waters against the best of the best wasn’t going to be easy. The ride back was bumpy and wet for everyone venturing out on Simcoe. One of the early teams to weigh in was Barry Graves and Jason Gough. If your heading for the weigh-in line with a bag full of bass and you see Barry and Jason already there it’s not because something went wrong. You know they had a good day, and a good day it was as the first to return weighed in over 26 pounds of spring smallies, almost two pounds more than anyone else to take the top prize and give warning that this could be their year. What was incredible was that 25 teams weighed in more than 20 pounds. This is truly amazing for any tournament in North America.
The day after the Casey Cup was the first Bassmania event of the year and many of the same teams headed back out on tranquil waters to do it all over again. On another spectacular day the team that were favourites to win everything they enter, won. Mike Desforges and Doug Brownridge edged out Barry Graves and Jason Gough by less than one quarter pound to win top prize.
Invaders From The South
The year was in full swing and the next big event was only weeks away as the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Divisionals moved to Canada for only the second time. As early as the first week in July Orillia saw licence plates from the Eastern Division anglers … Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Main started to show up at the ramps. Team Ontario would have their work cut out for them. With names like David Chong, David Johnson, Barry Graves, Garrett Green and Rob Hyatt on the team … all on their favourite waters of Lake Simcoe. What could go wrong? Some thought this was a slam dunk.
Team Ontario was about to take their second title in federation competition. But the more experienced team members warned about getting too cocky; that there were too many great angers from south of the border here and with enough time to pre-fish there would be few secrets left on Simcoe. Some of the invaders worked hard as teams scoured the lake together as a highly effective unit. Some sent search boats out to mark spots and areas where Team Ontario was scouting. After the final week of practice was behind them, Team Ontario was beginning to feel the pressure that only a home team can.
The first day of the tournament was an eye opener as team after team from the visiting side brought good bags to the scales and members of Team Ontario came in shaking their heads. When the final tally for the day was in, Team Ontario found themselves in sixth out of eight teams. On the second day the wind howled and the rain came in sheets and the bite was no better for Team “O”. With tale between their legs and enough pressure to crush an atom, Team O took to the water for the final day. On this last day the juniors were added to the team and their weights would count in the total.
On this day the sun shown and it was a perfect windless showcase day for our incredible fishery. There was a feeling of optimism and the juniors were poised to help.
At the end of the day, one by one Team O came to the scales with solid weights. The comeback was on and Team O’s big guns were firing. Jake Sasnowski had top weight for the juniors and that helped catapult the team from sixth to third, one pound out of second. Dave Johnson with solid weights every day took top honors and became the OBFN contender. Although they came up a little short Team Ontario staged a great comeback to a very respectable 3rd placement and walked away with some incredible memories. Even though the bite was hard all week, visiting teams raved about the fishery and reports of personal bests were numerous. They all said they couldn’t wait to fish Simcoe again.
Dave Johnson took top honors for Team Ontario, edging out Barry Graves. Mike Wolfenden of Connecticut was the overall champ and the team from Rode Island took home a new Skeeter Boat for winning the Team State title.
Ontario B.A.S.S. Federation Nation contender Dave Johnson went on to compete in the Federation Nation Championships in Florida. It was a tough week for Dave but he has a chance to repeat as he made team Onatrio for the second straight year. Congratulations Dave!
Rally For A Member
In the background of all the tournament activity OBFN members from all over the province rallied behind Ashley Rae in the Adopt an Angler contest on the World Fishing Network. Ashley, a member of the Quinte Bassmasters is an avid angler who is always trying to improve. She is involved in ever community activity, youth program, and conservation project. This is no small task because the Quinte Bassmasters are always involved in community projects and are certainly part of the regional fabric. Ashley did an incredible job promoting the OBFN as she held the limelight of the fishing industry for the entire summer and helped raise our organizations profile. Ashley won the contest and spent a week in the Caribbean deep sea fishing. It goes to show how our membership can unite and rally for one of their members even if the cause was all in fun. Great job Ashley!
Juniors On The Water
While the senior tournament action was in full swing so too were the juniors. This year there was 26 juniors in all broken down into two age groups, 11 to 14, and 15 to 18. The first mentor tournament where a senior teams up and mentors two juniors in a real payout tournament, took place on Lake Muskoka. Not surprising to those involved with the program was that the Juniors weights actually averaged higher than the senior weights during the OBFN Provincial Qualifier.
Our juniors are very good anglers and with a little guidance they will graduate as seniors to be reckoned with when they turn of age. Unfortunately the second of three tournaments scheduled had to be cancelled because of lack of boats. Not our finest hour. The last qualifying event was held on Bass Lake near Orillia where young Mark (Van Dam) Morrison took the 11 to 14 title for the second straight year. The 15 to 18 year group was won by Ryan Finnie, a three time contender. Both boys will accompany the seniors on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut next year.
Jake Sasnowski of Bowmanville ON, Team O junior contender of 2009 finished his last year as a junior at the JWC in Florida. Fishing was tough at the Harris Chain of Lakes but not to worry, Jake is a great angler and is sure to return as a senior in the FNC.
Mark (Van Dam) Morrison
Ryan Finnie
Jake Sasnowski
Andrew Pallotta
Return To Georgian Bay
The tournament activity in mid August was hectic to say the least but this was one tournament that stood out because of its venue. For the first time in many years Georgian Bay was the site of a CSFL tournament event. The significance of this particular event was the brave move by Bassmania tournament organizer Andrew Pallotta, to hold a tournament with a three fish limit and spearhead the return to a great fishery lost to us for so many years.
In 2002 the MNR under great pressure from Georgian Bay stakeholders reduced the limits on bass, pike and walleye. Constantly declining water levels, changes like those brought on by zebra mussels and pressure from cormorants in the north had put the fishery under siege and drastic measures seemed necessary. Bass limits were reduced to 3 from 6 and this was enough to eliminate this magnificent body of water from tournament action. The changes also had a drastic effect on tourism with some areas loosing much of their repeat clientele from the U.S.
Eight years have past with no more than small club tournaments contending on these waters until a combined bid from Huronia and Georgian Bay Bassmaster for the 2009 OBFN Qualifier was made. The conditions for the approval were that the limits of 6 fish would be restored under a special Scientific Collectors Licence issued by the MNR. Terry Crawford, president of Huronia Bassmaster spearheaded the project and took his case to the MNR and the Ontario Competitive Sports Fishing Committee. His efforts were in vein as his proposal was denied. But this wasn’t the end of the movement. In the winter of 2009, executives from the OBFN met with MNR officials to initiate the reversal of this ruling. As a result of this meeting, John Whyte is now the OBFN representative on the Georgian Bay Fisheries Management Zone Council with a mandate to restore 6 fish limits and return Georgian Bay to the tournament community.
Andy Pallotta and the CSFL scheduled the first 3 fish limit tournament on Georgian Bay out of Penetanguishene in August, and although the field was smaller than normal, the tournament was an incredible success. Team after team reported catching their limits in the first hour and some teams reported catching up to 50 fish. Anglers that hadn’t fished Georgian Bay in many years raved about the fishery and said that the limits didn’t matter and many said they thought it made it more interesting and fun. Hopefully someday soon we will see provincial standards restored.
The winners of the event were non other than Brian Rever and Laurie Charlebois of the Georgian Bay Bassmasters. It was an emotional moment for the winners seeing activety return to the region and to win the first event was certainly special.
Team Ontario 2010
As the end of August approached there was only one thing on the minds of OBFN members, the Provincial Qualifier on beautiful Lake Muskoka. A field of 114 launched from Gravenhurst Wharf to compete for a place on prestigious Team Ontario 2010. Once again the weather played a large role in the two day event as the winds howled and the rain came down. But in the end the cream came to the top and another great team was formed.
Top honours in the tournament went to John Simiana, President of the Petawawa Bassmasters with a weight of 28.24 pounds of both largemouth and smallmouth over two days. Many of the names on the new team were familiar as they were repeats from 2009. Dave Johnson our 2009 National Contender, Rob Hyatt, Gary Mansholt and Scott Huffman were all members of the 2009 team. Craig Butler and Dave Rochette returned to the team, Dave being a multiple time member. The new team will head to Candlewood Lake in Connecticut for the Eastern Divisionals next summer.
Back to the Bay
As September rolled around and the season began to heat up, the focus turned back to Georgian Bay for the inaugural Canadian B.A.S.S. Club Championship four angler team event. Unfortunately with an unusually busy schedule including the Eastern Divisional and conflicts with other tournaments, the turnout was below expectations. But rather than waste a perfect day on a beautiful fishery, Georgian Bay Bassmasters took the lead and organised a trial run for next year. Once again the fishery lived up to its billing and a team made up of Muskoka Bassmasters and a couple of locals including Mike Reid took top honours. This event promises to be well attended as the word gets out that this might be smallmouth central in years to come.
Records Fall
The premier single day event of the year was approaching and although still in September the buzz was building. Would someone break the 30 pound barrier this year? While the who’s who of the bass angling world was planning the year end finale, something unexpected happened during a small gathering on a lake not many know of. Charles Sim of the Ottawa South Bassmasters and partner Nigel Touhey came to the scales with an incredible 30.34 pounds of fall smallmouth.
The tournament was held on Lake St. Francis, a bay off the St. Lawrence River on the Ontario Quebec border. For more than a few, the news opened their eyes to the fact that smallmouth fisheries province wide are getting better and the fish just keep getting bigger. Simcoe and Erie might still be the place most likely to break records but there is a host of waters capable of producing world class weights given the right anglers show up and Charles Sim is certainly one of those anglers.
The BPS Simcoe Open has turned out to be the premier single day event of the year and in 2009, one hundred teams competed for top prize and a chance to set a new Canadian record. In Days leader up to the tournament the wind had been howling from the south west and at the pre-tournament meeting there were concerns of cancellation, postponement or restricted waters. Tournament Director Andy Pallotta warned that he wouldn't risk the safty of boats but that the winds would have to get much worse before changes would be made. The wind persisted the morning of the event and the field had to deal with six foot waves once through the narrows between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe. Many tided everything down and risked the rough waters and many simply turned back to fish more tranquil waters. Not only were the conditions extreme but the lake had just turned and the bite was extremely tough.
At 3:00 pm all the boats were back safely and the suspense was mounting as boats with more than 20 pounds were trailered in front of the stage one by one. Dave Mercer did another great job as MC and pumped up the crowd as bag after bag over 25 pounds was weighed. What was remarkable was that five weights were over 27 pounds, a feat never seen in Canada and extremely rare anywhere. In the end Barry Graves and Jason Gough out-fished the field and weighed in an incredible 29.00 pounds. It was a book-end season for Barry after winning the Casey Cup and with other top 3 tournament finishes, all in large tournaments competing against the best of the best, and confirmed by his peers, we’ve made Barry the inaugural Time on the Water Angler of the Year.
George Wallace of Bass Pro Shop has vowed to make next years tournament bigger and better. George has done an incredible job of pulling all the sponsors together for this event. We congradulate Andy and Vita Pallotta and group for the flawless execution and of course the Aurora Bassmasters for organising the event.
Simcoe Open
In 2001, the Aurora Bassmasters, a member club of the Ontario Bass Federation, set out to establish a late season tournament that would capture the scope of the Lake Simcoe fishery. Ultimately, their goal would be for the event to highlight the record-size smallmouth bass during the fall bite. Not only were they successful with consistent five-fish limits approaching 30lb; in 2006, the event also set a new one-day Canadian tournament record of 29.90lb for five-fish by John MacDonald and partner Steve Hawkins. In 2007, the Aurora Bassmasters entered into a partnership agreement with Bass Pro Shops Canada, Inc. and from there the rest is history.
In mid November the Niagara Bassmasters hold their 30 pound challenge and this year was exceptional as 14 degree windless weather made for short sleeves and a lake that didn’t have a ripple from Windsor to Buffalo. The blue bird day took a little out of the bite so the 30 pound mark wasn’t threatened, but everyone caught a limit several times over. This tournament is gaining some momentum and promises to get bigger every year particularly after the Provincial Qualifier that will introduce the best smallmouth fishery on the planet to many anglers that haven’t had the pleasure. Winners of the 30 Pound Challenge was Kim Poirer & Roy Young with 
22.71lbs
22.71lbsThe season didn’t end there. Every weekend, both Saturday and Sunday a healthy field shows up for the Frostbite Series. Only one event had to be cancelled on the last weekend of the year because of high winds. Every week there are numerous five fish weights over 20 pounds and a few over 26 pounds.
We couldn’t go without mentioning what incredible job anglers in the region have done on adapting to new best practises such as fizzing fish caught in deep water. Only two years ago only a select few even knew of the practice and fish that were caught deep and release had a very high mortality rate. Now almost every knows how to fizz and all fish are checked at weigh-in. Congratulations to those that spearheaded the program locally and once again to Wil Wegman and the Aurora Bassmasters for initiating the research just five short years ago.
Note the flat lake for as far as you could see. Erie has more of these days than you think and in Noverber it seems there's fish everywhere.
Happy Holidays
We hope this newsletter finds you and yours well. We hope you enjoy reading our many articles and fishing reports. I would like to thank the many contributors from all over the province for their time and passion for what they do and willingness to share their experiences. The New Year offers new opportunities, experiences, and another chance to be involved in one of the many great Ontario B.A.S.S. Federation Nation causes from Juniors to Conservation, and Community.
We wish all of our readers and members both north and south of the border, a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year, and of course, a great Time on the Water next year.
Those to be Recognised
In 2005 the Aurora Bassmasters initiated a first of its kind bass tagging research program for Lake Simcoe and today the research is still going strong. Spearheaded by OBFN Conservation Director Wil Wegman this project partners with MNR’s Community Fisheries Wildlife Involvement Program and Queens University thru the lab of Dr Bruce Tufts. The purpose of the research is to learn more about bass growth rates, seasonal movements, population dynamics and to determine the effectiveness of fizzing or venting fish caught from deep water. Thanks to numerous volunteers from various Bassmaster Clubs and the Juniors there are now over 1,000 tagged bass in Lake Simcoe and Couchiching: The following are the results from the sampling efforts:
In 2009 Sampled Bass at:
1) Eastern Divisional … Orillia, July 22-24... 380 bass sampled/none fizzed
2) Aurora Bassmasters Club Sept 19... 26 bass sampled/21 LMB, 5 SMB/3 fizzed
3) Barrie Bassmasters Open Barrie Oct 18... 33 smallmouth bass sampled/17 fizzed,16 not
4) BPS Lake Simcoe Open Orillia Oct 24 ... 129 Bass sampled/128 SMB, 1 LMB/120 fizzed
Total for 2009 = 538 Bass
Tagging Summary Highlights
ž 2009: Most bass sampled ever=538
ž 2006-2008: 484 bass + 538 = 1022 Total
ž Total Recaps (tagged bass caught and reported by anglers) in 2009 =10
ž Total Recaps in 4 years = 55
ž Previously fizzed recaps = 36
The Future:
ž 2010: 5th year – Continue Sampling then Revaluate Program
ž 2010: Education/Awareness Signage
In February of 2009 at the Bassmaster Classic in Louisiana, Wil gave a presentation on this research project to Conservation Directors from across the US. Later the next day, on behalf of the Aurora Bassmasters and the OBFN – he accepted the prestigious Berkley Conservation Award (and the $2,000 cheque earmarked for future conservation work) presented to him by Chris Horton the National Conservation Director of BASS. Although this award is open to any one of the thousands of BASS Federation Nation Clubs across North America, an OBFN club has won it three of the last ten years.
York Bassmasters Win Award:
ž York Bassmasters Win Again! Water Conservation Award from LSRCA
ž Activities in 2009 included planting over 700 trees at the Bruce Lindsay in Newmarket and Magna Centre Pond.
ž Fish sampling at the Bruce Lindsay pond to identify species, water depth and structure in preparation for a live release bass transfer to be conducted in 2010.
Bogart Creek has now been restored to a natural watershed.
Time On and Off the Water - a Year in Review 2009
