What They USED
With two very different days during the tournament, what did the new Team Ontario use to land a position?
Rob Hyatt - I used a Mizmo tube for most of my fish.
David Chong - "During the OBF 2009 Qualifier I concentrate entirely on Lake Simcoe although I was able to cull 1 fish upon returning to Couchiching on day 1! My fish came off of various transition zones whether it be rock-weed, rook-sand or sand-weed ! Depths involved ranged from 3 -10 feet of water. The bite was not quick & easy, my fish were caught on Mizmo tubes, Strike Zone Slammers and Lightning Series Lightning Shads!"
Garrett Green
John Whyte - I spent both days on Simcoe on mid lake humps and one back bay with gravel between weed beds. My search bait was a white 1/2 once spinner. Most of my fish came on oil colored spider grubs using multiple entries to cover water. It seemed they would hit it on the way down instead of sucking it off the bottom.
Gord Rogers - Combination of drop-shot gulp minnow and green tubes.
Scott Huffman - Berkley Gulp 4" Sinking Minnow in various colours for the Largemouth and a 3" tube for the smallmouth.
Ryan Johnson - All of my fish were caught on 3.5" Tender Tubes, off 1 very small rock pile in 7-12 fow. Using a 6'6" Medium Action spinning rod and XPS 8 lb fluorocarbon worked painfully slow.
Dave Johnson
Andru Kung I spent both days in Couch catching all largemouth. I primarily used tubes on deep weed lines in the north end of couch. I think I may have been the only angler to qualify that spent 2 days is couch and not make the trip out to Simcoe.
Gary Sanderson During the 2008 Qualifier I caught all my fish in less than 10 feet of water. I used a white Senko with black and gold fleck. I mostly fished weed edges and docks. I would cast my Senko out let it sink to the bottom and wait three to five seconds then repeat. I caught eight of my ten keeper fish in Simcoe. My slow presentation was key during tough conditions.
1 Hyatt, Rob 
North Bay Bassmasters 18.70 20.36 39.06
North Bay Bassmasters 18.70 20.36 39.062 Chong, Dave Hawgtown Bassmasters 16.90 19.80 36.70
3 Johnson, Dave York Bassmasters 17.06 18.70 35.76
4 Rogers, Gord Port Perry Bassmasters 18.94 16.56 35.50
5 Green, Garrett Muskoka Bassmasters 14.86 17.64 32.50
6 Graves, Barry York Bassmasters 15.00 17.22 32.22
7 Sanderson, Gary KW Cambridge Bassmasters 19.06 12.48 31.54
8 Whyte, John Barrie Bassmasters 16.64 13.78 30.42
9 Kung, Andrus Port Perry Bassmasters 17.40 11.86 29.26
10 Mansholt, Garry Lindsay Bassmasters 13.50 15.32 28.82
11 Huffman, Scott St. Catharine's Bassmasters 15.18 13.34 28.52
12 Lowes, Kevin York Bassmasters 9.98 17.54 27.52
13 Johnson, Ryan Barrie Bassmasters 14.16 13.32 27.48
Hank Gibson Qualifiers
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2009 Team Ontario Gels
for another year.....
Whenever the stakes are the highest Mother Nature makes sure that the chosen ones earn their place. During the 2008 OBFN Hank Gibson Provincial Qualifier the stakes were especially high because Ontario would once again be the host venue for the B.A.S.S. Eastern Qualifier in 2009. The last time for this rare occasion was back in 2003 when the Divisional was in Midland on Georgian Bay. To make the Provincial Qualifier even more enticing was that everyone knew the Eastern Divisional would be on Lake Simcoe a year later – a favorite destination for many of the 150 anglers fighting for a spot on the 12 person team.
At the Provincial Qualifier one of the largest fields in the history of the event, blasted off out of the Port of Orillia and made the choice whether to face the wrath of 20 knot south winds and 4 to 6 ft. waves on Simcoe in search of world class smallies or stay in Couchiching and hope enough large mouth would bite to make the cut. Most chose the latter; with only about a dozen boats heading to the big lake. Those that did were rewarded.
Day two was one of those perfect flat days on both lakes and most of the field headed out to the big lake trying to make up ground from day one. Although there were some great bags day 2, nice days can be tough on Simcoe. But as they someone always gets them and in this case that someone came as no surprise. Rob Hyatt from Callander Bay and the North Bay Bassmasters followed up his day one weight of 18.70 pounds with the an even bigger 20.36 pound bag to clinch top honors for the tournament.
Bill Walker with Big Fish
Wil Wegman with
2 Cook's Bay Largemouth
Day 2 - A perfect morning
Thanks to all of the volunteers for their incredible efforts in making this event a success.
Images courtesy of Lures & Tues
Where do they go from here?
Led by its first place winner, most of the other 12 qualifiers and one alternate were also anglers who were extremely familiar with the big waters of Lake Simcoe. First time Team Ontario member John Whyte of the Barrie Bassmasters reported “ Some of the anglers who qualified were guys that have already established a reputation for themselves as being able to figure out the oftentimes finicky smallmouth found in Lake Simcoe.” Names like Dave Johnson, Garrett Green, Barry Graves and Dave Chong are often found on top of the leader board here. “But” ... Whyte added, “ We also have very skilled locals like Ryan Johnson, Kevin Lowes and Gord Rogers on board and the rest of the team is exceptionally strong.
I know we are all excited about our chances to compete head to head against the eight state teams that will be visiting here in 2009. I know home field advantage isn’t always the most important element to success, but in this case, I think the rest of the teams better keep their eyes open for the local Canadian favorites”, Whyte declared with a smile.
Rob, who is a former BASS Federation Nation Championships contender was presented with his first place plaque on Nov 22nd at the OBFN’s Annual General Meeting
