Canadian Jamie Janzen Stays in the Race ….

At BASS Federation Championships

Wil Wegman,
OBF Conservation and Media Director

Today was the first day of competition for the 2004 CITGO BASS FEDERATION CHAMPIONSHIP Presented by BUSCH BEER.  Being held out of Tulsa , OK on Keystone Lake , you may think that only southern US anglers would be fishing this event, but there are anglers from 46 States, plus the District of Columbia and the countries of Zimbabwe , South Africa , Italy , Japan , Mexico  ... and Canada .  The elite Federation anglers, also compete against defending 2003 champion Jerry Shawver II and reigning Paralyzed Veterans of America champion Jimmy Lankford. Representing our country and the Ontario BASS Federation (OBF) is St Catherines Bassmaster Jamie Janzen, who qualified for this prestigious event back in September 2003, at the Northern Divisional Championships in Midland ON .

When Jamie did some prefishing earlier this year, he and the rest of the anglers practicing found Keystone Lake to be flooded beyond belief. In fact, the lake was 8 or 9 feet above normal.  (In Ontario 's natural lakes, it would be a big deal if the lake was 8 or 9 inches above normal!) Fishing outhouses and picnic tables may sound far fetched, but down in US impoundments that typically flood over each spring, anglers have learned to fish whatever structure there is ... regardless of how unorthodox it may seem.

When speaking with Jamie's uncle, well known Canadian Bass pro Ernie Janzen, Ernie revealed that Jamie had already contacted him and that "The water level was down significantly and is about where he expected it to be". Jamie is prepared though for almost any type of fishing condition that awaits ... at least according to the Canadian and US customs people who couldn't believe the tackle the young angler was bringing with him.  According to Ernie “Jamie had one suitcase dedicated to tackle and it weighed 92 lbs! The airline charged him an extra $280.00  U.S. (one way) for the extra luggage! Talk about taking everything but the kitchen sink".

Today the fishing on Keystone Lake for most of the 55 anglers was very tough. 24 of them came in without weighing in a single bass. Only three anglers brought in a limit. The reason? Weather. Multiple tornadoes have whipped through the region throughout the week, accompanied by intermittent thunderstorms that have dumped between 1 and 2 inches of icy rain into Keystone Lake . The water is muddy and the fish are clearly on the run — as are the 55 anglers trying to catch them.   Keystone has largemouth and smallmouth bass as well as spotted bass which we don't have here in Ontario , but none of these three bass species were overly co-operative on Day 1.

Although our Canadian representative would have been better off if he was one of the three anglers who brought in a limit on Day 1 – at least Jamie was able to weigh in a bass. His weight of 2.04 pounds places him in 20 th spot overall so he is not out of the race just yet.

However, with four Northern Division anglers ahead of him, including Rod Hardwick of Indiana who managed to bring in a scarce limit of 9.15 lbs, Jamie will need to make some ground today on Day 3. Keep in mind that the top anglers from each division - North, South, East, West and Central will all qualify for the Citgo Bassmasters Classic presented by Busch Beer this summer in North Carolina . 

Here the top five federation anglers, really the grass-routes of the BASS organization, will compete against the top US pros who qualified through the ranks on the Bassmaster circuit. The Classic is known as the World Championships of Bass Fishing, and the winner has been reported to make a cool $million in endorsements and seminars following a victory. However, even qualifying for the Classic would be incredible feet ... and one that only a single Canadian has ever accomplished. 

When the late Hank Gibson of Keswick ON qualified and fished the Bassmasters Classic in 1990, he was the first Canadian and the first non-American ever to qualify. Some have come close ... but no Canadian has done it since - proving just how hard it is to make it. Hank made the Classic via the pro ranks fishing events in the US . Today, with the OBF now a strong force within Canada , we have the ability to send a Federation angler who competes on the grass routes level and works his way up. Let’s hope that Jamie Janzen of St Catherines is that angler!

For full coverage of Jamie at the 2004 CITGO BASS FEDERATION CHAMPIONSHIP Presented by BUSCH BEER, keep it tuned right here.  The Nationals will rap up April 25 and we will provide you full coverage.