Update for 2011 BPS Lake Simcoe Open Applicants,
The following email went out to one member of all the teams signed up for this event. About 7 or 8 bounced back as undeliverable. If you think you may be one of those, please let me know your correct email ASAP.
Thanks,
Wil
Hello 2011 BPS Lake Simcoe Open Applicants,
By now you should have received noticed from staff at Bass Pro Shops, that your application and cheque have been received. Most cheques have already been deposited into a special purpose account specifically for this tournament. The Aurora Bassmasters, host of the BPS Lake Simcoe Open and staff at Bass Pro Shops in Vaughan have been working hard preparing this year’s event and would like to pass on a few key messages at this time.
Pre Tournament Meeting:
Please note that this year we will be having our Friday evening meeting at 5:00 pm at the Highwayman Inn – located at the southeast corner of Hwy 11 and Hwy 12, Orillia. At least one member of your team must be there. For those who know this will simply not be possible, prior notice must be received by email to myself and Herb Quan, president of the Aurora Bassmasters (copied here) on or before Thursday Oct 20th.
Host Hotels:
Those anglers who wish to stay at the Highwayman can reserve a room with a preferred rate of $99.00. Just call 1-800-461-0269 and say you are with the block of rooms for the "Simcoe Open Fishing Tournament" Otherwise, the Best Western Mariposa Inn (where we had our meeting last year) is also offering competitors a reduced rate of $89.99 per night.. Just call 1-800-461-0283 to make your reservations at the Best Western Mariposa Inn and request the preferred rate for this tournament.
Sponsors:
We are pleased to announce that the top three sponsors of previous years are back on board for the 2011 BPS Lake Simcoe Open. We would like to thank Toyota, Jack Links and Boater Exam for their continued support of Canada’s premier one day bass tournament. The BPS Lake Simcoe Organizing Committee is working on securing others. Andy and Vita Pallotta of the CSFL have also signed on for another year and we welcome them and their team back.
2011 Event Almost Full:
As of today there are only a handful of spots remaining to fill the 100 team field. If you know of anyone who may be interested in fishing, please encourage them to sign up ASAP. Once we reach 100 teams, all names (along with when the application was received) will be recorded for the official waiting list. NO CHEQUES will be cashed from this list, until such time a spot becomes available … and then the angler will be contacted to confirm if he/she still wants in before the cheque is cashed. We will make every effort to do this as quickly as possible following notification of an open spot – to facilitate pre fishing time.
Fizzing Bass:
The “Lake Simcoe Bass Tagging Research Program”, supported thru MNR and the Aurora Bassmasters completed its five year run in 2010. This means that there will not be the typical sampling stations set up behind the weigh-in stage to weigh, measure, tag, and collect ageing data of all the bass caught. Most of the bass during this late fall tournament were also fizzed at these sampling stations. Over the five year tagging study, we have learned that these fizzed bass continue to thrive in Lake Simcoe upon release and are re-caught by other anglers long after the tournament is over. We encourage all anglers to become proficient with this life-saving procedure. For more details please see: http://www.bassmaster.com/sites/defa...BA_Fizzing.pdf You can also view a couple of videos (for largemouth fizzing) here: http://www.bassmaster.com/tips/side-fizzing-safer-bass Bass that do require fizzing following weigh-in will of course be fizzed before release via the Shimano Live Release Boat.
Safety:
For those new to this event … and as a reminder to all, please keep in mind that safety on the water is top priority. This includes all pre-fishing associated with the tournament. The air may be warm (let’s hope), but the water will be cold … and Lake Simcoe may be calm when you leave shore, but can become dangerously rough in a real hurry. Please be sure to travel with a fully charged cell phone (in a waterproof ziplock bag) and all the required safety equipment aboard your boat. Make certain your bilge pumps are working flawlessly! Let someone know where you are accessing the lake and when you expect to return. Please wear your PFD’s or better yet floatation suits during pre fish and day of the event.
Well, that’s about it for now. We will try to continue to communicate directly with you thru email… or at www.simcoeopen.com . Just one of the team members will receive these email update – so please forward to your partner. IF you have not let us know yet who your partner is, please do so as soon as possible.
Any questions … just ask.
Thanks very much,
Wil Wegman
On behalf of 2011 BPS Lake Simcoe Organizing Committee
wil.wegman@rogers.com
