BPS Lake Simcoe Open Filling Up Fast
August 21st 2007
The Aurora Bassmasters are happy to announce that the 2007 Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open on October 27th, 2007 is 75% full. “Since we became the title sponsor earlier this year, we are very thankful for the tremendous response from both the Canadian sportsfishing industry and tournament anglers”, said George Wallace, Canadian Market Manager, Bass Pro Shops. Asked why he felt there was such a tremendous buzz about this late season tournament; Wallace explained that part of the reason might be the unique incentive-based nature employed by tournament organizers. “The incentive-based prize structure combined with the Aurora Bassmasters’ traditional payout structure might very well become a benchmark for future tournaments here in Ontario – it also leaves us room to grow – not to mention, it’s simply an outstanding fishery to begin with!” Wallace concluded.
Prize Structure To Date:
BPS Record Payout: The BPS Record Payout will be held in trust by the Aurora Bassmasters and awarded to the Team that breaks the 30.0lb mark. If, in 2007, this one-day, all-time Canadian bass tournament record is not broken it will continue to be held in trust until the following year when an additional $2,500 will be added to the BPS Record Payout. Furthermore, when the BPS Record Payout is awarded, the contribution ($2,500 annually) will renew and again be considered the BPS Record Payout for subsequent years to the Team that successfully breaks the new Record as established. Furthermore, the winning team will also be awarded a $250 BPS Gift Card each should they each be wearing a BPS cap at the weigh-in.
Shimano Canada: Shimano will award the winning Team an additional $500 Cash Bonus. Separately, should the winning Team also be awarded the Record Payout, Shimano Canada will award an additional $1,000 Cash Bonus if the winning Team was exclusively using Shimano Rods/Reels. Furthermore, Shimano will also give out a $500 Cash Bonus to the Yamaha Big Fish recipient and an additional $1,000 Cash Bonus if the Yamaha Big Fish was caught exclusively using Shimano Rods/Reels.
Shimano Canada will also be lending their support by providing the BPS Lake Simcoe Open with their renowned in-water weigh-in expertise and their catch and release boat.
Normark Canada will contribute $1,000 to an undisclosed Rapala Hidden Weight Payout. Normark Canada through Terminator will contribute $500 annually to the BPS Record Payout - this goes back into the BPS Record Payout should the Record go unbroken in 2007 and accrues into 2008. Additionally Normark Canada will award $250 to the top placing Rapala Pro Staffer and an additional $250 Cash Bonus if they were to win.
Minn Kota: $250 BPS Gift Card to the top Minn Kota Team. An additional $250 BPS Gift Card if the top Minn Kota Team wins. $250 BPS Gift Card if the BPS Record Payout is awarded - this goes back into the BPS Record Payout for next year if the Record is not broken. $100 BPS Gift Card for Big Fish from Minn Kota. Another $150 BPS Gift Card if the Big Fish Team uses Minn Kota.
Humminbird: $250 BPS Gift Card to the top Humminbird Team. An additional $250 BPS Gift Card if the top Humminbird Team wins. $250 BPS Gift Card if the BPS Record Payout is awarded - this goes back into the BPS Record Payout for next year if the Record is not broken. $100 BPS Gift Card for Big Fish from Humminbird. Another $150 BPS Gift Card if the Big Fish Team uses Humminbird.
Yamaha: Yamaha Motor Canada is matching the $20 per boat Big Fish Entry. This coupled with various other manufacturer contingencies will put the potential value of the Yamaha Big Fish payout up over $5,000. Yamaha Canada will also award $1,000 in YamaBucks ($500 to each member) to the top placing Yamaha-Powered Team.
GE Money: GE Money is contributing $1,500 to the GE Money Purse of the 2007 Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open
Pure Fishing will participate in the Berkley Trilene 8lb Test, whereby the heaviest fish over 8lb will be eligible for an additional $1,000 Cash Bonus. Berkley will also award a $250 Cash Bonus to the top placing Berkley (Pure Fishing) Pro Staffer and an additional $250 cash bonus if they were to win. Berkley will provide each participating angler with an assortment of all-new product for 2008.
Herb Quan president of the Aurora Bassmasters added that a key reason for the early success and hype is still the record setting capabilities of Lake Simcoe itself and the key timing of this event. “The BPS Simcoe Open takes place at a time of year and is on a lake that optimizes the opportunity to break the all-time Canadian Record” said Quan. He was referring to the tradition of this annual event to consistently break its own “heaviest weight for five bass in a one day Canadian tournament” record. “It’s the type of tournament where anglers want to compete just to be part of the incredible overall experience of catching those gigantic smallmouth bass,” said Simon Frost who is on the tournament organizing committee. “Can you imagine an event where you routinely cull 5 pound bass – and even if you don’t break the once magic 25 pound mark for your five heaviest bass you are still likely to catch the biggest bass of your entire season.”
A tradition of setting records:
2002: 27.01 pounds by Jayson Saliba and Bob Formosa.
2003: 29 59 pounds by Jayson Saliba and Bob Formosa.
2004: 27.38 pounds by Dave Johnson and Barry Graves
2005: 28.38 pounds by Jim McDonald and Mike Deveaux
2006:29.90 pounds by John McDonald and Steve Hawkins
Limited Field . . . Early Bird Registration Due Before August 31st
All anglers competing in the BPS Simcoe Open are encouraged to pre-register as the first year field will be limited to ~ 50 teams. To entice early registration, a special prize package consisting of two Mustang Survival Classic Floater suits will be up for grabs to all those who sign up prior to August 31st 2007. Total entry fees per team will be $250; this includes $20 for Big Fish and $10 for Launch at Monto Reno Marina in Lefroy. Anglers wishing to pre-register are asked to fill out a registration form and send a $250 cheque payable to Aurora Bassmasters to: 58 English Ivy Way, Willowdale, ON M2H 3M4. A waiting list will be compiled on a first-come, first-serve basis. For those who have already sent in a $50 deposit, we ask that you send in the remaining $200 by September 30th along with a completed entry form (if you have not already done so). Failure to be paid in full by September 30th will result in forfeiture of your deposit and registration. Subsequently, those on the waiting list will be provided priority position.
Those who volunteer their time to help out the Aurora Bassmasters that day will also be thanked for their efforts by receiving a free BPS T Shirt and Hat. This will also include the volunteers who help out with the Aurora Bassmasters/MNR bass tagging research project. Last year all the bass caught were tagged and released back into Lake Simcoe. To date, seven of those tagged bass have been recaptured by anglers across various portions of the lake.
The BPS Lake Simcoe Open Registration Form can be accessed through the Aurora Bassmasters website at www.aurorabass.com
As new information is made available, it will be posted on Bass Pro Shops’ website at www.basspro.com or the Aurora Bassmasters site. A complete listing of General Rules, Regulations & Liability will be made available online through the Aurora Bassmasters in the coming weeks. The Aurora Bassmasters are one of 30 clubs across the province belonging to the Ontario BASS Federation Nation at www.ontariobass.com . This tournament is an OPEN event where tournament anglers from any bass circuit are invited to attend.
Please stay tuned for future announcements as new sponsorships announcements are pending . . .
