Update for all Fishing 2011 BPS Simcoe Open
This letter went out last night to all those registered for the event- if you didn't get it, then either your partner did (only one team member would likely have received) or your email bounced back. Once again, deciphering handwritten emails has proven to be quite the challenge for BPS store staff handling registration. Therefore- this letter is being posted here.
Hello 2011 BPS Lake Simcoe Open Participants,
This email notice is being sent to all those who are registered for the 2011 Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe, hosted by the Aurora Bassmasters on Sat Oct 22nd. Please note that just one member per team is being contacted... so please forward this onto your partner. Canada’s premier one day bass fishing tournament is about a week away, so we wanted to touch base with all anglers to let them know about several updates:
We are currently sitting at 100 boats and have allocated 10 more as ‘sponsor teams’ . Seven of the ten have been filled- however we are now going to open up the three remaining spots to others on a first come first serve basis. If you know of anyone interested ...please let them know.
Secondly, we are pleased to announce … and would like to thank, the following sponsors from last year who have signed on for this year’s event: Jack Links Beef Jerky, Boater Exam.com, Toyota, Shimano, Berkley/Pure Fishing, Humminbird/Minn Kota, Mustang and Rapala. Additionally, we would like to thank supporting companies X Zone lures and CL Fishin for their product support. Thanks to these excellent companies and the continued strong support of all participating anglers, we are proud to state that once again we will have over 100% payout in cash and prizes at this year’s event.
Additionally, media has been quite interested in this event ... as an example:
1) Sunshine Radio 89.1 FM in Orillia is covering the event and promoting it daily as of today. On Monday or Tuesday we will have a live calling show starting at 12:00. It will start with an interview and then listeners can call in and ask questions about tournaments and community. They will also be at the event and broadcast live and interview teams while waiting in their boats for the weigh-in.
2) www.timeonthewater.ca is running a contest on www.lakesimcoemessageboard.com and BFB to “Attend and Win”. They have various prizes for spectators including a day on the water with a tournament pro. Dave Chong, Mark Kulik, and John Whyte will have a mini tournament in Nov. for three different winners. We also have successful ice fishing guide from “We Pound Em Charts” donating a day on the ice. Shimano and BPS will be adding great prizes for the draw. Spectators must attend to win.
We will also bring back the extremely popular Live Streaming video of the weigh-in event; weather and techno-challenges permitting. As far as we know, we were the first bass tournament in Canada to successfully broadcast the entire weigh-in live at last year’s record setting event. The weigh-in can still be seen at www.simcoeopen.com and www.aurorabassmasters.com
Pre Tournament Meeting:
The pre-tournament meeting will begin promptly at 6pm – at the Highwayman Inn – located at the southeast corner of Hwy 11 and Hwy 12 exit. At this meeting we will collect any additional information from anglers, review rules etc. This is when you will receive your team numbers as well. Blast off will begin Saturday at 8am – with four flights of 25 teams each ... with a staggered weigh-in beginning at 3pm for first flight. Remember IF you and your partner can’t make this meeting, or will be late, you must let Herb Quan, president of the Aurora Bassmasters at herbquan@gmail.com and myself know before Thursday Oct 20th. For the meeting, please consider bringing an additional $40 per team for the voluntary Shimano Pay to Play challenge. This will operate the same as in previous years ... thanks to Shimano Canada. Shimano will begin the Pay to Play pot with $1,000 and if 100 teams contribute ... the winners will receive an extra $5,000 if they entered. However- you have to pay to play. There will also be various raffles and 50/50 tickets available that evening.
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. Time On The Water Canada has also secured a rate of $89.99 at the local Comfort Inn off Hwy 12 and Memorial… just mention Time on The Water.
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. You can obtain 18 gauge needles (minus the plastic attachments) from some Vet shops.
For more details please review these simple fizzing instructions: 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 however we expect participating anglers to become proficient with this technique and use it when required the day of the event.
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, but the water can 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! In pre fish, let someone know where you are accessing the lake and when you expect to return. Please wear your PFD’s or better yet Mustang floatation suits during pre fish and day of the event. Always call 911 in case of emergency… Make sure at registration that we have your correct cell phone numbers and that they’re fully charged the next day. Also, please keep in mind that the tournament director and committee have the right to move the tournament to Lake Couchiching ONLY … if weather/wind conditions are classified as unsafe on Lake Simcoe. We have never had to take this route, and we don’t want to, however this is one reason why the move to Orillia was made a few years ago.
Finally, if you have still not supplied us with your partner’s name and details …. Please do so thru email ASAP.
Thanks very much and here’s to a safe and fun pre-fish and tournament for all!
Wil Wegman
Aurora Bassmasters
wil.wegman@rogers.com
