For Immediate Release: October 3, 2013

Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open Welcomes Back Big Jim as MC:

Orillia, Ontario Canada: Organizers of the Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open bass tournament, hosted by the Aurora Bassmasters, are very happy to announce they have re-signed the legendary Big Jim McLaughlin to be MC of their tournament weigh-in ceremonies for the 2013 event out of Orillia Oct 19th. MinKota Trolling motors and Huminbird Electronics have re-signed as well with details to follow in a future release.

About Big Jim:
“Big” Jim, as he is affectionately known, has been an integral part of the Canadian sportfishing scene for nearly 30 years now and shows no signs of slowing down. Having first gained notoriety as a tournament angler, “Big” Jim was vaulted into the sport fishing spotlight with two CFT Canadian Classic Championships… Canada’s premier tournament title along with a slew of tournament victory’s numbering 28 to his credit. Following his tournament success, “Big” Jim founded what has become Canada’s largest FREE fishing publication – Just Fishing with “Big” Jim McLaughlin. For 20 years this successful publication has brought top notch angling information to Canadian and American anglers alike.
The BPS Lake Simcoe Open is the only event in the country that produces several weights over 27 pounds year after year and holds the record for the heaviest five bass ever weighed in during a Canadian tournament at 31.5 lbs. It also lays claim to the heaviest bass ever weighed in during a Canadian Tournament- an 8.05 pound smallmouth also caught in 2010.
“Coming back to Emcee Canada’s most incredible one day sportfishing event ....the BASS PRO SHOPS LAKE SIMCOE OPEN on what “IS” the country’s premier destination for giant smallmouth, is a privilege equal to that of having won a CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP on the same waters so many years ago...MAYBE EVEN BETTER because the bass are bigger now than ever before!” said Big Jim.

There are still several positions open for the 2013 BPS Lake Simcoe Open. The event is rapidly approaching so anyone interested in fishing it should download an application from either of the sites below, fill it out and mail or deliver it along with a cheque to Bass Pro Shops in Vaughan. Special BPS Simcoe Open angler rates for the Highwayman Inn in Orillia will be in effect for those fishing or prefishing this tournament. The evening registration meeting at this hotel will begin at 5:00pm on Oct 18.

Anglers are reminded that all correspondence will be complete by email … and in previous years, some applications had email addresses and names that were very difficult to decipher. Organizers therefore urge anglers to please print those addresses clearly on their application form.

For more details please visit www.simcoeopen.com or www.aurorabass.com

Press Release prepared By:
Wil Wegman
Aurora Bassmasters Media and Conservation Director