FFCBC draw looms for anglers

With more prize money than ever up for grabs, the list of anglers hoping to get into the 10th-annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship next July figures to be of unprecedented length.
The random draw to determine the 40 remaining berths in next year’s derby is set for Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. upstairs at La Place Rendez-Vous.
But the deadline to enter the draw is next Tuesday (Sept. 30).
With a purse of $170,000 at stake, including $50,000 for the winning duo, there should be plenty of pounding hearts and crossed fingers in the local area when the draw barrel starts turning.
“We had 117 in the draw last year and by [Sept. 12], we already had 90 names entered,” said Doug Cain, director of angler/team support for the FFCBC.
“I expect we’ll have more than last year, probably over 125 for sure,” he added.
The $250 deposit for those entering the draw, as well as those who automatically qualified by finishing in the top 90 in this year’s FFCBC, must be paid at the Times office or by credit card through e-mail or fax before midnight Sept. 30.
Entry forms are available at the Times or online at www.canadianbass.com
Along with this year’s top 90, the 136-team field for the 2004 derby will be composed of the 40 teams selected through the random draw, plus the winners of the six other major regional tournaments this year.
These include the Kenora Bass International, Bassin’ for Bucks (Sioux Narrows), the Morson Bass Classic, Castin’ for Cash (Lake Despair), the Atikokan Bass Classic, and Dale LaBelle’s Rainy Lake Bass Classic, which goes this weekend.
“This year, we only had two [championship] teams from those six events actually qualify in that way to compete in the FFCBC,” noted Cain. “The rest of the teams ended up finding different partners before the FFCBC, or were already in the field as part of last year’s top 90.”
After the first 40 names are called at the random draw Oct. 7, the rest of the names in the running will be drawn and put on a waiting list.
Teams at the top of the waiting list can get into the field should one of the top 90 teams from this year choose not to re-enter, or if a team wins one of the major events and also is a top 90 finisher from this year.
The top 90 teams must enter the FFCBC as they competed last year, with no allowance for partner switching. Confirmation of how many of the top 90 are returning for next year’s tournament will be updated on the FFCBC’s Web site daily.
Cain said it’s remarkable how the draw has acquired a life of its own over the years.
“I know people who come into town because they have no cable TV at their residence, and go over to a buddy’s place to watch the draw [tape delayed],” he said.
“Others just [log] on the Internet to track the draw as it happens, as well.”
The draw will be held in conjunction with the FFCBC’s annual Sponsor Appreciation Night, which also marks the end of Bud Edwards’ tenure as director of newsletters and media relations.
Edwards is retiring from the post after two years.
(Fort Frances Times)