Duane Hicks
The Rainy River Future Development Corp. and Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship have been developing a strategy to market Fort Frances as one of the top bass-fishing destinations in North America, and will have a booth at the 2009 Bassmaster Classic trade show and tournament in Shreveport, La. on Feb. 20-22.
Economic development advisor Geoff Gillon informed town council of the endeavour Monday night as part of an update of local economic development activities.
“We’re trying to do a focused tourism promotion,” he explained. “We know the bass tournament has highlighted the quality of bass fishing on Rainy Lake.
“It is second-to-none in North America as far as I am concerned, and we want to bring more people to the Town of Fort Frances,” Gillon stressed.
Two delegates from the FFCBC, Doug Cain and Jim Cumming, will work the show, assisted by several anglers of repute in the bass-fishing world, including FFCBC regular Phil Bangert of Missouri.
The RRFDC and FFCBC have been working with the private sector seeking sponsors, and “have been very, very pleased with the support we’ve got,” added Gillon.
Some notable supporters already on board include Bill Lindner Photography (who gave them rights to use photographs for the backdrop at the booth), Campfire Island (who donated a three-day fishing trip for a draw to make it easy to get names and addresses of interested individuals), Fin-Tech Tackle (who is transporting the booth to Shreveport for the delegates), Fort Frances Times, In-Fisherman Magazine (permission to reproduce materials), and Gord Pyzer (who’s offering his endorsement of Rainy Lake).
As well, Rapala, a company that tests its lures on Rainy Lake, is offering the endorsement: “Rainy Lake is probably the best place to have your office.”
