Ken Johnston
Anglers and fans alike are gearing up for the eighth-annual Morson Bass International tournament this Saturday and Sunday.
A few new things have been added to this year’s event.
“The tournament is now on Facebook, with details being posted regularly,” noted Nancy Miller of the Morson Tourism Association.
“And the tournament committee voted to open up the “in-bound” portion of the lake, which reaches north to Kenora,” she added.
The tournament in-bound waters have been extended to include all Canadian waters from Manitou Rapids on the Rainy River up to Kenora on Lake of the Woods.
MBI anglers who are more familiar with fishing techniques in clear water, versus the more stained water on the south end of Lake of the Woods, are excited for this change.
All waters leading into the first narrows of Shoal Lake, and all the Labyrinth thereafter, are not part of Lake of the Woods and so are out of bounds for fishing.
The portage at Turtle Lake to enter into Whitefish Bay also will continue to be off-limits in order to avoid anglers missing the weigh-in deadline due to mechanical failure of the portage.
All of the previous out-of-bounds areas, including Obabikon Lake, continue to be off-limits, as well.
For full details, anglers are urged to view the 2012 rules via the tournament website at www.morsonbass.com
“The team entries have been slower than we like but [that] always seems to be the trend for the tournament,” said Miller.
“People wait to the last minute if they can,” she reasoned.
Miller added anyone having difficulty finding a partner, or someone with a boat, should contact the committee to help them form a team.
Anglers depart from the Morson government dock at 7:30 a.m. both days.
Weigh-ins begin at 3:30 p.m. on Day 1 and 3 p.m. on Day 2.
There also is a full slate of other activities people can participate in, including a kids’ derby on Sunday.
Visit the MBI’s website for a complete schedule of events.
