The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship announced Friday one member of last year’s winning team of Clint Barton and Denis Barnard is eligible to compete in the Chevy Mercury Bass Tour National Classic in Belleville, Ont. in August.
But Barnard noted this morning he’s unsure yet as to whether he’ll be competing or not. “I don’t know. It’s too early. Unless I get some sponsorship, I’m not going,” he said.
Besides the entry fee of $1,200, Barnard estimated time spent pre-fishing could make the trip a $3,000-4,000 venture.
This year’s Classic will take place Aug. 31-Sept. 2 on the Bay of Quinte, with the weigh-in at Peninsula Park in Belleville.
“I’m still working on it. I haven’t closed the door yet. I’ve made a few proposals up,” Barnard remarked. “It really would be something to go down there.”
Barnard added it not only would be an opportunity to compete against other pros but also a chance to promote Northwestern Ontario.
Since only one angler per boat can fish in the Classic, Barnard and his partner decided it was he who should go.
The FFCBC committee had announced in March that this year’s winner could go to the Classic but today’s announcement saw the winner’s eligibility “grandfathered” to 2000.
“It was a great announcement when we first made it. And being grandfathered just adds to it in that not only does last year’s winner get to go, but last year’s winner of the Classic has been, or will be, invited to come here,” said Doug Cain, director of marketing for the FFCBC.
“We’re exposing Rainy Lake to a hard-core group of anglers,” he added.
While most anglers at the Classic have to compete in a season-long series of qualifiers, organizers of the Kenora Bass International spearheaded the move to secure spots for its winner.
The FFCBC committee was able to do the same.
“We are excited to expand the Chevy Mercury Bass Tour National Classic to include a representative from the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship,” said Michelle Kilburn, president of the MGM Outdoor Marketing.
“The National Classic is a showcase of Canada’s top tournament anglers from various tournament series across Canada,” she noted.
“It’s an exciting format in which pro anglers such as Bob Izumi, Rocky Crawford, and last year’s Classic winner, Jim Estabrooks, will compete for over $100,000 in cash and prizes.”
Competitors will include the winners of the FFCBC and KBI, the top 40 anglers from the Chevy Mercury Circuit, the top four from the New Brunswick bass tour, the top two from the Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Northeastern Ontario circuits, and the top 10 from the Canadian Open.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
