As we enter July, the tournament anglers prepare to enter Mitchell’s Bay.
The 11th Canadian Tire Mitchell’s Bay Open dominates the North Kent community next week, with 160 anglers setting their sights on Lake St. Clair for two days of tournament fishing and tens of thousands of dollars in prize money.
The tournament opens with the angler dinner July 10, with the competition kicking off full force at 7 a.m. July 11. Three flights of boats will blast off from Mitchell’s Bay at 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. respectively. The same thing takes place the next morning.
But many of the anglers competing are on the water days prior to the tourney, pre-fishing to seek out hot spots, according to Tom Beaton, one of the event organizers. And that means added tourism dollars coming into Chatham-Kent.
“A lot of our anglers pre-fish. So they’re in town for a week. They’re spending about $3,000 while they’re here,” Beaton said. “They’re bringing that value to the community.”
He said numbers are down slightly the past couple of years from a high of 90 boats participating, but most of the big names are coming back. That includes the Izumis – Bob, Darren and Wayne.
One face that won’t be seen on the water this year is that of Steve Clapper of Port Clinton, Ohio. A tournament angler for half a century, Clapper has retired. But he had some kind words to share with the tournament organizers via email.
“What a blast I had at those fishing tournaments! Seriously, they were the best I’ve ever been to – I’m still smiling thinking about them! I wanted to send a massive thank you to Canadian Tire and everyone involved: the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, and the whole amazing town of Mitchell’s Bay. You all made it truly unforgettable. Mitchell’s Bay holds a special place in my heart,” Clapper wrote.
But losing Clapper doesn’t mean the American contingent for the tournament is falling silent. In fact, Beaton said they’ve got record numbers of U.S. anglers taking part.
“We’ve got more Americans this year than we’ve ever had. I find that interesting with all the hassles crossing the borders,” he said. “We’ve got about 10 teams from the States. We’re glad to have them.”
Not all of the fishing at the event is taking place in high-performance bass boats. About 20 children will head out on pontoon boats on July 12 to enjoy some time on the water. Beaton said organizers have once again teamed up with the VON to have children from the organization’s Kids Circle bereavement support program take part.
“They’re just a great organization to work with. It’s not easy finding 20 kids interested in doing what we offer,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for the kids to meet and form camaraderie with other kids who have gone through similar situations.”
The kids go home with new fishing gear to the tune of about $2,000, Beaton said.
All funds raised from the tournament go back into Mitchell’s Bay. The tournament committee is a subcommittee of the Mitchell’s Bay Area Association.
“The money goes to projects that enhance the environment and habitat of Mitchell’s Bay,” Beaton said. “It also goes into tourism enhancements. The whole idea is to put Mitchell’s Bay – which it already is – on the map as a hunting and fishing destination.”
The volunteers and the dedicated sponsors for the tournament are vital, and Beaton thanked them for their continued support.
The public is encouraged to come and observe the weigh ins at the end of each fishing day. Boats begin returning to the community about 3 p.m.
