The 12th annual Mitchell’s Bay Open is just around the corner, and it appears more big name anglers are headed here to take part.
Co-chair Tom Beaton sat down with The Chatham Voice recently to talk about the tournament, which will see 85 boats and 170 anglers take part July 10 and 11.
Word of mouth, especially when that mouth belongs to a well-respected angler, has helped bring high-profile professional anglers to the tournament.
Steve Clapper, veteran American professional angler who is in the United States Fresh Water Hall of Fame, had fished the event for years, and Beaton said he continues to spread word of how enjoyable the Mitchell’s Bay tournament is to other big-name American anglers.
“Steve did retire two years ago. But he talked us up so well back in the States that others are coming this year,” Beaton said.
They include Alex Redwine.
“Alex, that’s his permanent job – fishing in the Bass Master’s Pro Elite Series” Beaton said. “He’s 25 years old and he’s already made a quarter of a million dollars in that series.”
He’s not alone. Beaton said when you factor in Jeremy Reese, Mark Modrak, and Mike Trombly, “between the four of them coming to our tournament, they have over $750,000 in winnings in the Unted States.”
As for Clapper, he’s going to take part as well.
There has been periodic grumbling over the high-profile competitors taking part, but Beaton brushes it aside.
“For the first two years, we had 20 boats. So we kept it up and it grew to what it is,” he said. “We do not solicit pro anglers, nor do we review registrations that come in. If you register for our tournament, you are in our tournament.”
He added that local anglers, by and large look forward to the challenge of competing against out-of-area pros. And the locals tend to fare well.
“Steve Clapper, fresh water fishing hall of fame. He’s fished our tournament now for eight years. He’s never been in the money,” Beaton said. “Bob Izumi came in. Bob hasn’t been in the money. But Bob says this is his most favourite lake to fish for bass in all Ontario.”
Lake St. Clair has a way of evening the competitive fishing field. There are no consistent hot spots; no areas of underwater structure where fish may cluster.
“Mitchell’s Bay makes it even for everybody. You can go out and spend two days a half a kilometre off shore and come back with two good catches of bass. You never know,” Beaton said.
But the event is an open tournament. Competitors can floor it and head into the Detroit or St. Clair rivers, or even out into Lake Erie or Lake Huron. They just have to be back on time for their weigh in.
More women are heading out on the water to compete than ever before, Beaton said.
“We’re very proud of the fact we’ve attracted many females to fish. That was another exciting chapter in our development history,” he said.
It is said it takes a village to raise a child. That also applies to running a bass tournament featuring 170 anglers. Beaton said there is a team of 120 volunteers on hand to ensure the event runs as smoothly as possible.
As successful as the tournament has been, there is a grey cloud hanging over it. The tournament and its organizers are in the middle of a lawsuit in the wake of a boating accident involving two bass boats last year. No criminal charges have been laid to date in the matter. Beaton said he could not speak to the issue due to the court proceedings.
The tournament, which saw 97 per cent of fish caught last year returned safely to the lake, raises funds for the Mitchell’s Bay Area Association.
