www.fishmanitoulin.com
MANITOULIN—The countdown is on for the inaugural Manitoulin Expositor Salmon Classic, July 23 to August 14, set to be the biggest salmon derby in all of Northern Ontario with $25,000 in cash prizes up for grabs, including a top prize of $12,000 for the heaviest salmon caught in Manitoulin’s territorial waters.
“It’s 10 days ‘til go time,” said an enthusiastic Dave Patterson, Salmon Classic coordinator. “Everything is proceeding really well.”
Mr. Patterson noted that the scales have arrived, Pro Tournament is the brand based out of Indiana and the units are made specifically for fishing derbies and will be delivered to the six weigh-in stations next week. They can be found at: Providence Bay Tent and Trailer Park, Providence Bay; South Baymouth Marina (at the boat launch), South Baymouth; Bay Street Marina, Manitowaning; Wally’s Dock Service, Little Current; Meldrum Bay Marina, Meldrum Bay; and Gore Bay Marina, Gore Bay. Mr. Patterson also has a scale for after hours calls. He can be reached by calling 705-968-0237.
It is important to note that all anglers in a boat must have a ticket and all parties may be asked to produce their tickets upon weighing in a fish at one of the stations. Tickets must be purchased the day prior to fishing, and tickets will be available until the final day of the three-week tournament, August 14. Once a ticket is purchased, of course, it is valid for all of (or the balance of) the three-week tournament.
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“We are very happy to see Island businesses already benefitting from the Salmon Classic with bookings being made,” Mr. Patterson said. “We’ve heard of people returning to Manitoulin for this event after years away. That’s precisely why we wanted to hold this event.”
Mr. Patterson asked for fisherpeople’s patience, as this is a first-year event. “We hope that all goes smoothly, but we do anticipate some growing pains.”
Tickets for the Salmon Classic are just $60 and are available at The Expositor Office in Little Current, Up Top Sports Shop in Mindemoya, The Recorder Office in Gore Bay, Trail Side Sports in Espanola, Moxy’s Bait and Tackle on Regional Road 55 near Whitefish, Ramakko’s Source for Adventure on Regent Street South in Sudbury and online at
www.fishmanitoulin.com
As a kick off to this new event, a draw will be held on opening day, Friday, July 22 at 2 pm at The Expositor Office for a weekend’s accommodations to the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre and dinner at Green Acres Restaurant in Sheguiandah. The draw will be livestreamed on Facebook, so be sure to like the Expositor’s Facebook page.
For more information, visit the website and see the ad on page 14A of this newspaper.
