Third annual events winds up Sunday
SOUTH BAYMOUTH—The third annual Manitoulin Expositor Salmon Classic is coming to an end, and with it comes the annual wrap-up party, this year to be held at John Budd Memorial Park in South Baymouth this Sunday, August 26.
Salmon Classic organizer Dave Patterson said he couldn’t be happier with this year’s results. “We’ve had over 470 salmon weighed in (as of press time Monday, August 20) so far and over 100 trout,” Mr. Patterson said.
Bob Moreau leads the way with his 23.15-pound Chinook salmon caught at South Baymouth August 13 and Rob Ouellette maintains the lead in the trout category with his 20.23 pound lake trout brought into Gore Bay all the way back on July 29. Rylan Carrick also continues to lead the way in the youth division with his 16.64-pound salmon brought in at Michael’s Bay.
“There are lots of fish still being caught,” Mr. Patterson said.
‘The big one’ is still out there, with plenty of tales circulating at the docks of ‘the one that got away,’ broken lines and bent hooks.
Tickets for the Salmon Classic are still available for purchase until this Friday, August 24 at midnight for your chance to land a lunker. Tickets, $65 for adults and $35 for youth, can be bought at the Expositor and Recorder offices, the South Baymouth marina, Up Top Sports Shop in Mindemoya, Trailside Sports and Fishy Fishy Bang Bang in Espanola, Moxie’s Bait and Tackle in Lively and Ramakko’s Source for Adventure in Sudbury.
The weigh-in stations close for another year on Sunday, August 26 at 12 pm sharp. The wrap-up party will take place at John Budd Memorial park from 2 to 4 pm with all the prizes being handed out at that time. A fundraising barbecue will also be held with the proceeds going to the Tehkummah Fire Department, so bring your appetite!
“Right now, you need at least a 17-pound salmon to make the top 25,” Mr. Patterson remarked. “This is an average of four pounds more than last year’s top weights; that’s thanks to the amount of baitfish around. And you need over 14 pounds to make the top 100.”
“These salmon once won the daily prize,” Mr. Patterson added of the salmon in the 14-pound weight range. “This year it’s not even close.”
To have a glance at the constantly updated leaderboard, visit fishmanitoulin.com.
To claim your prize, hear some great fishing tales and support a good cause, head to The Manitoulin Expositor Salmon Classic end-of-derby party this Sunday, August 26 from 2 to 4 pm at John Budd Memorial Park in South Baymouth.
