BPS Lake Simcoe Open Filling Up Fast

[Bruce Farrell]

August 21st 2007



The Aurora Bassmasters are happy to announce that the 2007 Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open on October 27th, 2007 is 75% full. “Since we became the title sponsor earlier this year, we are very thankful for the tremendous response from both the Canadian sportsfishing industry and tournament anglers”, said George Wallace, Canadian Market Manager, Bass Pro Shops. Asked why he felt there was such a tremendous buzz about this late season tournament; Wallace explained that part of the reason might be the unique incentive-based nature employed by tournament organizers. “The incentive-based prize structure combined with the Aurora Bassmasters’ traditional payout structure might very well become a benchmark for future tournaments here in Ontario – it also leaves us room to grow – not to mention, it’s simply an outstanding fishery to begin with!” Wallace concluded.



Prize Structure To Date:



BPS Record Payout: The BPS Record Payout will be held in trust by the Aurora Bassmasters and awarded to the Team that breaks the 30.0lb mark. If, in 2007, this one-day, all-time Canadian bass tournament record is not broken it will continue to be held in trust until the following year when an additional $2,500 will be added to the BPS Record Payout. Furthermore, when the BPS Record Payout is awarded, the contribution ($2,500 annually) will renew and again be considered the BPS Record Payout for subsequent years to the Team that successfully breaks the new Record as established. Furthermore, the winning team will also be awarded a $250 BPS Gift Card each should they each be wearing a BPS cap at the weigh-in.


Shimano Canada: Shimano will award the winning Team an additional $500 Cash Bonus. Separately, should the winning Team also be awarded the Record Payout, Shimano Canada will award an additional $1,000 Cash Bonus if the winning Team was exclusively using Shimano Rods/Reels. Furthermore, Shimano will also give out a $500 Cash Bonus to the Yamaha Big Fish recipient and an additional $1,000 Cash Bonus if the Yamaha Big Fish was caught exclusively using Shimano Rods/Reels.


Shimano Canada will also be lending their support by providing the BPS Lake Simcoe Open with their renowned in-water weigh-in expertise and their catch and release boat.


Normark Canada will contribute $1,000 to an undisclosed Rapala Hidden Weight Payout. Normark Canada through Terminator will contribute $500 annually to the BPS Record Payout - this goes back into the BPS Record Payout should the Record go unbroken in 2007 and accrues into 2008. Additionally Normark Canada will award $250 to the top placing Rapala Pro Staffer and an additional $250 Cash Bonus if they were to win.


Minn Kota: $250 BPS Gift Card to the top Minn Kota Team. An additional $250 BPS Gift Card if the top Minn Kota Team wins. $250 BPS Gift Card if the BPS Record Payout is awarded - this goes back into the BPS Record Payout for next year if the Record is not broken. $100 BPS Gift Card for Big Fish from Minn Kota. Another $150 BPS Gift Card if the Big Fish Team uses Minn Kota.


Humminbird: $250 BPS Gift Card to the top Humminbird Team. An additional $250 BPS Gift Card if the top Humminbird Team wins. $250 BPS Gift Card if the BPS Record Payout is awarded - this goes back into the BPS Record Payout for next year if the Record is not broken. $100 BPS Gift Card for Big Fish from Humminbird. Another $150 BPS Gift Card if the Big Fish Team uses Humminbird.


Yamaha: Yamaha Motor Canada is matching the $20 per boat Big Fish Entry. This coupled with various other manufacturer contingencies will put the potential value of the Yamaha Big Fish payout up over $5,000. Yamaha Canada will also award $1,000 in YamaBucks ($500 to each member) to the top placing Yamaha-Powered Team.


GE Money: GE Money is contributing $1,500 to the GE Money Purse of the 2007 Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open


Pure Fishing will participate in the Berkley Trilene 8lb Test, whereby the heaviest fish over 8lb will be eligible for an additional $1,000 Cash Bonus. Berkley will also award a $250 Cash Bonus to the top placing Berkley (Pure Fishing) Pro Staffer and an additional $250 cash bonus if they were to win. Berkley will provide each participating angler with an assortment of all-new product for 2008.




Herb Quan president of the Aurora Bassmasters added that a key reason for the early success and hype is still the record setting capabilities of Lake Simcoe itself and the key timing of this event. “The BPS Simcoe Open takes place at a time of year and is on a lake that optimizes the opportunity to break the all-time Canadian Record” said Quan. He was referring to the tradition of this annual event to consistently break its own “heaviest weight for five bass in a one day Canadian tournament” record. “It’s the type of tournament where anglers want to compete just to be part of the incredible overall experience of catching those gigantic smallmouth bass,” said Simon Frost who is on the tournament organizing committee. “Can you imagine an event where you routinely cull 5 pound bass – and even if you don’t break the once magic 25 pound mark for your five heaviest bass you are still likely to catch the biggest bass of your entire season.”



A tradition of setting records:

2002: 27.01 pounds by Jayson Saliba and Bob Formosa.

2003: 29 59 pounds by Jayson Saliba and Bob Formosa.

2004: 27.38 pounds by Dave Johnson and Barry Graves

2005: 28.38 pounds by Jim McDonald and Mike Deveaux

2006:29.90 pounds by John McDonald and Steve Hawkins



Limited Field . . . Early Bird Registration Due Before August 31st

All anglers competing in the BPS Simcoe Open are encouraged to pre-register as the first year field will be limited to ~ 50 teams. To entice early registration, a special prize package consisting of two Mustang Survival Classic Floater suits will be up for grabs to all those who sign up prior to August 31st 2007. Total entry fees per team will be $250; this includes $20 for Big Fish and $10 for Launch at Monto Reno Marina in Lefroy. Anglers wishing to pre-register are asked to fill out a registration form and send a $250 cheque payable to Aurora Bassmasters to: 58 English Ivy Way, Willowdale, ON M2H 3M4. A waiting list will be compiled on a first-come, first-serve basis. For those who have already sent in a $50 deposit, we ask that you send in the remaining $200 by September 30th along with a completed entry form (if you have not already done so). Failure to be paid in full by September 30th will result in forfeiture of your deposit and registration. Subsequently, those on the waiting list will be provided priority position.



Those who volunteer their time to help out the Aurora Bassmasters that day will also be thanked for their efforts by receiving a free BPS T Shirt and Hat. This will also include the volunteers who help out with the Aurora Bassmasters/MNR bass tagging research project. Last year all the bass caught were tagged and released back into Lake Simcoe. To date, seven of those tagged bass have been recaptured by anglers across various portions of the lake.



The BPS Lake Simcoe Open Registration Form can be accessed through the Aurora Bassmasters website at www.aurorabass.com

As new information is made available, it will be posted on Bass Pro Shops’ website at www.basspro.com or the Aurora Bassmasters site. A complete listing of General Rules, Regulations & Liability will be made available online through the Aurora Bassmasters in the coming weeks. The Aurora Bassmasters are one of 30 clubs across the province belonging to the Ontario BASS Federation Nation at www.ontariobass.com . This tournament is an OPEN event where tournament anglers from any bass circuit are invited to attend.



Please stay tuned for future announcements as new sponsorships announcements are pending . . .

[Lindsay Smith]

I sent in a deposit and entry form the begining of last week. How do I know if we got a spot? Will I recieve a confirmation by email or snail-mail? When we get confirmation, we will send in the remainder of the entry fee.

Thanks
Linz

[Jason Barnucz]

Hi Lindsay,

You may want to contact either Wil Wegman and/or Herb Quan.

To contact Wil try sending him a U2U.

You could also try emailing the Aurora Chapter as well: info@aurorabass.com.

[Steve Hawkins]

Wil / Herb
Is it possible to post to date all the entered participants.
I think that would help.
Steve

[Wil Wegman]

It's better we don't post the whole list - right to privacy deal and all that. Just so y'all know, our president Herb Quan is taking all the deposits and entry forms - that's his address you're mailing into. We have been returning emails regularly from those enquiring about whether their entyry has been received. We are asking all those who have just sent in a $50 deposit to also send the reamining $200 in - along with a completed entry form if you haven't done so already ... by the end of this month. This will be the fairest way for all - we didn't want to have the sceneerio where just in case someone decided to eat the $50 deposit that morning and not attend because of bad weather/whatever. That would keep someone else potentially - who's on the waiting list, from fishing that day.
For entry forms- check out our website at www.aurorabass.com or email me at info@aurorabass.com or U2U me.
Thanks,

Wil

[Tom Chopin]

Wil, is there a back-up plan of cooks bay only or another date incase of a blow off? Just want to plan ahead.
Also when is the draw for the floater suits? I'm in the market for a new one and would rather win one than buy one.
Thanks

Looking forward to the event.
Tom

[Garrett S green]

Wil, I have a couple of questions regarding this event. Firstly, could you please change it to the 28th since I am getting married on the 27th or secondly, is there a bald guy, about 225 lbs. that can stand in for me at the wedding...I will throw in the first night with the bride.

That's how much I wanna fish this event!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brian Gardy]

Thats funny Garrett you weigh more then 225 lol

[Tom Chopin]

Garrett Perhpas posting a pic of the bride may help.....I found one, Who else would She-hulk marry but a guy named Green.?LOL




sorry Wil, a little off topic..........

[BrianBlowes]

Im looking for a partner for this tourney,or I can be your partner.
Thanks

Brian

[Wil Wegman]

Too funny Garrett! At least you have your priorities right!

Actually ... you may get your wish if you pray hard enough for small craft warnings and or gale force winds for the 27th of October and we are forced to postpone to the next day. To answer Tom's question, we do have a provision to move the tournament to the following day (if no other severe weather is predicted) or the following Saturday or Sunday. For those who fished last year, you'll recall this is what we had to do. We do even have an option I believe to sanction off part of the lake if need be ... but of course that would be an absolute last resort.

Thanks,

Wil

[Danny Dunn]

Wow like Megabucs....nice!

Peace

Dan

[BrianBlowes]

Just to let people know,I have a partner.
Thanks to the ones that offered up.