Written by Don Sheldrake   On a weekend with everything but snow (September 26,27,28/03),  Les Zachney showed his poise and held a slight lead over Doug Brownridge to capture the 2003 Tips from the Tackle Box title. Les brought 17.46 lbs to the scale the first day and held a slim lead over Doug Brownridge and Don Sheldrake. The field of 35 Pros saw some competitors lock to Lake Couchiching to hopes of bigger and better fish, but losing almost 3 hours in the process may have hampered with the Couchiching bite being off. Day 2 saw the bit get tougher though, both Zachney and Brownridge brought in almost identical weights and Zachney held on to the win.  Bob Izumi made a huge jump in the standing with almost 15.00 lbs day 2 and ended in 5th spot.

A new twist in Tournaments

The tournament also had a special prize................an insurance policy was taken out to pay the team that entered the largest fish over 6.00 lbs 2 new 18 ft stratos, mercury motor and trailer.  The talk on the dock was that Joe Figueira had a 6 lb fish, then there was a rumour of not only 1 but 3 fish over 6 lbs.  Joe Figueira weight first with a 5.76 lbs largemouth, then Les Zachney did what they thought couldn't be done.......6.28 lb largemouth from Sparrow Lake, but wait Dwayne Zammit from Extreme Marine was still waiting. Dwayne came on stage, the scales settled on 6.18 lbs.  It was an incredible show, with lots of huge fish being caught.

Best of the Best.

How good is the Mitten Vinyl 'Tips from the Tackle Box Tournament' ?

Here is what some Pro's encountered and still made it there.

Les Zachney who encountered lower unit damage on friday morning while pre-fishing Lake Couchiching called Gary O'Neal (Tournament Organizer) and with the assistance of Tony and Dwayne from Extreme Marine was up and ready to fish Saturday morning.

Doug Brownridge drove from Georgian Bay and the OBF tournament home to deal with a family issue and then arrived saturday morning at breakfast ready to fish.

Bob Izumi and Don Sheldrake drove from Plattsburgh, New York and the Everstart Tournament on Lake Champlain thursday night and arrived on short notice to fish.

Dave Chong and Jamie Janzen left the OBF on Georgian Bay friday and attended as well.

Where can you get better bang for you buck ?  250.00 entry fee, all meals included, beverage tickets, 2 days fishing with a 1st place payout of $7,000.00 cdn, or in Les Zachneys case throw in a Stratos boat, motor and trailer for a 6.28 lb largemouth and you have a $40,000.00 payday.

This is by far the most entertaining tournament I have participated in. Great venue, great fisherman and better friends.  An opportunity to talk to some of the best in Canada, Izumi, Chong, Grigull, Janzen and Peter Savoia. The stories alone are worth the price of admission, add the assistance of the CFT and you have a sure hit.

Results

Les Zachney 1st -- 7,000.00 cash plus boat and trailer package.
Doug Brownridge 2nd
Jason Cottell  3rd
Corry Johnson 4th
Bob Izumi 5th
David Chong 6th
Don Sheldrake 7th
Olivery Grigull 8th
Dwayne Zammitt 9th

Zachney also won a stratos boat, motor and trailer, with a 6.28 largemouth on day one.

Dwayne Zammit had a 6.18 largemouth day 1 and Joe Figueira a 5.76 largemouth.