Category: tournaments

Ive been trained for many years by my father to compete! Ive been in a couple of tournaments with him but as an amatuer when i was in my early 20s. He passed away two years ago and ive finally got to the point where im shaking the dirt off his old boat and going back into competitions. Which direction would be wise to start in Bass or walleye or just mix it up for the first bit to see what prevails. Any helpful suggestions would me greatly appreciated for i know my father talked about chatting with you at different sportman shows and allways said you were very full of knowledge. Thanks and hope this gets to you!

Posted on September 18th, 2010

Hi James…Sorry to hear about your fathers passing. Deciding which species you want to fish competitively is really up to you. Walleye fishing can be much tougher than bass fishing. Traditionally bass feed along shorlelines and in shallow water, whereas walleye can feed at any depths and can be much harder to locate. I would encourage you to start with bass, and than once you build up your confidence with walleye, also enter walleye events. The Quinte Fishing Series out of Belleville, ON offers both and would be an ideal circut for you to participate in…God bless you, Italo

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HI Italo Im going to bassn for bucks tournament in sioux narrows on lake of the woods to fish a bass tournament with my 16 year old nephew next week. I was wondering if you would suggest fishing along shorelines or maybe out in deeper water this time of year. The weather has been in the high teens during the day and just below 10C at night. Ive become proficient at jig fishing for walleyes but really enjoy using Rapala crank baits. Would you suggest a particular method Would you think a slower or faster retrieve works better this time of year. Continued blessings on your show and family. Thanks

Posted on September 3rd, 2010

Hi Edi…Thank you for your kind words. I think you will do well if you fish rocks/weeds just off the shorelines, points and even rock-pikes/shoals. You should be able to catch a mixed bag largemouth & smallmouth. I have a feeling that spinnerbaits will work well to locate fish over and around the weeds/rocks. When you hit some fish, try fishing 4″ tubes/1/8oz. jigheads around the same area. Fish them slow and near the bottom. Also try twitching with either a Rapala Husky Jerk #13, or an X-Rap #10 in the same area. You may also want to fish some 6 or 7″ Texas-rigged plastic worms around the heavier weed-clumps for potentially larger largemouth bass….God bless you and your family also, Italo

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Hello italo… my name\’s Dane Laraway.. i\’ve written to you a few times prior to this about fishing the niagara river whirlpool.. I\’m 19 years old and i was wondering how i would be able to get into fishing tournaments for bass. Fishing basically is my life and my most devine passion. How would i go about registering into tournaments?. I live in Scotland Ontario, which is about 20 minutes from Brantford. Im young and i\’ve been wanting to know how to enter tournaments, to prove to everyone how much fishing is appart of my life and how much it really means to me… thanks again.

Posted on September 7th, 2008

Hi Dane…Most bass and walleye tournaments in Ontario are “buddy” events where you fish as a two-man team. To get started you would need to find someone that would like to fish with you and than confirm that you have a boat with a functioning live well. Anyone can enter tournaments, they just have to fill out an entry form and pay the entrant fees…God bless you, Italo

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Hi Italo, i am very interested in bass tourneys in southern ontario, however i dont not own a boat, because money is short as i am planning to head to university next year. I know Simon Frost and Dave Mercer fairly well, and they have provided some info regarding my interest, however i am wondering if you can wrap it all up for me and help me explore my options. Someday, i want it to be me on the front cover of outdoor canada magazine. can you help me get on the tournament trail,, or direct me to somebody who could/ Thanks so much Italo

Posted on April 7th, 2008

Hi Cody…Sorry, but I don\’t know of any shortcuts. Anglers that want to fish tournaments either have to purchase an adequate boat, or find someone that has one and team-up with them. Entry fees and expense costs are a fact that all tournament anglers have to deal with…God bless you, Italo

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Hi I\’m from northern ontario, i\’m 18 and i\’m constantly looking for fishing tournamants that are close by and cheap to enter as obviously being 18 and in university there\’s not always the money to throw around haha. but if you have any tournaments that you may know of it would be really appreciated. Thanks alot.

Posted on March 9th, 2008

Hi Kellen…I would encourage you to contact Andy Pollotta at,  www.csfl.ca .  Andy run\’s a very large fishing tournament series and I have a feeling he can direct you to some northern Ontario events….God bless you, Italo

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Quebec Tournaments: I left you an email already but I don\’t think I did the spam security question. My question is in regards to torn. in Quebec. I want to enter a few this year but I can\’t find any info on the net. Can you help?

Posted on February 27th, 2008

Hi Greg….I am not familiar with the Quebec competitive fishing organizations, but I have a feeling that the people at Shimano Canada are. I would encourage you to contact Shimano Canada who are very involved with bass tournaments in eastern Canada. You can reach them at, 427 Pido Road, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X7, Canada, (705) 754-3232…God bless you, Italo

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Hi Italo. Would you please e-mail me your mailing address as I would like to give you some information about the CFPS Chantry Chinook Classic Fishing Derby (July 26- Aug. 9, 2008)

Posted on January 13th, 2008

Hi Ron…I will be out of the country until the last week of February. Please send any info. to
paullord@canadian-sportfishing.com
….God bless you, Italo

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Hi Italo I have sigened up as an Amatuer for the WFN BASS stop in the Town of Georgina this July. Do you have any advise for a first timer fishing in a tournament? I am signed up on the AM side of the PROAM. Thanks for you past help and God Bless

Posted on January 9th, 2008

Hi Chris….I would encourage you to think positive and expect a fish on every cast. Keep your lure in the water as much as possible and never give up. Lake Simcoe has excelletn smallmouth bass fishing. Tubes, “drop-shot” rigs and crankbaits will probably produce the winning weight. Enjoy the tournament, I am sure you will learn a lot…God bless you, Italo

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I am extremely interested in fishing tournaments, but i also dont own a boat, so i would almost exclusively need to be fishing the pro/am tourney\’s. I am well aware of the WFN circuit this year, but can\’t seem to find any information on any other tournaments, especially in Southwestern Ontario. The only other tournament i\’m aware of, is the Long Point Bass Derby. Would you be able to give me any info on any other pro/am tourney\’s comming around my neck of the woods?… even so any other pro/am\’s in general..i don\’t mind a bit of a drive! Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Posted on January 9th, 2008

Hi John…The best person to ask about any type of competitive tournament in Ontario is Andy Palotta who operates,http://www.csfl.ca/. Check out his website and I would encourage you to give him a call. If you are planning on being at the TO Boat Show, make sure to stop by the Seminar Fish Tank. Andy operates it and I am sure he will be there…God bless you, Italo

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