Plenty to do this Ontario Family Weekend

You don't need a fishing license Family Day Weekend

There's a ton of stuff happening in Sunset Country this weekend including tons of free events.

Free Ontario Family Fishing Weekend
 
Ontario Family Fishing Weekend is a province-wide opportunity for Canadian residents to fish Ontario waters without the otherwise mandatory fishing version outdoors card. The Ontario Government designates two periods throughout the year as license-free, one of these being this Family Day weekend. You can fish license free from February 16-18, 2013 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Monday). In the summer you can also fish license free from July 6-14, 2013 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday). During all other time periods, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years must purchase a valid fishing license to legally fish in Ontario. If you've never been ice fishing, this weekend would be an opportune time to get out there and fish. You can also take a friend fishing.

Participants fishing without a license must fish under the Conservation fishing license limits which are set out in the current Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. With the exception of the licensing requirement, Ontario fishing regulations, fees and limits continue to apply during license-free days.

Snowmobile our winter wonderland

Permit Free Snowmobiling

The OFSC is also having a 'Try Our Trails Permit'. The Try Our Trails Permit is only valid for available OFSC trails on Ontario’s Family Day Long Weekend February 16-18, 2013.

• You will be required to enter your sled license plate number, VIN, make, model and year when applying for this permit.*
• Print the permit yourself from confirmation email you receive after registering online.
• Permit must be affixed to your sled.

The OFSC wants to invite new participants, former riders and out‐of province visitors to try OFSC trails at no cost. They encourage all regular permit buyers to invite their families and friends to obtain a 2013 Try Our Trails Permit, so they can Take a Friend Snowmobiling. What a great opportunity to try the OFSC snowmobile trails. Find out more at the Ontario Federation of Snowmobiling Club website. 

2012 'Pimp Your Ice Shack' Winners

Winter Festivals

Check out the Dryden Winter Festival February 15-18, 2013. Celebrate winter outdoors with family and friends. There's a pancake breakfast, horse drawn sleigh rides, skating, sliding, snow kiting lessons and demos, snow sculpting, family fishing derby and so much more... You can download a printable schedule of Dryden Winter Festival events.

The Vermilion Bay Kin Karnival will kick off on February 14 with the Kin Baby contest at 6:30 p.m. The event continues on Friday with the annual fish fry at the Lions hall. There will be events all day Saturday including a pancake breakfast and a mini kids carnival, and a new event - the trapline challenge dog sled race. It's a mass start at 10:30 at the government dock. After that there will be having a kids mutt run. Sunday events include the Kin Family Fish Derby, which is often called the main event. Those interested in signing up for the fishing derby will be able to at the carnival. For more information on event registration contact Scott McEwan at 227-2904.

Mount Evergreen Ski Hill is open Family Day

There are also many Family Day Activities throughout the cities and towns in Sunset Country.

In Kenora, visit the Kenora Recreation Centre for a free public skate from 12:30-2pm and a free public swim from 1-2:30pm. Mount Evergreen Ski Hill will be open from 10-4pm and they have special pricing for the day. Beaver Creek Ranch is also open from 2-4pm. They will have sleigh rides, petting zoo, crafts and a bonfire.

In Thunder Bay there are lots of great things happening this Family Day weekend! There's Fort William Historical Park's Voyageur Winter Carnival all weekend and Winterfest down at Prince Arthur's Landing on February 18th. 

An “Indoor Planetarium” is coming to the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre on Monday, Feb. 18 (Family Day). Pick up your tickets for one of the six shows, which cost $2/person.

That's just a taste of what's happening in Sunset Country this weekend. Now get off the computer and head outside!

Tips for Crappie Fishing in Sunset Country

Fall crappie fishing at Arrowhead Resort  in Nestor Fall

As the summer ends, crappie fishing heats up Sunset Country

Fall is one of the best times of the year to go crappie fishing in Sunset Country; the weather is cooler and the mosquitos are gone. September, right through until the end of October is when you'll find the black crappies biting. Often anglers like to fish for crappie in the deeper holes; jig in the 20 - 40' depths and you'll find the crappies in huge schools. Small jigs, tipped with live bait or small tubes is the best way in the fall. The schools can be 10 feet thick at this time of the year.

Winter ice fishing for crappie is fun as well. You'll find the black crappies large in size and in good numbers. Often, the outfitters will set up ice huts right over where schools of crappie tend to gather. Combine your crappie fishing (and walleye, trout or northern fishing as well) with some snowmobiling. Stay in a winterized cabin and cozy up beside a fire after a great day of crappie fishing and snowmobiling.

Ice fishing for crappie at Gateway North Outfitters

Crappie fishing in the Spring is the best through the ice or just after ice out, when they move inshore to feed on schools of bait. In most cases, you'll find crappie in shallow bays or suspended along deep weedlines. Live minnows on a small (1/4 to 1/8 ounce) jig work great.

Black Crappie Found in Northwestern Ontario

Black crappie are a favourite of panfish anglers. A schooling fish, crappie are not always easy to find but when you do locate them, you're usually over a lot of fish. This popular pan fish can be found in large numbers in certain lakes such as Rainy Lake, Lake of the Woods, Off Lake and the Winnipeg River System. A true delicacy, crappie make for some of the best eating if you love to eat fish. Black crappies are generally 7-10" (18-25cms) long and weigh between 0.5 and 1 lb. They have 7-8 dorsal fin spines; 6 or 7 anal fin spines and an irregular mosaic of distinct black blotches. Black crappie can be found in Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Zones 4, 5 and 6. Crappie fishing season is open all year round. The crappie limit is 15 with a Sportfishing license and 10 with a conservation fishing license. You can download the Ontario fishing regulations to find out more about the rules of fishing in Ontario.

Link to Ontario lodges and resorts to inquire about crappie fishing opportunities available at their location.

How to Win $20,000 Fishing

Anglers waiting to weigh in at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship

The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is set to take place July 17-23, 2011 on Rainy Lake. If there's a full roster, the top prize is $20,000. Not bad for a couple of days fishing. The total prize package with a full roster is $102,000. There are prizes for daily top top catch, biggest daily fish, and more. There is even a top 2011 Rookie Team prize. The best rookie will have entry into the 2012 tournament.

But besides the payout there is lot's of reasons why to experience a fishing tournament. The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship goes all out and has a major celebration. The event starts with the Safeway Kid Pro fishing July 17th from 7am-3pm. On July 19th, there is a Much Music Video Dance Party. The Boston Pizza Parade of Boats begins at 3:00 and then at 7pm the Quest for the Best begins. July 21-23 the fishing starts with the Flight #1 departing from the Government Dock at Pithers' Point Park. Thursday the anglers return at 3:30pm. There's a Chicken 'n Ribs dinner from 4:30-7:30pm. Friday the dinner is Floppin' Fresh Fish Dinner and then Kartune Kriminals and Bed of Roses (Canada's #1 Bon Jovi Tribute Band) hit the stage. Saturday the excitement grows as people wonder who will come in with the biggest catch, who will win? The Top Ten Boat Parade begins at 5:00 and the Angler Awards presentation begins at 7:00. There is a Kiwanis Streak Fry  and in the evening Borderland's favourite local band, Thinking of Pinky takes the stand. For more information visit the FFCBC website or visit their Facebook page.

The 5th Annual Friends and Family Bronze Back Classic is held from July 23-24,  2011 on Lake of the Woods. The entry fee is $400.00 and there is a 100% pay out on entries. The focus of the Bronze Back Classic is to get families, friends, local anglers, long time summer residents, and especially youth involved in this boating event.

Angler showing his bass to the crowd at KBI

August begins with another big bass tournament. The Kenora Bass International  (KBI) is held on Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario from August 4-6th. If there are 150 entries, the top place receives $25,000. There are many other ways to win as well. There are 10 big catch prizes, biggest smallmouth, biggest largemouth, prizes for the top 30 placing in the KBI, adult/youth team, man/woman team and more. See the pay out schedule for complete prize estimates. Every year a battle wages between Canada and the U.S. along the shores of Lake of the Woods. 5 teams representing Canada and 5 teams representing the USA compete against each other for the honour and glory of being crowned the winner and for the Frank Townsend Can-Am Challenge trophy.

Anglers will fish Thursday to Saturday. Delicious dinners and beer gardens welcome anglers and the public in the evenings. Saturday is the big finale with the top 10 boats parading through the tent to an exciting finish. There also is a KBI Kids Tournament that is open to kids ages 4-13. The children will be fishing off the Kenora Harbourfront docks. There will be a prize presentation at the end of each flight, loot bag and t-shirt for every child who participates. A trophy and a special prize will be awarded to the male and female anglers with the biggest bass on each day! There is also free kids entertainment including Minnow Races from 11:30am - 2:30pm. For more information on the Kenora Bass International visit the KBI website. With Shaw as a major sponsor, the tournament can now be viewed on TV. Current standings can also be found on the KBI website once the tournament starts.

Next in the line-up of Sunset Country Tournaments is the Atikokan Bass Classic August 12-13. It is touted as the "Funnest Bass Tournament in the Northwest". Payout is 96% of Team Entry with the first place finish netting approximately $10,000. Besides the top 10 teams, prizes will also go to the best Parent & Child, Grandparent & Child, All Women, Male/Female Teams and for the biggest fish.  Access into Marmion Lake is at  the Anderson Dam Landing.  Competitors are provided a free steak supper the Friday night of the tourney.

Fishermen bringing in their bass to get weighed

The Morson Bass International is held on Lake of the Woods in Morson from August 27-28.  This Catch and Release Bass Tournament  starts at the Government Dock in Morson.  View a video of the Morson Bass International. Like many of the other fishing tournaments in Sunset Country, the MBI has a kids fishing tournament,  yummy dinners and entertainment. You can download an Entry Form or get more information on the Morson Bass International website.

September begins with the Red Lake Fall Classic Catch & Release Walleye Tournament on the Red Lake Chain of Lakes on September 2-4.  Based on 140 team entries, the top prize is $11,000.  Second prize is $5,000 & 2 Humminbird Trolling Locators and third is $3,000 & 2 MinnKota Trolling Motors. See the Red Lake Falls Classic Prize structure for more prizes. Both days the 3 flights leave between 7 and 7:30am. Saturday there is a free supper for tournament participants where they can see the posting of first day standings.  Sunday around 6pm you can visit the Red Lake Legion to see the prize and trophy awards. Saturday afternoon also has a Junior  Championship at the Government Docks. Prizes for all children.

Perch Lake Bass Challenge  is held on the Seine River Chain of Lakes September 4th. Meet at Homer's Cabins on Perch Lake 20 minutes west of Atikokan. Top prize is $1000 & possession of tournament trophy for 3 months. Top 5 win cash prizes. There are also prizes for the biggest fish, Top Lund team, top young angler and top couple. Rules & Boat Checks at 8am, fishing between 9am to 3:30pm. The 2011 PLBC is now full. To get your name on the waiting list, email info@perchlakebass.com

Bassin' for Bucks is a fishing tournament on Lake of the Woods from Sioux Narrows September 9-11. The Sioux Narrows Bassin’ for Bucks tournament format is a two person team, fishing for 3 days, daily and total combined weight, live release tournament. Besides prizes for the top 6 each day, the grand aggregate weight prizes are as follows: 1st place is $6000, 2nd is $5000 and 3rd is $4000. There are also prizes for Tournament Big Fish, Big Smallmouth each day and Big Largemouth each day. Prize structure based on 120 entries. The flights leave between 7:30 & 8 each morning. Must fish these areas: Red Cliff Bay, Yellow Girl Bay, Whitefish Bay, Lobstick Bay, Regina Bay, Cross, Knickerbocker and Blueberry Inlets, and anywhere else accessible by boat that is within the boundaries. Out of bounds is all waters West and North of the longitudinal line #25’ that runs from the Northwestern tip of the Eastern Peninsula, South to the West side of Ferrier Island to the Aulneau Peninsula.

One of the Top 10 anglers parading through the tent

Crow Lake Classic Bass Tournament is held on Crow Lake September 16-17. Held at Hansons Hideaway Lodge on Crow Lake (Kakagi lake). $350 entry fee per team. Download registration form at the Crow Lake Classic website. Based on 50 entries, the top prize is $4,000. The top ten get cash prizes ranging from $4,000 to $350. New in 2011 are first, second and third top daily bag prizes. There is also a team draw for 2 Shimano Rod & Reel Combos, a Secret Number Placement and Closet Team to 10lb Daily bag prizes. The top 2 placing Princecraft boats powered by Mercury motors win 24 volt trolling motors.

During the fall the Ontario walleye tournaments start up again. The Rainy River Walleye Tournament in Rainy River is held September 22-24. The overall prize purse will be $43,450 with the champion earning $15,000. There are prizes for the top 15, 4 hidden weight prizes, a parade prize, River Champ, Day 1 & 2 Big Fish and the Lionel Roberts Memorial Award Largest Basket of Tournament $1,000 prize. Thursday has a parade of boats at 4pm, Fisherman's Dinner (contestants only) and then beer gardens open to the public. Friday, anglers leave between 8:45am & 9:15am. Saturday anglers leave between 7:45 & 8:15am. 3:15 the anglers weigh in and then the Awards Presentation and the Rainy River Junior Curlers Draw follows. There is a  Weekend of fun and excitement for the whole family under the Big Tent on the shores of Beautiful Rainy River! Visit the Rainy River Walleye Tournament website for more information.

The Last Chance Bass is held on Shoal Lake September 24-25. Contact Randy Paishk 807-733-3940 or or Vern Fair  807-733-3191 for more information.

The Whitefish Bay Fall Bass Classic is held in Nestor Falls on Dogpaw, Caviar and Flint Lakes. The tournament runs October 1-. For more information call 807-226-5411.

The third annual Lake of the Woods Walleye Challenge will be held on Lake of the Woods in Morson October 7-8. It is a 2 day fishing tournament. $300 per team. Cash and merchandise prizes to anglers and spectators. Last year 21 teams participated for $6,500 in cash and prizes with 100% of entry fees going back to the top placing entries and prizes for hidden weight, top finishing husband/wife team and top finishing parent/child team.  Spectators and anglers are invited for a dinner at the Morson Hall. For more information call 807-488-5905.

So, while it may sound easy to win 10 or 20 thousand dollars, it is far from it. Sure, there's a lot of luck in fishing, but there is a lot of preparation. Many anglers spend time and money pre-fishing a lake before a tournament. All in all though, a fishing tournament can be quite fun to participate in. Some anglers do the circuit and fish tournaments all summer long, some just do one in their community. The fishing tournaments I have listed here are coming up in the rest of 2011. For a complete list of fishing tournaments in Northwest Ontario, visit our fishing page on Sunset Country's website. Maybe next year I'll be reading about you winning the jackpot.

Spring Ice Fishing Trip

Ice Fishing in Sunset Country, Ontario

One of the perks of being Executive Director of the Travel Association, are the invites I get to experience what we have to offer here in Northwestern Ontario. A great winter experience is ice fishing. I was lucky enough to have Kenora area guide Jeff Gustafson ask me to go try an evening out on the ice.

Getting out there around 5:00 PM the fishing was good right from the start. There were 6 of us fishing - Jeff and I, Jeff's dad, two friends from Minnesota and another local like me. Just about as soon as I arrived one of three "pop-ups" set with a cisco and targeted

at big pike sprung up. I had the honour of pulling in the fish - a small northern this time - unlike the 15+ pound fish they had caught the day before. While this was going on, one of the Minnesota anglers pulled in about a 10 pound lake trout - in the same area. This was followed by some large walleye, one over 28 inches. This all paled in comparison to the 40 inch lake trout pulled in by the lone lady angler on the ice - what a fish!

Here I am with the 27 inch walleye I had the opportunity to pull out of the ice. I really thought the fish would have fought harder given its size. She was beautiful and after this picture, I returned her back down the hole and into the lake. Needless to say the pace of the action was crazy from the get go - and a tremendous amount of fun! Thanks to Jeff Gustafson for the great day on the ice.

Ice Fishing was a great way to end this year's winter. Now it time to start planning your 2010 summer vacation.