Anglers flock to Mitchell’s Bay for fishing tournament

John Kopcok of Maidstone and T.J. McLarty of Belle River won more than $25,000 in cash and prizes with a two-day 10-fish weight of 40.71 pounds in the Canadian Tire Mitchell’s Bay Open Tournament this past weekend.

Second place went to Mark Thomson and Lynda Slater of Guelph who missed first place by just over three ounces (final weigh in total of 40.50 pounds).

Thomas Johnson of London and Terry Wilson of Tillsonburg won $2,000 for catching the biggest bass of the tournament weighing 6.34 pounds.

“The conditions were tough on the water,” said Tom Beaton one of the organizers of the tournament as a number of boats came in early on day one.

TV Host Bob Izumi (originally from Blenheim) took part in the weekend tournament fishing with his son Darren.

Izumi, who fished the tournament for the first time last year with his son Darren, said he attended after he heard from other anglers how good the tournament was.

Plans are being put in place for next years tournament which will be the 10th anniversary.