The Temiskaming Smallmouth Bass Classic was the place to be on September the 17th and 18th.

Frost in the morning and sun in the afternoon with a little fog thrown in, would be the way it went each day at the 2011 Bass Classic held on Lake Nosbonsing and Trout Lake. Anglers from Kitchener, Ottawa , Branford , Toronto, North Bay, Sudbury and the New Liskeard and the Kirkland Lake area all came to see who would be called the Classic Champs , Angler of Year and who would win the free boat motor and trailor from Mercury,Lund, and Bay Distributors plus the thousands of dollars in prizes from Shimano, Sutton Bay Camp, North Bay Outfitters, Wal-Mart, Johns Tackle Box, Canadian Tire in New Liskeard, Chartrands Independent Grochier New Liskeard, UPI Auto Parts Halibury, Royal Ontario Musreum Active 1 SOURCE for Sports New Liskeard, who are the ones who make it possible for us to have a pay back structurer worth at least $200 all the way to the last place team.

On top of all this you got the friendlest group of anglers going, who are competitive yet love to have fun, These anglers really work hard to make sure thier fish can be live releasted, back into the water for the next generation to enjoy, and when ever they get the chance too, teach they younger generation how its done, and why.

The great thing about Bass fishing is you never know what the fish are going to act like, one day they are there, the next day they are gone and anybody can win, if they can find the fish. Anglers need to figure out what works, and where to look but once you do everything just falls into place. Thats exactly what the team of Jamie Dewar and Devin VanDerStraeten from Kitchener Ontario did for 2 days to become the 2011 Classic Champions with a total weight of 27.78lbs. These two young fellas have had a great year, and the boys said the $5000, plus the 1st place Classic Plaques is deffenetly the iceing on the cake.

Now being the Classic Champions is a hard thing to acomplish, but Pat and Eric Bezinet found out that getting the Angler of the Year award is no walk in the park eather. This year any angler or team that went for the A.O.Y. would have to be at the top of thier game to win it. There where 6 teams trying to get the heavest weights in 6 of the 12 events that they needed to become the 2011 A.O.Y , for the $700 in prizes, plus Trophies, from North Bay Outfitters . Teams moved up and down thoughout the year, but Pat and Eric finally pulled ahead to become the 2011 Anglers of the Year winners. The team said , it was one of those years where everything just worked out perfectly, and they are thrilled it did.

When anglers go to a Bass Classic they all go to win, but one thing that is allways in the back of thier minds is that if we do not win, we still have a shot at the free draw for the boat motor & trailor from Lund, Mercury, and North Bay Distributors. This package is roughly worth $4000 to $5000 and every team has a shot at winning it, if they are fishing in the Classic. This prize package is run by a elimination draw, where anglers come up to get thier prize for where they finnished , and then they draw a name out of a hat, and that team is eliminated until there is only one team left, who win the Boat,Motor & Trailor. This year it was the team of Tim Ellis and Brad Gillson who would be taking home the prize pakage and I think the team was pretty happy for sure.

The second place Classic team of Howard Gifford from Ottawa & Greg Gilson from North Bay came to the scales with 24.40lbs and may not have got 1st place but said the $2500 cash and all the fun was well worth it.

The 3rd place Classic team of James Wallace & Brad Sheffeild from Rutherglen would bring in 24.26lbs and get the $1250 and plaques but said next year they are going for 1st for sure. .

This has been a great year for your Series and next year looks even better,so keep a eye out on here for new 2012 updates.

Stay Safe have Fun and see you on the water

Dave LaFontaine