Angler, Young Angler Fishing Event
by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
“ A few years ago I was fishing at a walleye tournament in Dryden and heard rumbling of this event, the Angler Young Angler Fishing Tournament. I have spent the last few years looking into how it could work in Thunder Bay,” said Sandro Fragale, Director, Angler Young Angler, a not for profit organization. “I liked the idea of having the kids and family together. I think it is a good thing. On June 28th the teams will go to Marina park with their boat. We will have the rules
meeting and from there they will take off. People can cheer on the kids at the Kam River fishing for walleye.”
The Angler Young Angler tournament will start at 8am and the competitors will be back for weigh in at 3:30pm. The competitors are allowed three fish in a bag and the heaviest total weight will win. “ It is like a professional event to teach the kids. The winner will win
a LUND boat and Mercury motor. All the kids will get a t shirt and PIZZA PIZZA has came on board to supply pizzas fro lunch or a snack. It will be a good time for the kids. One of the great opportunity for the city.” smiled Fragale who gets out fishing as much as he can and then
some.
Local well known fisherman Gord Ellis is the media relations guy for the event. “ I am someone who likes to see kids fish and bring competitive fishing to Thunder Bay. I grew up in Thunder Bay all my life and love fishing cutting my teeth in McVicar Creek and fishing for pike on the docks at Marina Park as a ankle biter,” smiled Ellis. “ When the opportunity arose to have this event come here to Thunder Bay I was on board. This event is a live release event. All the teams will have two kids in the boat and one adult. It was started in Winnipeg by Andrew Klopak President of LUND Canada and the US based in Canada. It started in the Red River or the Winnipeg River and has expanded to Dryden and Red Lake in NW Ontario,” noted Gord Ellis. “ Randy Neufeld of North Country was interested as well. The events are generally run
out of a LUND dealership. We said lets do it. It is a one day event with low pressure.”
Paul Pepe of the City of Thunder Bay Tourism Thunder Bay is also working to promote the event. “It promotes our Superior by Nature brand very well and the Kam River is a great fishery. I think the Kam River is an under appreciated river as it has had great history to it and is
a great waterway. Angler young Angler ties in well with our outdoor strategy as well as urban culture entertainment, great food , the casino and getting to nature in a few minutes,” noted Pepe. “The family element is great as well. It is complimentary to Seven Days With The
Giant promoting the outdoor assets we have here. We are promoting Thunder Bay as a destination for boaters. There is a ton of potential here.”
“ The Angler Young Angler Event is here for the first time in
Thunder Bay. When I came on board here at North Country they were just working with the idea. It is great for us to get out and get involved with other businesses and gain their support,” smiles Randy Neufeld of North Country Cycle & Sports. “ There are lots of people signing up to sponsor the event. There will be 40 teams with three fisherpeople in each boat. It is the week before the Canada long weekend so many will make it a long weekend. It is a great event to have at the marina.”
