2019 Pan American Sportfishing Bass Championship Announced

Cornwall, Ontario:  The Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) in conjunction with the Canadian Sport Fishing League (CFSL) is pleased to announce that the 2019 Pan American Bass Championship will be held in Cornwall and SDG Counties, Ontario, from October 15^th to 19^th inclusive.

The 2019 Pan American Bass Championship is an international fishing tournament that will see the top competitive anglers from Canada, First Nations, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and possibly other countries of the Americas, visiting the Cornwall region in search of big bass. This will be the first-ever Pan Am Bass Championship to be held on Canadian water and land, and it will be the starting point for the Canadian International Sportfishing Association.

This year’s event will be known officially as the Cornwall SDG Counties Pan American Bass Championship. Competition will take place on the section of the St. Lawrence River called Lake St. Francis. Anglers will practice fish on Wednesday, October 16^th with the official competition taking place on Thursday, October 17^th and Friday, October 18^th.  (See full itinerary below)

Television fishing celebrity Bob Izumi, who has captained Team Canada in previous Pan Am tournaments held in other countries, says that the Cornwall SDG Counties region was his first choice when considering where to hold this historic event in Canada.

“Lake St. Francis is a world-class fishery for a number of species of fish,” states Izumi. “The numbers of big smallmouth and largemouth bass as well as all of the amenities Cornwall & SDG Counties have to offer make this the perfect venue for the Pan American Bass Championship.”

The event is sponsored by Cornwall Tourism and SDG Counties in conjunction with the Partnership Fund of Regional Tourism Organization 9, an initiative to build and introduce new tourism products and experiences in eastern Ontario. The Pan American Bass Championship is also being supported by the new Cornwall Tourism Development Fund. For more information on the Cornwall Tourism Development Fund, please visit www.CornwallTourism.com/TDF.

Team Canada Qualifier Results

Thirteen 2-person teams competed on Lake St. Francis on Tuesday August 27^th and Wednesday August 28^th to determine the top 7 teams that will join Bob and Darren Izumi to represent Canada at the Cornwall SDG Counties Pan American Bass Championship in October. The teams and their 2-day weights (maximum 5 bass per day) are as follows:

1. Andy Kinstler & Scott Lecky 44.60 pounds
2. Rob Lee & David Chong 43.20 pounds
3. Robert MacMillan & Ryan Flaro 43.04 pounds
4. Matt Massey & Robert Greenburg 42.70 pounds
5. Stephen & Phil Hegarty 42.38 pounds
6. Nicolas Gendron & Jason Gramada 41.98 pounds
7. Brian Hughes & Anaise Chaves 40.26 pounds

Bob and Darren Izumi received a bye at the qualifier and will lead Team Canada in October.

The remaining six teams that competed this week are: Joe Ford/Brian Bickell (39.62); Peter Savoia and Jeff McGee (37.30); Phil Curtis and Brent Valere (37.16); Fern Campeau and Jason Greentree (35.64); Ian Morin and Christopher Voldock (32.04); and Oliver Grigull and Tim Fernandes (13.80).

All fish were returned to Lake St. Francis following each day of competition.

Volunteer and Sponsorship Opportunities

There are sponsorship opportunities for the Cornwall SDG Counties Pan American Bass Championship in October and there is also a need for volunteers to assist during the event as scrutineers and boat drivers. For more information, please contact Mike Melnik at [email protected] or 888-296-8978 (office) or
705-931-3282 (cell).