Derek Strub of Elora, Ontario is $40,000 richer after winning the 3-day Canadian Open of Fishing, hosted by the City of Kingston, on Lake Ontario from July 22-24. Strub used his 22-foot walleye boat to his advantage as he was able to cut across Lake Ontario through 12-foot waves to get to his fishing spots. As a result, Strub was able to bring in 60.75 pounds of bass (15 fish over 3 days) to win the Open and the first prize of $40,000 in cash.
Rob Laframboise of Sault St. Marie, Ontario placed 2nd with 56.60 pounds and won $15,000 in cash. Chris Johnston of Peterborough, Ontario was 3rd with 53.65 pounds and took home $7500. JP Derose was 4th with 53.15 pounds and Bob Izumi rounded out the top 5 with 52.2-pounds of bass over the three day event.
In the non-boater division, Stuart Naylor of Hamilton, Ontario won a $20,000 boat, motor and trailer package with a winning 3-day weight of 57.80 pounds. This was his first-ever fishing tournament. Darren Izumi placed 2nd with 52.15 pounds and Dave Miller was third with 51.75 pounds. Payouts were made down to 20th spot in the Pro and Co-Angler divisions. Tournament-caught bass were returned to Lake Ontario each day via the Shimano Live Release System.
Three lucky audience members won complete vinyl siding packages over the 3-day tourney courtesy of Mitten Incorporated and Buchner Manufacturing. But the biggest winner of the weekend was Soldier On. The Kingston tournament raised $22,000 for the organization that assists injured Canadian soldiers and their families. Hockey celebrity Don Cherry was on hand to present the cheque to Warrant Officer Andrew McLean.
