Aubin and Larivière Win Inaugural Sagamok Event

With many anglers pre fishing in the days leading up to the event, Mother Nature decided to add a little twist to the conditions herself by dumping over 4″ of rain within a 24 hour period, which lead to the Espanola Dam being fully opened and raising the water level on the Spanish River by 3 ½ feet for tournament day.

As tournament organizers and the Sagamok community were welcoming all the anglers on Friday evening at the Millennium Center for Registration and the Rules meeting, many anglers were discussing and sharing their pre fishing tactics and strategies to tame the Spanish River, so they thought!

Mother Nature changed many anglers’ plans for Saturday, from taming the river a few days before to humbling over 43 teams not weighing in any fish on Day One. Day One’s Leader, from Sault Ste Marie Joe Giuliani and Norm Thorkilson weighed in 14.19 lbs, 2nd place with 12.66 lbs was 2010 NOPWT Anglers of the Year Danny Hein and DJ Germain, 3rd place with a solid weight of 9.92 lbs was Marc Aubin and Roc Larivière, 4th place from Kapuskasing was Craig Santala and Luc Audette with 7.73lbs and rounding out the 5th place finish with 6.21lbs Jody Villeneauve and Kevin Creswell. The $1,000 Dollar Big Fish winner on Saturday was Craig Santala and Luc Audette , weighing in the Big Fish at 5.36lbs.

Following Saturday’s day of grueling punishment on the water, all teams and volunteers were hosted to a steak dinner feast at the Millennium Center. The hospitality and steak dinner delivered by Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation during the meal was overwhelming and appreciated by all those who were fortunate to attend.

As the anglers gathered around the BBQ while cooking their steaks, many were overheard discussing what happened on Saturday and what the winning strategy was going to be on Sunday.

Sunday morning, the money day, with the waters of the Spanish River calming down and clearing up, it was very evident from Sunday’s Indy pace takeoff where the vast majority were headed to the bridge in Espanola. With over $30,000 dollars in cash to be decided on Sunday, it really was anybody’s day to collect some cash.

As the teams arrived at the end of the day for the final weigh in, it was evident at the Sauble River Weigh-in station that fishing was better than it was on Saturday for some, but not all. 37 teams weighed in no fish on Sunday.

When the Weigh Master called the final weights on Sunday, Marc Aubin and Roc Larivière weighed in a steady 9.02lbs, for a two day combined weight of 18.94 lbs and becoming the Winners of the 2010 Sagamok Fall Walleye Classic and the $10,000 dollar first place cash Prize. In 2nd place, and the winner of $5,000 dollars, were Joe Giuilani and Norm Thorkilson with a two day total of 18.03 pounds, 3rd place finish and $4,000 dollars cash prize was awarded to Jody Villeneauve and Kevin Creswell, with a two day combined weight of 12.79lbs. Weighing in only 2.39lbs on Saturday and completing the final day with a basket weight of 12.79 pounds for a 2 day total of 15.18lbs and 4th place and $3,000 dollar cheque was Ted and Tracy Dodd from Sault Ste Marie.

Fifth place winners a $2,000 dollar cheque , big fish winner on Sunday, and the winner of the “Movers and Shakers” award,( 4 person Guided Trip on the Bay of Quinte from G2 Angling) the team that advanced the most from Saturday to Sunday with a total weight of 14.96lbs and also the winner of the $1,000 dollar prize with a 8.96 walleye, Mark Tessier and Neil Austin. Having registered no fish on Saturday and being tied in 34th place, Mark and Neil advanced to finish 5th. 6th place and winner of $1,000 dollars, with a two day weight of 13.89lbs was Danny Hein and DJ Germain, 7th place and winners of $900 dollars with a two day weight of 8.36 lbs, Craig “Signals” Santala and Luc Audette from Kapuskasing, 8th place finisher and $800 dollars with a 2 day total of 7.53 pounds was Cal and Brad Matheson. 9th place and winners of $700 dollars, Brian Insley and Richard Proceviat with a two day toal of 7.22lbs and rounding out the top ten finishers, in 10th place and winner of $600 dollars sponsored by Sure Catch Baits was Mark Lytham and Phil Nadjawon with a total weight of 6.89 pounds.

Once again at the conclusion of another days fishing on the Spanish, before the final awards were presented, all the anglers and volunteers were once again treated to the hospitality and a generous feast of a spaghetti dinner. As dinner was being served, prizes were awarded to all the teams that did not finish in the top ten.

The Bay Mills Resort and Casino package, valued over $2,500, was won by Reg Tivy. Mark Tessier also won the G2 Angling award, for a 1 one day guided trip for 4 people on the Bay of Quinte, valued at $800 dollars. The $3,000 dollar Prize by Quality Food Hampers sponsored by Danny Hein, which every angler who participated and filled out an entry in any NOPWT event was won by Sonny “Hollywood” Toulouse, of Massey Ontario. When the lights were finally turned out at the Millennium Center on Sunday night, over $40,000 dollars in Cash and Prizes were given away, a NOPWT record!

With this type of event, there are two major factors that make this happen, and happen successfully, the generous donations of prizes from sponsors and the volunteers, without both, none of this would be possible.

Without any doubt and truly outstanding, the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation overwhelming showed the finest hospitality I have ever seen in Tournament Fishing. They have set the bar for all tournaments to follow.

Migwetch