First place Tory Garneau and Craig Salmonson.

First place Tory Garneau and Craig Salmonson.

MATTAGAMI FIRST NATION – Craig Salmonson & Tory Garneau walk away with the $10,000 – 1st Place Prize with a total weight of 30.65 Ibs in the tournament held on Mattagami Lake this weekend.

One hundred four teams registered for the 14th year of the event. Many returning and new participants were welcomed by the hosting Mattagami Recreation Committee during the meeting held on Friday night at the Mattagami Complex Hall; where anglers picked up their registration packages and attended a rule-reading session.

The two-day tournament proved to be a physically-trying one this year, with the weather ranging from humid to rainy and cold. That didn’t deter anglers eager to grab one of the top 8 Prize Board spots.

See the full 2013 Mattagami Tournament Results.

For information on the tournament and full results please log onto www.nowt.ca. For other coverage check out www.wannabefisherman.com.

Winners of the $1000 Early Bird Draw were Jayme Richer & Phil Croteau. A Young Anglers award was presented to Noah Basaraba. Many draws were set up for the weekend, with great prizes to be won: Big Fish for Day 1 weighed 6.71 Ibs – Craig Salmonson & Tory Garneau, and Big Fish of Day 2 was 8.47 Ibs – Chris Porteous & Tim Martel each team taking home $940.

Suzanne Naveau won the Team #1 Draw and Patrick Calhane won the Team #2: which includes full team registration & 5 minute lead start for the 2014 Tournament. The 14′ Princecraft boat draw ($2900 value) was won by Pauline Wesley.

Mattagami’s tournament kicks off the Northern Ontario Walleye Trail circuit each year (nowt.ca) with next year’s tournament set for June 7 & 8, 2014.

Registration is $250/Team. For pictures of this year and future events go to the Mattagami Annual Walleye Tournament- Facebook Group Page.

Additional sponsors to the tournament:

  • Princecraft
  • Mattagami First Nation
  • Ednysian Camps & Logistics
  • Dumoulins
  • Pro Tackle
  • Gold Corp
  • Krazy Krazy
  • Soucy Salo
  • Midas
  • Nasco Propane
  • Days Inn
  • McKane Motors
  • Boston Pizza
  • Montanas
  • The Cache

Registered participants are permitted camping, which makes for a nice weekend for anglers to share a little get away with their family or fishing partner. Events such as bingo and penny table draws are also held during the day at the Mattagami Complex Hall for those not fishing in the tournament.

Mattagami Recreation is a not-far-profit group of volunteers that raises funds for youth focused activities, programming and community events – go to www.Mattagami.com for more information.

By Jennifer Constant