As part of marketing Manitoulin Island as a four-season destination, Wiikwemikoong Tourism held its second annual Manitoulin Ice Showdown with record numbers taking part.
Bob Izumi, of Real Fishing Show fame, was a big draw says Wiikwemikoong Tourism Special Events Coordinator, Giselle Aiabens.
She says 730 anglers took part in the two-day derby on Manitowaning Bay and Lake Manitou this past weekend.
Aiabens adds the event is part of the strategy to develop the Island as a place to visit no matter the season and the organizers are looking forward to hosting the event once again in 2021.
Bob enjoyed his time fishing on Manitoulin Island as well as being the official derby host saying, “It was an honour to be the Derby Host at the Manitoulin Ice Showdown. During my five-day visit, I got to sample the great fishing, then witness some incredible catches from the participants. The fishing on and around Manitoulin Island is amazing! I know there was a lot of hard work organizing and running this fabulous event. Last but not least I met so many nice people and made memories that’ll last a lifetime.”
WINNERS:
Top 3 on Lake Manitou are 1st place Katelane Frohlick, 9.2 lb lake trout; 2nd place Matt Eles, 8.51 lb lake trout; and 3rd place, Richard Noble, 8.4 lb lake trout
Top 3 on Manitowaning Bay are 1st place, Ken Hartley, 13.08 lb rainbow; 2nd place, Roger Cooper, 12.86 lb rainbow; and 3rd place, Noah Souliere-Lamb, 12.04 lb rainbow.
Honourable mentions go to Manitowaning Bay’s 9th place winner, 10-year-old Ethan Flamand, for being the youngest angler to place in the top 10 with an 8.38 lb rainbow. Ethan also took home the great honour of winning the “Out-fish Bob Izumi” contest, along with Danielle Frescura.
The full listing of results can be found on fishmanitoulin.com.
The Manitoulin Ice Showdown is a partnership event between Wikwemikong Tourism and The Manitoulin Expositor. The partnership began with the first Manitoulin Ice Showdown held in the winter of 2019.
Wikwemikong Tourism is a department of Enaadmaagehjik (Wikwemikong Development Commission) and is responsible for community tourism development.
The Manitoulin Expositor is Northern Ontario’s oldest newspaper: printers and publishers since 1879. A winner of the Michener Award for Public Service Journalism.
Bob Izumi, affectionately referred to as “The Gretzky of Fishing,” has earned his unmatched credibility in the fishing world in part due to his incredible success as a tournament angler. He has fished more tournaments in Canada and the US than any other Canadian angler and is the only Canadian to win the Triple Crown of fishing; capturing the Canadian Open, the Classic Championship, and Angler of the Year titles in a single season. Along with his personal achievements, in 2018 he captained Team Canada to a second-place finish in the inaugural Pan Am Black Bass Championship held in Florida. In 2019 Bob was the driving force behind bringing the Pan Am Championships to Canada, where he led Team Canada to a first-place finish.
