Cliff Waldner, of Arc Prop Repair
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It’s all happening May 23 - 25! The Original Six! The joy of fi shing in the Emo Walleye Classic never gets old for these six gentlemen. Jim Steele, left, Dennis Smith, Frank Grunewald, Frank McWhinnie, Doug McBride, and Steve Ballan all have fi shed every EWC tournament since its inception 18 years ago. Team #1, Oliver Gibbins and Les Morrison are pictured waiting for their fl ight to take off in last year’s Emo Walleye Classic. They defended their 2017 win with a haul of 19.53 pounds to claim their second- straight title. YAMAHA’S Purchase an eligible new, unused 4-stroke Yamaha Portable outboard and receive: Proud RELIABILITY Classic Sponsor STARTS HERE 5-YEAR $ of the 2019 WARRANTY Up to300 SALES EVENT * Instant Customer PROTECTION Rebate** Offer ends May 31, 2019. Visit yamaha-motor.ca to view deals on all Yamaha outboards. C2 FORT FRANCES TIMES Wednesday, May 22, 2019 system excluding all rivers and streams flowing into or out of Defending champs eyeing ‘three-peat’ the Rainy River and excluding the American side of the river. By Jamie Mountain ished second to Morrison and “We’ll pre-fish there [near the Staff writer Gibbins, with the latter claiming west-end] the day before the [email protected] the 2017 tourney with a total tournament, I think,” said Gib- of 22.03 pounds compared to bins. Winning the Emo Walleye their 11.22 total. “We’ll probably head down Classic even just once is a tough Morrison and Gibbins there and see what it’s like. Usu- challenge. claimed the first-flight big catch ally we’re just stuck to our area Twice in a row? The degree of prize both days last year, adding but now you got all that bound- difficulty rises. a Day 2 total of 7.90 pounds to ary, so we’ll probably head But for Oliver Gibbins and Les the 11.63 they had tallied on down that way for pre-fishing Morrison, their sights are set on Day 1. and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll an unthinkable third-straight They brought the house just keep scrambling around.” crown as they head into the down on Day 1 with a Gibbins noted that he and 18th-annual tournament that 6.09-pound lunker that ended Morrison are feeling the pres- runs tomorrow through Satur- up as the biggest fish of the day. sure ahead of this year’s tour- day. Morrison and Gibbins also ney as being the two-time de- “It was quite thrilling,” Gib- nearly had the biggest catch on fending champs, but that they’ll bins, a Morson native, said about Day 2 but their 4.09-pounder do their best to rise above any winning back-to-back titles at was just .10 of a pound shy of challenges that pressure brings. the EWC with Baudette’s Mor- Bryan Bonot and Callum McCor- “There’s definitely pressure rison. mick’s catch. there all the time, but we’ll just “We were pretty pumped Heading into tomorrow, Gib- go out and fish like we normally that we did it two years in a bins noted that the pair’s pre- do,” he noted. row, we didn’t expect that,” he fishing plans this year will be As for what he and Morrison conceded. much the same as it has been in enjoy most about competing in It didn’t take long for the de- years past. the EWC, Gibbins said that they fending champs to let the rest “I think we’re gonna go out like the central location of the of the competition know they Saturday and fish the fish derby tourney. were going to be in for a tough in Stratton, they have the open- “I like the location. It’s a great weekend at last year’s tourney. er every year,” Gibbins told the area; it’s right smack dab in the Gibbins and Morrison wowed Times last week. middle of Rainy River way. You the crowd with a Day 1 total of “And that’s just kind of like a 2017 and 2018 Emo Walleye Champs! can fish east or west and basi- 11.63 pounds and never looked fun time. You go and fish that take the kids out fishing there likely implement the same one thing], we’ll just start scram- cally cover the whole river now,” back as they claimed the EWC and then we kind of get an and we’ll be pre-fishing at the they have used for their success bling around and do our usual he noted. title for the second-straight year. idea of what’s happening on same time. We’ll pre-fish some in past years. thing—get in panic mode and “It’s a perfect spot, you know. The duo took home the the river the week before [the local [fishing] holes in the area, “We always know where start running and gunning.” Perfect spot if you want to go $7,500 winners’ cheque after tourney] and then we’ll pre-fish see how they are and take a kid we’re gonna go, so we’ll just A new rule change to this east or west and like I said, it’s topping the 31-boat field with maybe a day or two before the fishing,” he added. pre-fish the area the day be- year’s tourney will see the west- smack dab right in the middle a two-day total of 19.53 pounds, tournament. “Take a kid who may have fore and hopefully if that’s go- end boundary for the tourna- of the river system. which was 8.31 pounds more “We’ll probably do that not ever been fishing before, ing good, we’ll just go check ment be the mouth of the river “That and I love going to the than the runner-up team of Dan kids’ derby [Kids Gone Fishing] hopefully put them on a fish or it out—and even if we don’t at Lake of the Woods to the Fort arena,” he enthused. and Josh Pollard (11.22). though this year,” he revealed. two.” catch anything—we’ll probably Frances dam. “That’s another good thing. I It also was the second- “We’re gonna participate in In terms of strategy for this still go to our area there and just This change will allow teams like the way they weigh our fish straight year the Pollards fin- that. Go out for a couple hours, year’s tourney, Gibbins noted scope it out,” he noted. to fish the entire Rainy River and it’s always a good time.” that he and Morrison would “And if there [isn’t any- Plenty in store for EWC this year Get your By Jamie Mountain “If anyone is willing to do- Staff writer nate just a few hours, we could Groove On [email protected] always find a spot for you!” “ ” The competition itself gets at the Emo La Vallee Arena There will be plenty of events started on Friday with the Day in store, and no shortage of fun, 1 boat launch at 8 a.m., with a Saturday, May 25th for all who plan to attend the second flight launching at 8:30. 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. 18th-annual Emo Walleye Clas- The Day 2 launches will go at sic this week. the same times, with weigh-ins With a talented local DJ The tourney officially kicks starting at 4:30 p.m. on Day 1 $10 admission at the door / Age of Majority off tomorrow with the “Kids and then at 4 on Day 2. Above, Team 21, Taylor Harbort and Trapper Bahr, Gone Fishing” event from 1:30- Events not on the water in- 3:30 p.m. clude a fish fry hosted by the headed out with their fl ight in last year’s tournament. The event is open to all stu- Emo Legion on Friday evening The pair fi nished in eighth place. dents in Grades 5-8, who will be from 5-7 p.m. paired up with anglers that are Cost is $18/plate for adults, Below, with coffees in hand, Team #24, Shirley McQuaker fishing in the tournament. $6 for kids aged 6-12, and free and Rylan McQuaker wait for their fl ight to leave. EMO DRUGS “We have approximately 10 for those five-and-under. Front Street, Emo Welcomes you kids fishing in the ‘Kids Gone The tournament champions’ 482-2430 to attend the Fishing’ this year, that’s what we trophy presentation will take were hoping for,” said EWC di- place at 6:30 p.m., with the Emo 18th Anniversary rector of marketing and night- Legion putting on a prime rib time entertainment Leeann Ga- dinner from 5-7 p.m. of the lusha. It will be served by Emo Le- May “Just seeing kids enjoying gion members and costs $25 a Emo Walleye Classic the outdoors is always a good person. rd thing. They get to spend time DJ Party Rock—talented lo- 23 with well known local fisher- cal DJ Melanie Williams—then men who may (or may not) tell will take the stage to close out th them their secret spots,” she the tourney beginning at 9 p.m. 24 chuckled. The concert is age of majority “It’s a good thing because and tickets can be purchased at maybe it’ll get them excited for the door for $10. & when they’re old enough to be Another popular attraction able to fish in this tournament throughout the tournament th Proud Gold Sponsor of themselves.” will be the penny table, featur- 25 The angler boat parade, ing many donations from area the 2019 Emo Walleye Classic.