Bass fishers win big at LOLTA bass tourney on Big Gull lake

Julie Druker | Aug 26, 2015

Now in its third year, the Land O'Lakes Tourist Association's (LOLTA) annual big and small mouth fishing tournament on August 15 continues to attract anglers looking to hook big bass for big bucks. It was one fish per fisher at this live release event that took place this year at three lakes in the Land O'Lakes tourist region, including Hay Bay near Napanee, Beaver Lake in Erinsville and Big Gull Lake in North Frontenac. Fishers at all three locations had a chance to win for the biggest three fish. Kirk Kove Cottages was the location of the weigh-in station on Big Gull Lake where over 20 boats and over 40 fishers took part on a hot and sunny day of fishing. Jason Lemke, facilities/recreation supervisor with the Township of North Frontenac, was one of four North Frontenac volunteers helping out at Kirk Kove and he said it was a busy day on the lake.

The big winners at Big Gull lake were Mark Kropf, who won with a 3.95 pound large mouth; Kevin Romanick took second place with a 3.9 pound large mouth; and Clarence won third with a 3.8 pound small mouth bass.

Also up for grabs was a $500 gift certificate from Canadian Tire that was won by Donald Swartz of Napanee and Bonnie McCaughtery won the fishing kayak that was donated by the Canadian Tire in Napanee. Other prizes included three $50 hidden weights that were also won at all three locations. Joanne Cuddy, tourism coordinator of LOLTA, organized the event with the help of Deanne Allen, and said she was pleased to announce that although the number of lakes this year was reduced to three instead of five due to a lack of volunteers, 160 participants took part. The goal of the event she said is to attract people to the region that spreads north to Denbigh, south to the Frontenac Islands, west to Tweed and east past Sharbot Lake. “Not only do anglers get a chance to fish a lake they may have never fished and have a chance to get familiar with it, but by picking new lakes every year, we are also bringing tourism dollars to different areas in the region.” This year's event attracted anglers from as far away as Waterloo, Renfrew, Ottawa, Toronto, New Jersey and from Belleville, Kingston, Napanee and the local area as well. For those who missed this year's tournament, have no fear. Next year it will happen at the same time but on three different area lakes. For more information visit www.travellandolakes.com