Izumi brings major fishing event to region
October 13, 2019
Fishing legend Bob Izumi
Cornwall and SDG Counties will be in the world fishing spotlight this week as the community plays host to the 2019 Cornwall SDG Counties Pan Am Bass Championship.
The international competition will feature some of fishing’s biggest names including Canadian fishing legend Bob Izumi, who will handle dual roles – competitor and host.
It was Izumi who immediately turned to Cornwall and SDG Counties when asked to organize the event in Canada.
“Lake St. Francis is a world-class fishery for a number of species of fish,” said Izumi, who has captained Team Canada in previous Pan Am tournaments in other countries.
“The numbers of big smallmouth and largemouth bass and the amenities Cornwall and SDG Counties have to offer make this the perfect venue for the Pan Am Bass Championship.”
The tournament will see over 30 teams of anglers (in teams of two) from Canada, the United States, Mexico, First Nations, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica casting out on local waters in search of big bass.
Based out of Marina 200 on Cornwall’s waterfront, the event will officially kick off with a day of practice fishing on Wednesday, October 16th, followed by two days of competition on Thursday, October 17th and Friday, October 18th.
The economic impact extends well beyond the event, with many of the participants arriving several days early in order to get some time on the water and familiarize themselves with the river. A number of journalists from major outdoor adventure publications will also be in attendance to cover the event. And there’s also the exposure from the anglers themselves, many of whom have significant followings on social media and YouTube.
This will be the first-ever Pan Am Bass Championship to be held on Canadian water and land, and it will be the starting point for the Canadian International Sportfishing Association.
A qualifier tournament was held in Cornwall in late August to determine the teams who will represent Canada in the international event.
The event is sponsored by Cornwall Tourism and SDG Counties in conjunction with the Partnership Fund of Regional Tourism Organization 9, an initiative to build and introduce new tourism products and experiences in eastern Ontario. The Pan American Bass Championship is also being supported by the new Cornwall Tourism Development Fund. For more information on the Cornwall Tourism Development Fund, please click here.
Fish on!
Fishing in the Cornwall area is truly an angler’s paradise. The day’s catch can include everything from bass and muskie to walleye and carp, along with many other species. That, together with the city’s inviting waterfront and easy-to-use boat launches, makes Cornwall an attractive place for recreational boaters and tournament anglers alike. It’s all of these factors and more that prompted Expedia.ca to recently name Cornwall one of the best places to fish in Canada!
Related: Cornwall named one of best places to fish in Canada
Additional Events
Looking for other fun things to do in Cornwall? Make sure to check out our Events page for info on upcoming events in the area!
Additional Information
Planning a visit to Cornwall? Cornwall Tourism can help. Email us at info@cornwalltourism.com to request a copy of our Visitor Guide or contact us at (613) 933-0074. You can also stop by the Cornwall Tourism office at the Cornwall Civic Complex (100 Water Street). The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm – we would be happy to answer your questions and provide you with recommendations and information to make your visit to Cornwall even more memorable!
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Article and photo by Kevin Lajoie
www.CornwallTourism.com