Friday, September 13, 2013

2013 CSFL Classic Pre-Tournament Report: Pete Garnier

By Luigi De Rose


Pete Garnier
Pete was all smiles after his Classic win!
(Photo: Pete Garnier)
Pete Garnier, Lindsay Ontario, is one half of the current CSFL Classic Champs. Rob Lafleur and Pete will defend their title on Lake Simcoe/ Lake Couchiching this year. Rob and Pete are better known for froggin’ or pitching jigs but smallmouth got them their first Classic crown.

IBASSIN:
Pete, feeling any additional pressures this year being last year’s champ?

Garnier:
Not at all. I am still just fishing against the fish. I am fishing like any other Classic.

IBASSIN:
So how has been the practice?

Garnier:
Simcoe is super stingy right now. The weather was consistent enough the last few days that the bass should have been biting. But, they were not at all. Tomorrow (the first day of the tournament) will be important. Will the 5C morning temperature kill the shallow bite? That will be the big question. There are a lot of single bass out there. No real wolf packs of 3lb or 4lb bass out there.

IBASSIN:
Deep or Shallow? Simcoe is always known for a strong deep bite.

Garnier:
The food is shallow but the water temp is falling. I think that is keeping the bass deep. In my experience during practice, the deep fish haven’t started schooling up and setting up on structure like they do later on in the fall. So far, the 10 to 12 foot range has been best.

Pete runs a Fishbum wrapped Skeeter boat. 
IBASSIN:
Top 3 lures?

Garnier:
In the wind, it will be spinnerbaits or jerkbaits. Finesse will be more for bass holding on structure.


IBASSIN:
Winning weight?

Garnier:
It could be 60lbs to 70lbs. If the cold front doesn’t wipe the whole tournament out, then I think 71lbs will win. It is really based on tomorrow (Friday) morning.  

IBASSIN:
What happens if the tournament is restricted to only Lake Couchiching?

Garnier:
We will target smallmouth. It is much easier to find a 6lb smallmouth on Couchiching than a big largemouth. We will fish for largemouth to fill out a limit. The strange thing is that the water is down about 20” right now. A lot of the shallow largemouth stuff will be very shallow.

IBASSIN:
Good luck Pete. If you win again will we get another exclusive interview?

Garnier:
No problem. 

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