By Luigi De Rose
Kingston ON- The 2026 American Baitworks Thousand Islands Open, the premier open bass tournament event in Canada, didn't disappoint this past weekend. This three day event on the legendary waters of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River is an open field of the country's top teams. The winner's purse of $20,000 CDN with an the extra bonus of a grand prize draw for a fully-rigged Bass Cat & Mercury boat package with at value of $83,000 CDN!
Each of the 97 2-person teams fought to catch their largest 4-bass limit each day. None could best the young gun team of Ryan Clark and Christian Clancy who topped the field with 67.27 lbs. for 12 bass besting 2nd place team of Loudon and Fox who netted 65.01lbs. Loudon and Fox also won big fish with a 7.01lb behemoth smallmouth. The team of Vandermeer and Lacey secured 3rd with a total of 64.89lbs.
Ryan Clark and Christian Clancy were blessed twice as they held the lucky number in the Bass Cat Bass Boat draw prize which vaulted them to a truly winning weekend.
