2022 OKBT Events!

The Ontario Kayak Bass Trail is a competitive tournament bass series for the kayak anglers in Ontario. It is run by anglers for anglers to provide an opportunity for kayak anglers to participate in top level tournaments yet still be able to enjoy the day with other like-minded anglers.

The OKBT was conceived in 2017 when it was decided it was time for Ontario to have a competitive kayak bass series. While there are many tournament organizations and series available to the kayak angling community in the USA, the opportunity for a competitive kayak bass series did not exist in Ontario and many of the local Ontario anglers were heading south to compete. After participating in numerous events in the USA, we saw what worked and what did not work, what the anglers liked and what they did not like. From these events we took the best practices and procedures and used these to develop the framework of the OKBT.

In 2018 the series consisted of three events on Balsam Lake, the Otonabee River and Lake St Clair. Almost immediately the response was positive with anglers joining the series page and inquiring about the events. All three events were very well attended with an average of 36 anglers at each event. The first year was a season of determining how the series would be accepted and by all the feedback, a bass only kayak series was needed and wanted in Ontario. 2019 saw the OKBT grow to 4 events, add an Angler of the Year award, and grow to average 44 anglers per event. 2019 also saw the addition of online Monthly Challenges to the OKBT schedule. In 2020 the OKBT held 4 events again with participation growing to an average of 64 anglers per event despite the turbulent times we faced. As the new season is upon us, the OKBT sees even more growth ahead. With 5 events planned for the 2021 season and 4 online challenges it is going to be a busy season.

Link here for more

Kristine Fischer Wins Hobie Bass Open Series Tournament of Champions

Abu Garcia and Fenwick Pro, Kristine Fischer, takes the crown and $35,000 on Lake Eufala, Alabama for the Hobie BOS Tournament of Champions.

The 2021 Hobie Bass Open Series Tournament of Champions, a kayak bass fishing championship event, was held on Lake Eufala, Alabama from Friday, November 12^th to Sunday, November 14^th. Only the Top 50 anglers in Hobie BOS Angler of the Year standings qualify for this three-day championship style event and the angler with the five longest bass (in inches) on each day will take home the crown and a grand prize of $35,000.
 
Going into day one of the event, Fenwick and Abu Garcia Pro Kristine Fischer mentioned “I had never fished Eufala but the research I did leading up to the event led me to believe the fishing was going to be tough. It was a three-day event, so I wanted to avoid areas that only held resident fish and concentrate more on areas that would reload over the course of the event. I knew Eufala had a reputation of having a great offshore bite, specifically live scoping brush piles, and I knew that would likely play in this event. However, my strengths consist of power fishing shallow, so I was determined to find an area where I could fish my strengths, and not worry about the “dock talk” regarding people catching them good out deep. I covered and eliminated a lot of water and had a tough practice. I was able to get a few bites in practice fishing main lake bank grass, and bank grass around the mouths of the pockets. I knew we had a cold front coming in day two, and a freeze warning for Sunday, so I looked at the east side of the lake knowing the northwest wind would blow in that warmer main lake water. 
 
Fischer grabbed her Fenwick rods, Abu Garcia reels, committed to her pattern on day one and put up 77.00” for her best five fish, putting her in 11^th place going into day two.
 
On day two, Fischer continued her pattern of throwing a Berkley Cane Walker in the mornings, punching bank grass once the sun was overhead and committed to fishing new water. Her second day total was 80.50” for her five longest fish, bringing her total to 157.50” and sitting in 3^rd place going into the third and final day of competition.
 
Going into the last of competition, Fischer mentioned, “I was fishing new water every single day so I wouldn’t lean too hard on the few stretches of bank grass that seemed to hold fish. Isolated clumps and any subtle point in the grass were key for me. I was lucky enough to have a large area all to myself for the final day.”

Pelican International Expands Kayak Production

Kayak Company Making Waves

Originally posted in Angling International

Canadian manufacturer Pelican International is opening a second production facility to keep pace with the growing demand for its plastic kayaks.

Capacity at the company’s current plant in Laval, Quebec has reached maximum and the business has had to contract out some of its work.

Marketing Director Vincent Bedard pointed to recreational fishermen as one group turning to thermoplastic kayaks. Pelican became the official sponsor of the 2016 Kayak Bass Series in January.

The new site, in Salaberry, south Quebec, will reportedly cost tens of millions and the factory will occupy 145,000 square feet of an old weaving mill, to which a further 160,000 square feet will be added.

Pelican exports to more than 50 countries and claims to be the largest plastic boat maker in the world. It specialises in thermoforming, a much faster process than rotational moulding, and has produced well over two million boats.

The company employs around 450 people at seasonal peaks at Laval and anticipates hiring 200 at Salaberry in the next few years. Pelican was founded in 1968 and has been owned by brothers Antoine and Christian Elie since the 1980s.

ICAST 2015 Pre-view: Mustang Survival's New Products for All Boaters

New for Spring 2016

 

• Elite 38 - Built for offshore conditions, the Elite 38 blends light weight with durability and our highest buoyancy rating for commercial inflatable PFDs at 38 lbs. The lightweight body armour industry outer shell is reinforced with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) abrasion patches in hard wearing areas. The bright fluorescent yellow/green inflation cell greatly improves in-water visibility and includes a strobe light holder and safety whistle.
• Elite 28K - Designed with paddling in mind, the Elite 28K brings together motion and adaptability with a MOLLE attachment system commonly used in military applications. A separate MOLLE compatible pocket is available and, along with the lash tab and attachment points, allows for secure stowage and retrieval of essential tools and gear. The slim 3D chassis helps to reduce interference, and the integrated back panel has been designed to fit kayak seats.
• Traction Gloves - Engineered for fishing and a first for Mustang Survival, the Traction Glove provides a 30-50% grip improvement over bare hands. There are two models available: a fingerless glove when dexterity is a must; and a full-finger glove for cold and wet conditions with touchscreen-friendly conductive fingertips.
• Accessories - Completing the range for the avid angler is the choice of a Flat Brim Flexfit^® hat in black or a classic Ball Cap with Velcro^® closure in red.

 

ICAST 2013: New Power-Pole Micro Anchor

By Luigi De Rose

If  you always wanted to use a shallow water anchor but didn't want to give up your smaller boat, the new Micro Anchor from Power Pole is for you. It has been designed for the smaller aluminum, kayak, duck or skiff style water crafts.