IBASSIN exclusive interview with Simon and Melanie Frost on
their Bass Pro Shop Lake Simcoe Open Victory
By Luigi De Rose
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| Simon and Melanie Frost proudly display their winning catch. (Photos: Yvonne Brown) |
The Bass Pro Shop Lake Simcoe Open can be considered this
country’s premier one-day bass tournament. Lake Simcoe, an hour north of
Toronto, Ontario, Canada is arguably the best smallmouth bass fishery in the
world. This lake is ground zero for Canadian bass fishing history. Host to
countless tournaments, Lake Simcoe holds the Canadian bass tournament limit record
with just over 31 pounds for 5 bass and the heaviest tournament bass ever caught. Coincidentally
that 8.05lb smallmouth and the heaviest creel occurred on the same day but by
two different fishing teams.
IBASSIN had the honour to chat with Simon Frost, one part of
his husband and wife dynamic duo, about their victory.
IBASSIN
Congratulations on the win!
Simon
Thanks!
IBASSIN
So, what are you going to do with all that money?
Simon
Melanie says we have to fix the roof.
IBASSIN
What!? That must be one expensive roof. How much did you win?
Simon
The grad prize was $13 000 plus another $2000 for the Minn
Kota and Humminbird contingency prizes. Yeah, it is a nice pay cheque.
IBASSIN
Explain to the readers the fishing conditions on Saturday,
October 19, 2013.
Simon
It was terrible. It was wet, windy and cold. During that day
it really cooled off and we were cold. The strong wind came from the southwest
and created 2 – 3 foot waves at take off. But on the way back, there were 5-
6-foot waves. It took us an hour and a half to get back to the ramp.
The Bass Pro Shop Lake Simcoe Open actually occurs on two
lakes, Lake Simcoe and its neighbour Lake Couchiching. The tournament
weigh in and ramp is in the town of Orillia on the shores of Lake Couchiching. Typically,
anglers journey into Lake Simcoe to find the larger smallmouth bass.
IBASSIN
How were the fishing conditions?
Simon
The fishing conditions were not great and different than in past
years. Lake Simcoe hadn’t turned over yet and that mixed up the bass.
Typically, the water temp for this event is around 52 to 53 F but we found the
water temp about 60F from top to bottom. What this does is spread the fish out.
The bass seemed to still be in late summer patterns instead of fall ones. You
need to have the colder water temps to get the big weights.
IBASSIN
Not trying to diminish your achievement but your 22.85 lbs
winning weight is very low compared to past Opens.
Simon
Yeah, we were shocked how poor the weights were when we
arrived back at the ramp. We were hoping for a top 10 finish. Our best weight at the Open was
27lbs and that got us 9th place that year. Having 22lbs and winning
was shocking.
It’s a bit of a funny story. We were one of the first to
arrive at the ramp. The tournament organizers ask all teams who think they have
over 20lbs to wait and do a drive by weigh-in. So we put the boat on the
trailer and waited. Team after team walked passed us to the stage. Finally, two
other teams met up with us and waited. We got to talking and Derek Strub
suggested we go last because we might have the largest bag of bass. So we
waited even more. We ended up being the last boat.
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| Giving the crowd something to cheer! |
IBASSIN
How did that winning moment feel?
Simon
It was unreal. Total shock at first and then we were just
amazed that we won.
Come back for part 2 with
IBASSIN and Simon Frost as he explains their technique and strategy to figuring
out the smallmouth.
