Longlac, Ont. hosts new walleye fishing tournament next summer

Spring and summer are two of the busiest seasons fortournament anglers, especially here in northwestern Ontario. With a event taking place every weekend starting fromMay right through to the fall,fishers must plan out their schedules in the winter months to ensure they don't miss out on some world class tournaments.

This year for the last weekend in July, fishing fanatics can add another tournament to the already long list.

Situated on a big, under-fished body of water called Long Lake, residents in Longlac, Ont. will be hosting their first ever Longlac Walleye Masters.

"In the past there has been a few organizations that have put some on, [but] nothing tothis scale," organizer Alan Ouelletexplained, "Longlachas been known for a long time for successful fishing in the area."

The two-day, two-angler live release walleye tournament will take place on July, 27 to the 29on the "main part of Long Lake, which will give [anglers] about 52-miles of water," Ouelletdescribed.

He said a maximumof 125 boats will be allowedto enter the tournament at a fee of $325 per boat, and the top 10 fishers with the biggest and heaviest walleye will be able to take home a cash prize of up to $10,000.

Although this is the first professional scale tournament in Longlac, Ouelletsaid the goal is to "emulate the GeraldtonWalleye Classic," which is why a five-member organizing committee have already started the preparations for the tournament.

"It's going to take a large number of volunteers...[and] we are starting a year in advance, to make surewe have all our I's dotted and ourT'scrossed," Ouelletsaid.

Anyone interested in registering or learning more about the tournament can do so through the Longlac Walleye Masters website.

"We're very excited about the event and we are hoping it will bring a big draw to the area," Ouellet expressed, and "being locals, we know what the lake has to offer, it's just a matter of having anglers with the experience to bring that forward."