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Jay Samsal, Scott Dingwall, Troy Norman and Jeff Gustafson celebrate Samsal and Norman’s victory at the FFCBC this past weekend. They finished in the top spot with a total weight of 62.10 pounds to win the grand prize of $10,000 and full bragging rights. For more photos and tournament wrap-up, see Wednesday’s edition of the Fort Frances Times. Gustafson and Dingwall placed 14th, with a weight of 51.56 pounds. - Photo submitted by Jeff Gustafson

Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship may make comeback in 2021

There are tentative plans in the making to bring back a modifi ed version of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
The event would be held on July 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2021, at the Sorting Gap Marina.

This would be a fishing event only without entertainment or the big tent, and with Covid protocols dictating any spectator involvement.
The angler entry fee will be $500 per team with 100% payback.
Weigh ins would be conducted with one angler approaching the weigh station located in a smaller tent near the docks.

Fishing the FFCBC never gets tiresome for Godin

By Jamie Mountain
Staff writer, Fort Frances Times Ltd.
jmountain@fortfrances.com

You would think that after a quarter of a century of fishing the same tournament each year, it would get old.
But that’s not the case for Devlin’s Bill Godin who will once again be teaming up with Dave Lindsay as they try to conquer the waters of Rainy Lake and claim the title at the 25th-annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

2018 Championship Wrap

Congratulations to Bryan Gustafson and Brian McNanney 2018 winners with a total weight of 51.37 lbx.

courtesy Fort Frances Times

A pair of faces were all smiles Saturday afternoon at the 24th-annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Bryan Gustafson and Brian McNanney produced a three-day haul of 51.57 pounds to claim their first-ever FFCBC title in front of a joyous crowd under the big tent at the Sorting Gap Marina.

Gustafson, a former local resident who now lives in Kenora, and McNanney of Sioux Narrows jumped from seventh place on Day 2 to first with an 18.5-pound bag on the final day to dethrone back-to-back defending champs Troy Norman and Jay Samsal.

Norman, Samsal rule FFCBC again

There was a pivotal moment in their attempted title defence that changed everything for Troy Norman and Jay Samsal.

“The biggest challenge we had came [Friday] at 10 a.m.,” recounted Norman, who lives in Fort Frances.

“We had some poor misfortune not landing fish and lost three kings that five years ago [would] have ruined our day,” he noted.

“But we stayed focused and kept our nose to the grindstone, and carried on.”

FFCBC earlier in 2017

By Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times Ltd.

The change of the calendar will bring a slight change to the scheduling of next year’s Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
The 23rd edition of the annual angler extravaganza will be held from July 20-22, 2017.
While that differs by just one day from this year’s event, the switch is in regards to the tournament traditionally being held one week before the long weekend that usually kicks off August.

Fort-Kenora duo wins first FFCBC

By Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times Ltd.

Troy Norman and Jay Samsal came across the biggest threats to their lead, did a 180-degree turn, and pointed their bow elsewhere.
It wasn’t a sign of fear but respect. And by the end of the day Saturday, their integrity—along with fantastic fishing skills—were rewarded handsomely.

Godin, Lindsay grab Day 1 lead

Courtesy Fort Frances Times

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em—even if it’s 11 years after the fact.
Devlin’s Bill Godin and Dave Lindsay of Kenora are the team to catch after Day 1 of the 2016 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship after hauling in 17.36 pounds.
It was the lowest Day 1 leading total at the FFCBC since Lindsay and his brother, Norm, brought in 14.62 pounds during the tourney’s inaugural year in 1995.
Lindsay, who won the tournament twice with his sibling in 1995 and 1997, also paired up with his father, Lee, for his most recent title in 2005.

Attention Anglers

WANTED: Anglers and boats for the Shops on Scott Boat Show & Shine. The event will be taking place on Wednesday, 30 July on Scott Street. There are three prizes of $500.00 each for the boats who win in each catogorie. Voting is determined by the public. There will also be giveaways by our co-sponsor FXR Sporting Wear. Please join us and show Fort Frances you encourage their support!! Show and Shine runs from 12:00 noon to 4 pm.

Attention Anglers

WANTED: Pro Anglers for the ProAm Tournament on 17 July, 2016 We are looking for boats that would be willing and able to take an amateur fishing for our morning tournament. It is a one fish tournament with the largest bass winning. It runs from 8 am to 1 pm. on Sunday 17 July 2016. A bag breakfast will be provided as well as hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch. If you can join us, please email Shelley at swepruk@gmail.com

Siblings net first FFCBC title

By Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times Ltd.

Steve and Scott Sandberg lived by a basic philosophy all week—keep moving and the rest can’t catch you.
The Minnesota-based brothers (from Brooklyn Park and Ham Lake, respectively) netted a bounty of bass as they zipped around Rainy Lake for three days that translated into their first victory at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
The Sandbergs took over the lead after Day 2 on Friday, then finished off the rest of the 92-team field with a Saturday haul of 16.24 pounds.

Brother duo capture FFCBC title

By Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times Ltd.

From being a last-minute addition to the field that finished in 58th place on their first try to reaching the pinnacle, Steve and Scott Sandberg have travelled a long river together.
“We really dedicate this win to each other,” said Steve Sandberg, a Brooklyn Park, Mn. resident about his Ham Lake, Mn.-based brother, whom he joined forces with to win the $20,000 first prize at the 21st-annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship on Saturday at the Sorting Gap Marina.

Bass tourney to hold Pro-Am kick-off

Wednesday, 8 July 2015
By Joey Payeur, Fort Frances Times Ltd.

It’s the return of “KidPro”—except this time, it’s for “kids” from age 10-92 or even older, too.
The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will kick off a week of activities with the Safeway Pro-Am fishing tournament on Sunday, July 19.
Last year saw the annual “KidPro” tournament, which paired FFCBC anglers with youth in a one-day event, fall by the wayside.

So close—yet so far

By Joey Payeur
Staff writer, Fort Frances Times Ltd.
jpayeur@fortfrances.com

Bryan Gustafson can’t say he wasn’t warned.
Fellow angler Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson of Kenora (no relation) told the Fort Frances native he would be seeking revenge after Bryan beat Jeff by the narrowest of margins at a bass fishing tournament on Lake of the Woods back in 2012.

FFCBC Champs

John Peterson of Bemdiji, left, and Jeff Gustafson of Kenora proved too tough to beat once again as they successfully defended their title at the 20th-annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship on Saturday with a winning total of 57.18 pounds.

—Joey Payeur photo

Duo repeats as FFCBC champs

By Joey Payeur
Staff writer, Fort Frances Times Ltd.
jpayeur@fortfrances.com

It became clear Saturday that the name Gustafson was guaranteed to be on the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship trophy once again.
What wasn’t certain until the last moment was which Gustafson it was going to be.
In the end, defending champion Jeff Gustafson of Kenora and partner John Peterson of Bemidji, Mn. barely held off Fort Frances’ Bryan Gustafson and teammate Brandon McMillan, from Clewiston, Fla., to retain the title.

‘Gussy,’ Peterson grab Day 1 lead

On a day when anglers had to deal with every type of summer weather imaginable, the team of Jeff Gustafson and John Peterson was able to handle Rainy Lake the best yesterday.
With a five-fish bag that came in at 19.17 pounds, the duo found themselves in first place after Day 1 of the 2013 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

Bass tourney to return to waterfront

By Lucas Punkari - Fort Frances Times Ltd.

Thanks to feedback from anglers and the public, there will be two major changes when the 2013 edition of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championships hits the water July 25-27.
For starters, the 19th-annual event will return to the big tent at the Sorting Gap Marina for the daily weigh-ins and nightly entertainment following a three-year stint at the Memorial Sports Centre.
“We’re going back to the original roots of the tournament with a smaller venue at the waterfront,” FFCBC chairman Gord Watson noted.