Gibbins/Halliday win 11th Morson Bass Classic

Ken Johnston

The 11th annual Morson Bass tourney finished in classic form with the top teams from day 1 jockeying for the top spot on day 2.
The 2004 Morson Bass Classic Champs are John Gibbins, of Morson, and Rod Halliday, of Fort Frances. They lead after day 1 by less than a third of a pound over Dan and Almer Godin,both of Rainy River, with 15.59lbs. and 15.30 lbs. respectively. Close on their heels in third was Al Wolanicki and Doug Jorgenson both of Rainy River with 14.71lbs.
Rounding out the top five on day 1 was Terry McClymont and Steve Ellie of Winnipeg with 12.49lbs. and Chris Savage and Favreau with 12.34lbs.
All of the top three teams had good second days, but not as good as day 1. Dan and Almer Godin weighed in an even 11lbs. for a total of 26.30 and $2,400 in prize money. Gibbins and Halliday brought in just a little more weight with 13.87lbs. for a total of 29.46lbs. to win the tournament and $4,000 in prize money. Wolanicki and Jorgenson weighed in 11.05lbs. for a total of 25.76lbs. and $1,200 in prize money.
John Gibbins said, “We made a lot of mistakes today, losing a lot, and I mean a lot of fish. We are lucky to be where we are.”
McClymont and Ellie dropped to sixth spot with a total of 24.63lbs. and won $300 in prize money.
Savage and Favreau had a disappointing second day and dropped all the way to 15th spot and out of the prize money.
Moving up from sixth to fourth was Oliver and Jason Gibbins with 25.32lbs. to win $600 in prize money.
Grant Swire and Dave Woodgate of Fort Frances also moved up to finish fifth with 25.32lbs. and win $400 in prize money.
Rounding out the top ten was Clarence Gibbins Jr. and Sr. (7th), Reuben and Al Gibbins (8th), Fred Green and Susan Adams (9th) and Pat Gibbins and Carl Big George, Jr. (10th). They received $300, $250, $225 and $200 respectively.
Winning $500 for:
•The largest small mouth for day one was Bill Arnould and Tim Gosnell (3.82lbs.).
•The largest large mouth for day one was Jules Gibbins and Brian Paulson (3.75lbs.).
•The largest small mouth on day two was caught by Reuben and Al Gibbins (3.98lbs.).
•The largest large mouth on day two was caught by Terry McClymont and Steve Ellie (3.36lbs.).
The hidden weight for the tournament was14.07lbs. Dave Byrnes and Andrea Turgeon won a depth finder with 15.07lbs.
The largest cormorant was won by Lonnie Wise and Kevin Yerxa who managed to hook one while fishing for bass. They won a music CD each.
While the number of anglers was down to 44 this year from 55 last year event organizers Rick and Rob Gate said it was huge success. 286 bass were caught and released and everyone had a great time.