Records set, new champs crowned

Ken Johnston

Better late than never! Words that Oliver and Jason Gibbins, of Morson, will likely live by forever.
The Gibbins missed their flight on day 1 of the Rainy River Walleye Tournament (RRWT). The did not leave the docks until nearly 10 a.m., about two hours after they were supposed to. About thirty minutes later they were on their way back to the dock with a trophy fish.
They broke the tournament big fish record of 8.18lbs. set last year by Robert Matthew. Using crank baits about 3 miles down stream from the town of Rainy River, Jason caught a 9.56 pound monster. “It was a real shocker to catch that big fish right away,” said Jason. Worried that it would not survive the day in the live well they brought it back to the tent to be weighed in. That put them in a lead with one fish that most of the other 80 teams did not top with four fish that day.
At the end of the day they added three more fish weighing 4.92lbs. for a day 1 total of 14.48lbs. and the lead.
The next closest team was Fred Foulger and Dickie Byrnes with 10.40lbs. Rounding out the top five on day one was Mike Vacura/Marnie Korpi (9.69lbs.), Ted & Leo Heyens (9.38lbs.) and Bruce Goodfellow/Dan Armstrong, Jr., (9.26lbs.).
On Day 2, the day started with Doug Moen and Colin Wood bringing in another gigantic walleye. They nailed a 10.70 pound fish to break the tournament record set the day before by the Gibbins duo. That put them at the top of the pack with 15.74lbs for almost the entire day and when they added three more nice fish they seemed like they were going to win the tournament, something they nearly did a few years ago, losing first place by only four ounces then.
Sitting at 20.70lbs. Moen and Wood stood on the stage right up until the third last boat, Vacura and Korpi, weighed in. That duo, who won the tournament two years ago, added an impressive 12.68lbs. on day 2 to take over the top spot with 22.37lbs.
With only Foulger/Byrnes and the Gibbins to weigh in they were feeling pretty good about being the first repeat champions.
Foulger and Byrnes made them feel even more confident when they only weighed in only 2.70lbs. on day 2, a weight that dropped them from 2nd on day 1 to 19th on day 2.
When the day 1 leaders came into the tent and showed their fish to the audience, it was a nail biter. The Gibbins needed 7.90lbs. to dethrone Vacura/Korpi. When they showed their last fish to the audience the place went wild, knowing that there was going to be a new champion. Their four fish on day 2 weighed 10.56lbs. for a championship weight of 25.04lbs. A weight that earned them $15,000 in cash. They also won the $500 prize for biggest fish on day 1.
Oliver said that the key to getting the big fish was trolling and using crank-baits. “We used wally divers, reef runners and a lucky one that we don’t even know what (brand) it is.” As for colour Oliver and Jason said, “We are keeping that a secret so we can do well next year.”
The pair said that they spent most of their time fishing about three miles downstream from town. “We caught about 15-20 fish per day,” said Oliver. Each of them gave the other credit. “Yesterday it was me, today it was Oliver,” said Jason on Sunday.
The pair, who are no strangers to tournament action, have won the Kenora Bass tournament and placed 2nd in it as well. They have also finished 2nd at the Morson Bass Classic three times. So with all this bass experience one wonders what they were doing at the top of the heap in a walleye tournament.
The answer is simple. Both have fished since they were very young and now both are professional fishing guides on Lake of the Woods. They have experience fishing all species of sport fish in the area and applied it to the tournament here.
Oliver won the Emo Walleye Tournament last year with a different partner.
So what are their plans for the $15,500 they won? “I am going to payoff the new motor I put on my boat,” said Oliver. Jason said, “I just might help him do that.”
The prize payout was as follows:
1st: Oliver and Jason Gibbins $15,000
2nd: Mike Vacura and Marnie Korpi $6,500
3rd: Colin Wood and Doug Moen $3,000
4th: Doug Jorgenson and Allan Wolanicki $2,500
5th: Bruce Goodfellow and Dan Armstrong, Jr. $1,900
6th: Tom Briggs and Rob Dorry $1,200
7th: Ken Vogan and Robert Matthew $1,100
8th: Vic Alberts and Lloyd Sinclair $1,000
9th: Kevin Marchuk and Thatcher Haggberg $900
10th: John and Ethan Swentik $800
11th: Gary Noga and Scott Aikenhead $700
12th: Ed Carlson and Ron Skyberg $600
13th: Eugene Heyens and Ken Kreger $500
14th: Rick Amundsen and Jamie Gowdy $300
15th: James Hartnell and Leslie Morrison $200
Big Fish day 1: Oliver and Jason Gibbins $500
Big Fish day 2: Doug Moen and Colin Wood $500
Hidden Wt. day 1: Doug Moen and Colin Wood $300
Hidden Wt. day 2: Pete and Sandra Hapka $300
River Champions: Frank McWhinnie and Frank Grunewald $1,200