Fort team wins RRWT

Emmanuel Moutsatsos
Fort Frances Times

While millions watched the New England Patriots show why they are the best in the world at what they do this past Sunday afternoon with the upstart Pittsburgh Steelers coming close, but not close enough, to knocking the defending champs off their pedestal, Doug McBride and Steve Ballan were doing the same with several hundred paying witness at the Rainy River Walleye Tournament.
Trailing by 2.18 pounds after Saturday’s weigh-in to Norm Hyatt and Brian Bonot who had garnered 17.03 pounds, McBride and Ballan knew they would need a big day on Sunday to give themselves a chance at being crowned the Kings of the River, as the duo had won the Emo Walleye Tournament earlier in the fishing tournament season, but things looked hazy on Sunday morning – literally.
An abrupt weather change overnight caused a severe fog to roll onto Rainy River that caused an hour and a half delay that left many restless and others content.
“We had mixed feeling about the fog,” said Hyatt. “We thought the longer people don’t get to fish the better it is for us, which is not the way to look at it.”
The fog was so bad that “you couldn’t see 10 feet in front of the boat,” said Ballan, but when he and McBride were finally able to hit the gas and get to their spot they quickly snared three fish, and though it took a while more to get that fourth – about 1:30 they recollect with the cut-off time being 2:45 – and although their 9.98 bag was a little over five pounds less than Saturday’s 15.12 catch it was still good enough to give them the win and a cheque for $15,000.
“It’s incredible,” said a beaming Ballan. “Just incredible, and I can’t believe it.”
But even before the top-five boats were pulled through the tent it seemed the tournament had already been decided.
“We knew that we didn’t have enough,” said Bonot, who ended up finishing third with Hyatt – they amassed 23.52 pounds with a disappointing 5.06 bag on Sunday - after the duo of Rainy River local, Chris Stone, and Shannon Jonasson of Sleeman, shot up through the rankings after collecting a pound bag on Sunday after coming in with 23.52 pounds after two days to give them 2nd place and $6,500.
“McBride and Ballan are really good fishermen and we knew that if we wanted to beat them that we had to get some big fish,” said Hyatt, who was competing in his second Rainy River tourney with Bonot – they placed 22nd last year.
And though they knew they didn’t have enough weight to get the big cheque the duo, who have grey on their beards, were more excited than a couple of teenagers about to go to their first home party, about being pulled through the tent.
“That’s what we wanted to do – we wanted to get pulled through the tent,” said Bonot.
Added Hyatt: “It was a great experience, and it was more than I could imagine.”
The expressions on Ballan and McBride’s faces when they weighed in their bag - before Hyatt and Bonot had weighed in – was priceless, but they were quick to thank someone that made it possible for them to claim the Kings of the River title.
You see, McBride’s original partner was his son, Zach, and they had put their names in for the tournament back in January, but when Ballan and McBride won the Emo tourney it changed things. In order to claim the Kings of the River crown the same team must have competed in the Emo and Rainy River tourneys, and when Zach got a call from his dad last Monday the son obliged to the request.
“Dad called me up and asked me if I could give it up and I said sure,” said Zach, who had an inkling his dad and Ballan would do well.
“I saw them sitting at the dock and I was going to go and talk to them, but I didn’t want to know, so I decided to wait it out and it worked out in the end,” he added.
Added Ballan: “I’m very appreciative of what he did, and I’m very thankful to him.”
McBride and Ballan won the Kings of the River by a jaw-dropping 28.29 pounds over – who else? – Hyatt and Bonot, who got a disappointing 0.54 pounds at Emo, and celebrated in different ways in the end.
“I’ve got to got to work tomorrow morning, and I didn’t sleep at all last night, because I was just so pumped, so I’m heading for bed,” said Ballan, who resembled Grizzly Adams with his untrimmed beard.
“We’re going to have a big meal with the family,” said McBride, “and take of the VISA bill tomorrow.”
Kid's tourney
Thirty-five were entered, but when it was all said and done, Tyler Thunder won the kid's fishing tournament and winner of the biggest fish award with a 26.5-inch Northern Pike.
Carson Noga was recognized as the most promising angler after brining in a 15.6-inch walleye and was the leader of the tournament up until the last 15 minutes, while Kevin Zhang won third place with a 15.2-inch walleye.
Jayleen Anderson was the other most promising angler after catching a 10.5-inch walleye, and Joel Ottertail won the longest cast competition.