2017 Top 12 Competitive Angler Rankings for Central Canada – Winter Issue 2017

2017 Top 12 Competitive Angler Rankings for Central Canada

by Eric Labaupa

As published in Winter 2017 Hooked Magazine

We look back on the past year of competitive angling to highlight a handful of impressive season performances. The second year of this annual list compiled by Kickerfish is based on tournament performances during the 2017 season within the region and beyond. This Top 12 and Honourable Mentions list are comprised of anglers who hail from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Ontario.

These talented sticks are only some who cashed multiple cheques and dominated local leaderboards. Four anglers from the 2016 rankings made the list again this year. Factors considered were strength of competition, size of event field, number of top finishes, tournament wins, and competing in multiple species.

1. Jeff Gustafson (ON)

‘Gussy’ had a relatively subpar season competing at the highest level of the sport this past year. His best finishes on the FLW Tour were 13^th at Lake Travis and 22^nd at Lake Guntersville. When you consider that he is competing against the best bass anglers on the planet, the fact that he cashed cheques in the major leagues is still an incredibly impressive feat. A less than stellar pro tour turned out to be bad news for anglers on the local circuit. He came home and proceeded to cash top 5 cheques at six events and recorded a 1^st place win at the International Falls Bass Championship and 1^st at the Shoal Lake Last Chance Bass Tournament. 5^thplace at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, 4^thplace at Kenora Bass International, and 3^rd place at the Sioux Narrows Bassin’ for Bucks were all solid showings at the three sunset country major events. A 2^nd place finish at the Shoal Lake Bass Classic and 3^rd at Crow Lake rounded out his spectacular bass season in Northwest Ontario. Gustafson even competed on the walleye side recording a more than respectable 24^th place finish at the toughly contested Kenora Walleye Open. His second year in a row at the top of the list, Gussy is always a threat to win at every tournament he competes at. Dominance and consistency of performances still makes him the stick to beat in 2018.

2. Jay Samsal (ON)

One half of the Samsal/Dingwall power duo who had a great 2017 season competing on the bass circuit as teammates. They started the season off well with a 3^rd place finish at the Falcon Lake Bass opener. A 1^st place win at the Dryden Bass Tournament, 5^th at Bassin’ for Bucks, 9th at Shoal Lake Last Chance, 11^th at the Frank McClymont Memorial, and 19^th at the Shoal Lake Bass Classic were the rest of their top bass finishes together. They came in 3^rd place at the 120 boat Kenora Walleye Open to display their multi-species prowess as well. Separately Jay has the edge on Scott this year as he won the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship for the second year in a row. He also finished higher at the prestigious Kenora Bass International event coming in 18^th, both times with his other main partner Troy Norman. Ranked 4^th last year, Samsal is an outstanding angler who could most likely do some damage down south as well. An amazing season was capped off by him winning the Kickerfish Bass Series Angler of the Year and the Lund Tournament Trail Angler of the Year titles.

3. Scott Dingwall (ON)

The other half of the team, Dingwall has consistently put together remarkable seasons on the local bass trail. This year was no different as he once again finished in 3^rdplace at the Falcon Lake Bass Classic, 1^st at the Dryden Bass Tournament, 5^th at Bassin’ for Bucks, 9th at Shoal Lake Last Chance, 11^th at the Frank McClymont Memorial, and 19^th at the Shoal Lake Bass Classic with Samsal. A 1^stplace win at the International Falls Bass Championship and 3^rd place at the Kenora Walleye Open rightfully have Dingwall ranked near the top with the best anglers in the region. Rising up from his 9^th spot ranking last year, Dingwall is widely regarded as an elite multi-species stick in Northwest Ontario.

4. Lance Marcotte/Karen Soke (SK)

The mark of an upper tier competitive angler is consistency. The team of Marcotte and Soke have shown just that over the last few seasons competing on the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail and western events on the Central Walleye Trail. Their 2017 season had them record no less than six top 10 finishes including a 5^th place showing at the Boundary Dam Bass Tournament to show that they aren’t only about walleye. Perhaps even more impressive is their 18^th place finish at the 160 boat field Premier’s Walleye Cup and Marcotte’s finish with another partner at the just as huge Nipawin Vanity Cup taking 9^thplace. Marcotte and Soke won the Mixed Team of the Year awards on both the SWT and CWT this year.

5. Danny Toth (MB)

Toth is no stranger to the top of tournament leaderboards being a veteran of the local walleye scene. An impressive season had him record top finishes of 2^nd place at the challenging Russell Lions Prairie Classic, 3^rd at the Falcon Lake Walleye Masters Cup, 4^th at the Red River Walleye Masters Cup, 8^th at the Winnipeg River Greenback Championship, and 14^th at Cape Coppermine. He also placed a respectable 31^st at the 3-day Kenora Bass International tournament and 12^th at the Falcon Lake Bass Classic bringing his angling skills over to the bass side of things.

6. Brian McNanney (ON)

A well respected angler in sunset country, McNanney put together a fine season falling just short of winning on three different occasions. 2^nd place finishes at the Whitefish Bay Bass Classic, Sioux Narrows Bassin’ for Bucks, and at the Kenora Bass International had him knocking on the door of a top spot ranking. He also recorded a 4^th place showing at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and 6^th place at both the Falcon Lake Bass Classic and the Frank McClymont Memorial.

7. Eric Labaupa (MB)

A strong start to the season powered Labaupa into the rankings this year. He had a 7^th place finish at the Rafferty Reservoir Walleye Cup, 4^th place at the Falcon Lake Bass Classic, and a 1^stplace win at the Falcon Lake Walleye Masters Cup in consecutive events. 5^th place at Cape Coppermine, 16^th at the Madge Lake Walleye Cup, and 15^th at the Winnipeg River Greenback Championship round out other top finishes for the CWT Angler of the Year Runner-Up.

8. Troy Norman (ON)

First place wins at two major tournaments is a successful season by any standards. Norman scored titles at the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and at the Sioux Narrows Bassin’ for Bucks events. He also placed 8^th at the 129 boat field Sturgeon Bay Bass Open in Wisconsin. Cashing a cheque in 18^th place at the prestigious Kenora Bass International is almost blah by comparison.

9. Darren Kennedy/Jeremy Kennedy (ON)

Speaking of wins in two major tournaments, this father and son duo won the Dryden Walleye Masters and the Red Lake Fall Classic this season. They didn’t compete at too many other events but it would probably be a good idea if they do next year. Other notable finishes were 36^th at the Kenora Walleye Open and 10^th and 11^th respectively at the Dryden Bass Tournament with different partners.

10. Tom Johnston (SK)

Ranked 10^th last year, the Saskatchewan ace Johnston once again made the list at the same spot. A fantastic SWT season with partner Shane Better saw them finish in 2^ndplace at the Regina Beach Walleye Classic, 5^th place at the Sask. Landing Walleye Tournament, 17^th at the Last Mountain Fall Walleye Classic, and 21^st at the Lake Diefenbaker Walleye Classic. Johnston also competed at the major Premier’s Walleye Cup finishing in 11^th place and at the Nipawin Vanity Cup placing 40^th.

11. Terry McClymont (ON)

One amongst the elite tier of bass sticks is McClymont along with long time partner Tim Strempler. This season they went about their usual business of finishing in the top 10 of local bass tournaments. 1^st place at the Frank McClymont Memorial, 2^nd place at the Kenora Crush event, 7^th at the Shoal Lake Last Chance Fall tournament, 8^th place at the Falcon Lake Bass Classic, and 8^th place at Bassin’ for Bucks. In addition to a 17^th place showing at the Kenora Bass International, McClymont also finished in 2^nd place at the Sturgeon Bay Bass Open in Wisconsin and 19^th place at the Bronzeback Classic.

12. Bryan Maloney (MB)

Maloney had a successful year on the walleye circuit. 2^nd place at the major Russell Lions Prairie Classic and 3^rd at the Falcon Lake Walleye Masters Cup had him very close to winning titles. Other top finishes in tough fields were 14^th place at Cape Coppermine, 14^th place at the Winnipeg River Greenback Championship, 20^th at the Red River Walleye Masters Cup, and 21^st at the Madge Lake Walleye Cup.

Honourable Mentions

Bryan Gustafson (ON)
Greg Haga (MB)
Andrew Klopak (MB)
Jamie Bruce (ON)
Mike Davey/Josh Haisell (MB)
Jayden Symonds (ON)
Tim Strempler (MB)
Kevin Hollerbaum/Bob Schlosser (SK)