Miguel, Low Win Second FLW Canada Derby
Ontario's Rice Lake is full of big smallmouths and largemouths
The second stop of the 2016 FLW Canada season took place on Rice Lake out of Golden Beach Resort in Roseneath, Ontario, July 23-24. The event included 82 teams that vied for the top prize and a top-10 finish to make the FLW Canadian Championship this September on Big Rideau Lake located in Perth, Ontario.
1. Miguel and Low take first
Day 1 – 22.49
Day 2 – 21.52
Total – 44.01
Weighing all smallmouths for first place, Dan Miguel and Bryan Low managed 10 brown ones good for 44.01 pounds.
In an interview after the event, the anglers acknowledged that a wide selection of baits and techniques were employed to mine the monsters from the depths, including everything from slowly dragging tubes and drop-shot rigs across bottom to burning spinnerbaits at high speed.
The champions both agree that the key to success was not missing any fish throughout the entire two days of competition.
In fact, both Miguel and Low concede that their day two plan faltered slightly. Luckily for them, a last-minute stop at a spot from past history produced. Pulling up on the spot with 15 minutes to spare, they were immediately rewarded with one of their largest fish, clinching the victory at the very end.
2. Vandermeer and Slute move into the AOY lead
Day 1 – 21.20
Day 2 – 21.73
Total – 42.93
Having won the first stop of the year on Tri-Lakes, the powerhouse team of Chris Vandermeer and Jeff Slute kept the pedal to the metal, looking to pull ahead of the pack to secure the Limitfish Media Team of the Year title. This prestigious prize is awarded to the point leaders after the regular season and before the Canadian Championship. It includes 2017 FLW Canada entry fees paid in full, a deluxe media shoot, including video, photos and text, and of course the Team of the Year Champion Cup.
After two days of hard work and an incredible fish count that had the pair catching and culling multiple 20-pound sacks of clone smallmouths, the team eventually closed out the weekend with second place and a total weight of 42.93 pounds.
3. Berrey and Wisniewski earn third
Day 1 – 21.99
Day 2 – 18.86
Total – 40.85
Steve Wisniewski and Scott Berrey clinched third and a coveted ticket into the Canadian Championship with a weight of 40.85.
The pair credited small-diameter fluorocarbon line and a selection of small baits fished slowly over the bottom for its win.
Patience is a virtue, and in the case of this well-respected southern Ontario bass-catching duo, it was explained that they had to “fish slow and grind it out.”
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