Fishing buddies qualify for championships

A big catch at the MLF Canada Bronze Back Cup in July has earned two local anglers a spot in the Toyota Series Championship in Oklahoma.

Derek Meloche and Rob Gray caught 52.02 pounds of bass – the best of 10 fish caught over two days – to win by 0.08 pounds over Bassmaster Northern Open winner Cory Johnston. Going into Day 2 they were in third place and three pounds back but they came out on top. They equate their success to a little bit of luck and good communication, along with a love of fishing and enough competitive spirit.

“We had a plan and we stuck to it,” said Meloche, who also dedicates a lot of time to scouting the waters to figure out where the fish are under a variety of conditions.

The win was on Lake Simcoe, which is home turf for Meloche, a two-time MLF Toyota Championship Qualifier and Canada Showdown Champion.

The upcoming championship takes place on Grand Lake Nov. 6-8, when “pros and co-anglers will take on a historic tournament location for the best payouts in bass fishing at a triple-A level.”

Although Meloche, competing in the pro division, and Gray, the co-angler, qualified together they will be competing as individuals in separate boats. During the competition 500 anglers will be vying for the top prizes – pros are fishing for $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and co- anglers compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115hp outboard.

In the first two days of competition, anglers weigh in each day with the best of five catches, hoping for a cumulative weight that will get them one of 25 spots in the finals on Day 3, which will be televised. Another five are added during the finals, which comes down to a dramatic weigh in at the end of Day 3 to decide the champion.

Lured by the presence of fishing boats in each others’ driveways, Meloche and Gray met while living in Angus, and then reconnected when they were both living in New Lowell.

He and Gray are among six Canadians going to the championships in Oklahoma. They are chuffed to be joined by Bob Izumi, who is an idol of theirs. Having been fishing since the age of four, they both grew up watching Izumi’s Real Fishing Show with their fathers.

“It’s going to be a cool experience,” said Gray.

He and Meloche were in Creemore this week meeting with sponsors at Home Hardware, which gave them a cash infusion, and Creemore Springs Brewery, which supplied some beer to share at an international night social. Meloche had his 21-foot Ranger 520 in tow, reportedly one of the best bass boats available. The boat is fully equipped with sonar, live scope and mapping technology, along with a livewell to keep the fish alive long enough to be weighed in.

The boat will be towed to Oklahoma in time for a practice day Saturday.

“To win you have to have everything go right,” said Meloche.

The winning pro at the Toyota Series Championship qualifies for Redcrest, the Super Bowl of fishing tournaments, and the highest finishers from each division take home a $10,000 bonus.