This popular Chatham-Kent event is fast becoming the largest bass tournament in the country and this year promises to be bigger and better. The Canadian Tire Mitchell’s Bay Open Bass Tournament will take place this year the weekend of July 7-8 and will feature 190 anglers and 95 boats. The Mitchell’s Bay Marine Park plays host to the weigh-ins
and will be a hub-bub of activity all weekend with boats arriving from all over the country. 
This weekend is a real win for our area. It takes a village to make this event what it has become today and the people of Mitchell's Bay do that. Over 50 volunteers help to make this special weekend a success.. There are local participants of course but anglers come from as far away as South Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. Bob and Wayne Uzuma and David Chong as well a some of Canada's top Canadian anglers will be present. Many of the participants spend a week in Chatham-Kent pre-fishing and enjoying our great community. Lake St. Clair is home to a thriving bass population drawing people from across the country. The Canadian boating/fishing industry pumps 10 billions dollars annually into our economy. The goal of the torunament is to return the fish back into the lake at the end of each day with a mortality rate of under 1 percent. To achieve this result, each boat, when it departs on tournament mornings, is inspected to ensure it has a functioning live well.
Canadian Tire is back sponsoring the Kids Fishing Day. 22 fortunate youngsters will enjoy a morning of fishing, lunch with their families, and an interpretive hike with the Sydenham Field Naturalists. Each of the participants go home with a rod, reel, tackle box and tackle. The Bay will be hopping. Take a ride out and enjoy the sites.
