As mentioned on the previous episode, Fish’n Canada Carp Cup (Part 1), we hosted and filmed the inaugural Fish’n Canada Carp Cup, where 16 two-man teams from various provinces competed for three-and-a-half days to catch one of Canada’s strongest freshwater fish! The teams were set up in designated “pegs” along the Long Sault Parkway on the St. Lawrence River.

LONG SAULT HISTORY

Long Sault was a rapid in the St. Lawrence River west of Cornwall. It created a navigation barrier along the river for years making it harder and harder for the increasing ship traffic to navigate. Something needed to be done. The Moses-Saunders Power Dam was constructed in 1958 and the St. Lawrence River’s character was totally transformed.

The construction of the dam required the flooding of a large swath of land near the rapids, both to facilitate a hydroelectric dam and to make the rapids area more navigable. The flooded region included Ontario’s Lost Villages.

The now modern Long Sault Parkway is a series of 11 islands that were created from high points of land left after the flooding. Several villages once stood where the river now flows.

Through time, all types of fishing for multiple species has flourished here—especially for Carp.

THE TOURNAMENT CONTINUES

As our tournament’s second day persisted through inclement weather, so did the team at Peg 2 (Eddie Cestra and Vince White). Feverishly competing for a top spot on the leaderboard, these fierce competitors carefully culled four fish from a sudden bounty of Carp. Even the unexpected downpour couldn’t dampen this team’s spirit after they released the competition’s then-biggest catch.

Not long after, however, the title of biggest fish was snatched away in an unlikely turn of events.

With new leaders on the board, we entered Tournament Day Three. It was still anybody’s game. As the third day came to a close, the team at Peg 5 (Nathan Cutler and Matt Eatough) rested easy knowing they now had the biggest fish on the books.

THE TOURNAMENT RESULTS:

THE WINNERS:

Congratulations to Sidi Rachid Lalami and Maxime Theriault for their phenomenal total weight of 108 lbs 2 oz from their four best Carp of the event—a weight that sends them proudly to Europe where they’ll represent Canada at next year’s World Carp Classic!

“To be honest,” says Pete, “these two guys were busy almost every time we drove past them. They obviously knew what they were doing.”

Carp are here in Ontario and they’re not going anywhere. We suggest anglers embrace them as Ang and Pete have done. Simply put: They’re big, they bite, and they fight extremely hard.

OTHER ONTARIO CARP FISHING OPPORTUNITIES:

• Rice Lake – Elmhirst Resort
• Otonabee River Peterborough
• Bay of Quinte – Merland Park Cottages
• All the various Great Lake harbours (be sure you have permission to fish)