Godins crowned 2009 MBI champs!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Despite heavy rain all weekend competitors at the fifth annual Morson Bass International tournament perservered and wowed the crowds at both weigh-ins with impressive baskets of fish.
On day 1 the father and son team of Almer and Bill Godin (of Rainy River and Devlin) finished the day with a whopping 17.23 lbs (five fish) to lead the pack. They were followed by two teams tied with 15.97 lbs. of fish. They were Pat Gibbins/Pat Handorgan and Reuben Gibbins/Brian Paulsen. Rounding out the top five that day were newcomers Gil Maille/Rachel Maille and Mike Graham/Paul Visser with 15.07 lbs. and 14.98 lbs.
These five teams were held back until the very end of Day 2 and were brought into the tent in their boats from lowest rank to highest to see if they could dethrone last year’s champs, Terry Gill/Chad Hanson, who finished in sixth place on day 1 with 14.57 lbs. Hanson/Gill had a stellar second day netting the largest basket of the day at 16.45 lbs. for a two day total of 31.02 lbs. Last year they won it with 31.99 lbs. but they were not ready to count their chickens as they knew there were some big baskets to come on day 2.
As the rest of the field passed through the scales, no one knocked Gill/Hanson off the podium. Then the top five came in one boat at a time. Graham/Visser only had 12.08 lbs. on day 2 for a two day total of 27.06 lbs. and a 9th place finish overall.
New comers to the tournament, Gil and Rachel Maille brought in 13.35 lbs on day 2 for an overall total of 28.42 lbs. and a 5th place finish, good enough for $700 in prize money.
Of the two teams tied for second, Gibbins/Paulson weighed in 13.59 lbs. and Gibbins/Handorgan weighed 13.26 lbs. They finished with 29.56 lbs. and 29.23 lbs. respectively and in 3rd ($1,350) and 4th ($950).
Almer and Bill Godin needed 13.80 lbs. to win it all. They rolled into the tent and presented five fine fish. The crowded cheered fervently as Almer held up the first three. Then he and Bill did a double presentation and the crowd went crazy.
As the fish were weighed Gill/Hanson looked nervous, and when the scales tipped 14.61 lbs. they graciously congratulated Almer and Bill, the 2009 M.B.I. champs! The Godins received $3,500 for first place!
Bill has been fishing the tournament with his nephew Bryce and Almer with Bryce’s dad Danny. However, they had to attend a wedding in Kenora; hence the Almer/Bill combination.
Now that Bill and Almer have won, Bill would not comment on whether he would be sticking with dad or taking Bryce back next year. He did say, “This was very special for me this year... to fish with dad, and to win it, after losing mom this year.”
Bill said that they travelled to the Rainy River from Morson on day one but “It just wasn’t happening.” He said they hit a lot of fish on a few spots day 1 and backed off one spot to avoid fishing it out for day 2 which proved smart as they did well there again day 2.
“We jigged mostly with tubes and did really well on two reefs today,” said Bill Sunday. “We culled a lot and came in with nice fish.”
Other prizes
Day 1
Biggest basket
1st Bill and Almer Godin, 17.23 lbs., $500
2nd Pat Gibbins/Pat Handorgan 15.97 lbs., $300
2nd Reuben Gibbins/Brian Paulson 15.97 lbs. $300
Largest Small mouth caught
Pat Gibbins/Pat Handorgan, 4.22 lbs., $250

Largest Large mouth caught
Mike Graham/Paul Visser, 3.54 lbs., $250

Day 2
Biggest basket
Terry Gill/Chad Hanson, 16.45 lbs., $500
2nd Clarence Gibbins, Jr. and Sr., 15.3 lbs, $300
3rd Grant and Greg Swire, 14.68 lbs., $200
Largest Small mouth caught
Clarence Gibbins, Jr. and Sr., 3.87 lbs., $250
Largest Large mouth caught
Mike Graham/Paul Visser, 3.79 lbs., $250
Sluggo Trophy
Rich Zebleckis/Ron Mazur broke down on day 1 with about 13.5 lbs. of fish in their boat. However, they did not make weighins and their boat was towed home on Sunday. So they had no official weight and won the Sluggo trophy.
Kids Tourney
Despite heavy rain for the exact hour the kids derby was being held, 30 kids braved the elements and landed 19 fish. For the third time, Patrick Vogan won the deby, catching 12 fish! Coming in second was Braydon Kreger with two fish.
Vogan won a trophy, a fishing rod/reel combo and a tackle box. Kreger won a reel and bubbles.
Golf Tourney
The heavy rain from hole one to the last hole (when it quit) did not hamper seven die hards in the 1st Annual LoW Fire Dept. golf scramble. The top team with a score of 40 was Wayne Shatford and Steve Beyak. Coming in second was Gary and Stella Tuesday with a score of 44. Closest to the pin was Steve Beyak.
Even though about four inches of rain fell in Morson over the weekend, spirits were not dampened. Everyone the Record spoke to reported having a great time.