Gibbins/Handorgan win Morson Bass International!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

A new champion was crowned at the 8th Annual Morson Bass International over the weekend.
Pat Handorgan and Pat Gibbins finished the MBI on top with a two day total weight of 33.56 lbs. to claim the $1,500 first prize and title of MBI Champs!
The duo were third after day one with 16.63 lbs. Ahead of them were John and Darlene Gibbins (17.29 lbs.) in first and Reuben and Brian Paulson (16.79 lbs.) in second.
There were 19 teams in the tournament and the top five from day one were held back on day two to create suspense. Rounding out the day one top five were Allan Wolanicki and Kris Almers (15.75 lbs.) in fourth and last year’s champs Terry Gill and Chad Hanson (15.73 lbs.) in fifth.
Of the 14 remaining teams, Dana Kaliska and Larry Brusven were in sixth with 15.29 lbs. on day one. When they added 17.29 lbs. to their total on day two they catapulted to the top of the pack with 31.99 lbs. They held onto the lead through the rest of the field with only the top five from day one to come.
Gill/Hanson were first to be paraded through the tent. Many expected the former champs, having won it several times, to post strong weights and take over the lead. However, they were skunked. From their live wells they pulled two rubber boots. Both Gill and Hanson told the crowd, “We were humbled by the lake today,” citing choppy waters preventing them from reaching the spots they wanted to fish.
Wolanicki/Almers were next into the tent. They had four fish, but they were not enough, at 9.35 lbs., to knock Kaliska/Brusven on the podium.
Then it was Handorgan/Gibbins’ turn. To the crowd’s delight they hoisted five nice bass that totalled 16.93 lbs. for a total of 33.56 lbs. and enough to take top spot.
Both of the next two teams had five fish each, but Gibbins/Paulson only had 12.6 lbs. and Gibbins/Gibbins only had 13.62 lbs.
Pat Gibbins told the crowd, “Its about time!” as he hoisted the trophy up!
Both of the champs said they have fished the tournament for years, dating back to the days of it being at Buena Vista Resort. This was Pat Gibbins’ first time winning! For Handorgan he has won it three times now!
Many anglers complained about the choppy waters due to the high winds. Handorgan was among them. “We took a pounding today. Normally it takes us about 45 minutes to get to our spot, but today it took 1 hour 15 minutes.”
While they would not reveal their “secret spot” the pair said they used the same techniques as they did in the Kenora Bass International. “We were mainly flipping tubes,” said Handorgan.
“We mainly used green and orange tubes,” explained Gibbins, “and coffee tubes.” He said those are tubes that smell like coffee.
With only 19 boats in the derby the MBI only paid prizes to the top four teams this year. Prize payouts were as follows:
1st-Handorgan/Gibbins-33.56 lbs.-$1,500
2nd-Kaliska/Brusven-31.99 lbs.-$800
3rd-Gibbins/Gibbins-30.91 lbs.-$500
4th-Richard and Tristan McKenzie-30.13 lbs.-$300
Largest Baskets
Day 1:
1st-Gibbins/Gibbins-17.29 lbs.-$500
2nd-Gibbins/Paulson-16.70 lbs.-$300
3rd-Handorgan/Gibbins-16.63 lbs.-$200
Day 2:
1st-Kaliska/Brusven-17.29 lbs.-$500
2nd-McKenzie/McKenzie-17.17 lbs.-$300
3rd-Handorgan/Gibbins-16.93 lbs.-$200
Biggest Small Mouth Bass Caught
Day 1:
Gibbins/Paulson-4.61 lbs.-$250
Day 2:
McKenzie/McKenzie-4.31 lbs.-$250
Biggest Large Mouth Bass Caught
Day1:
Mike Salvador/Eric Sundmark-4.11 lbs.-$250
Day 2:
Mike Graham/Paul Visser-3.75 lbs.-$250
Other tournament news
•20 people participated in the annual MBI golf tournament at Spruce Creek Golf Course Sunday morning. All proceeds, $284.65, were donated to the Rainy River Locum House.
Tourney results:
-Closest to the Line, Reggie Morrison, $80 prize
-Closest to the Pin, Jeff Swenson, $80
-Casting for Bass, Gary Tuesday and Sheldon Tuesday, $25 each
-Hidden Score, Donny Tolen, $20 and case of outboard oil
-3rd Place, with score of 42, Jeff Swenson, $30 and case of outboard oil
-2nd Place, with score of 41, Kam Kuzyk, $75
-1st Place, with score of 39, Buck Morrison, $125
•Kids Derby
43 kids participated in the annual Kids MBI. Winning the tourney with the most fish caught was Jayden Asselin, 9, who caught four fish (1 northern and 3 perch).
Nina Kreger, 5, came in second, catching two walleyes.
Biggest fish went to Ava Tom, 9, with a Northern Pike.
•More to locum house
The MBI committee held several fund raisers at the tournament with the proceeds going to the Rainy River Locum House. About $500 was raised for the project.