I’m not really a joiner ... you know, going to monthly meetings and just talking about fishing ... not sure if that’s for me”.
I have heard this many times from anglers over the years. It was actually how I felt as well before joining a fishing club in 1995.
Since then I have become a strong proponent of the whole fishing club scene. I have come to learn that these clubs don’t just offer their members some great fishing opportunities and an educational component to help make them better anglers, but they are also responsible for an incredible number of fine conservation projects, youth initiatives and community events.
Focus on Fishing contacted several fishing club representatives from Beaverton to Newmarket and asked them for a brief description of their club along with contact information for those readers who may want to consider joining a team of likeminded anglers and conservationists this summer.
Beaverton and District
Conservation Club
This club was formed in 1988 to address local resource conservation issues and provide support, input and assistance to conservation efforts. Their membership resides around the southeast side of Lake Simcoe (north Durham Region) and their efforts are directed towards rehabilitation of aquatic systems flowing into the south east basin of Lake Simcoe. Activities revolve around community fundraising and local resource improvement projects.
The club has a direct affiliation with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and meets the first Wednesday evening of each month at the Legion hall in Beaverton. Contact member and former president Larry Wickett at lbwickett@rogers.com
Simcoe Bass Anglers
This club is one of several belonging to the Canadian Bass Anglers Federation. Their goal is to create a gathering place to teach novice and seasoned anglers the fine art of competitive bass angling.
With about 50 members whose motto is “camaraderie and friendly competition”, members meet from September to June and during the summer at their tournaments.
They get together on the second Thursday evening of each month at Shoeless Joe’s restaurant on Woodbine Avenue just south of Mount Albert Road.
“New members are always welcome”, said president J.P. DeRose. “And we look forward to another fantastic year on the water.”
Visit www.cbaf.ca
South Simcoe Bassmasters (SSB)
The SSB is affiliated with the Ontario BASS Federation Nation (OBFN) which is one of about 50 federations around the world belonging to the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
The new club meets the second Thursday of every month at the Newmarket Optimist Hall.
Meetings include dry land Pitch’n and Flip’n competitions to help improve accuracy and presentation on the water. They also have guest speakers who share their knowledge on a wide variety of fishing topics.
Drop by one of the meetings at the Optimist Hall or contact club president Keith Russell for more information. southsimcoebassmasters@start.ca
Georgina Sportsmen’s Alliance (GSA)
Since 1988, this federation affiliated club has completed various conservation related projects throughout the Town of Georgina.
They have constructed bass and pike spawning beds in the Keswick Marsh, made a boardwalk and viewing tower in the Holland Marsh provincial wildlife management area, built and installed duck nesting boxes, are involved in project purple, and green up clean up events. Spring and fall yearly fishing trips to the Temagami area are planned by the membership.
The GSA meet monthly in Georgina to share information and ideas. For more information about the GSA contact president Rob Hare at 905-989-7672.
Aurora Bassmasters
A founding member of the OBFN, this club has a slogan that states, ‘More than just another fishing club’.
Members compete in about 10 club tournaments each year but also run two open events – the pike tournament and transfer in May and the Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open in late October.
All OBFN club tournaments help anglers gather points to qualify for a provincial championship in late August with opportunities from there to compete on a much larger scale in the US through the BASS Federation Nation program.
They meet the first Wednesday evening of each month in Newmarket at the Optimist Hall.
President Herb Quan recommends anglers check out their site at www.aurorabass.com
Pefferlaw Anglers Club:
For 28 years this group of volunteers has considered themselves more of conservation club than an actual fishing club. They have been involved in partnerships with the MNR on several conservation projects over the years ranging from raising young walleye to a recent adult walleye transfer. The group meets in Pefferlaw and the president Brian Guildford can be reached at 705-437-1276.