HAWEATER OPEN INFORMATION

SCB HAWEATER OPEN II

ANGLER INFORMATION PAGE

Greetings Anglers,

The Huron Bass Tour, Sheppard’s Custom Building, Township of NEMI and Little Current Lions Club welcome you to the second annual SCB HAWEATER OPEN.

This season we have been granted 150ft of dock space and the parking lot next to the post office right in the center of the festival to give anglers the biggest big stage feeling in Northern Ontario. Expect to hoist your bass in front of thousands of spectators.

We have also upped the scale of the event and have added an expo next to the stage that will feature boats, trucks, power sports equipment, tools, bait and tackle, refreshments and so much more!

If you participated last year please review the new map below and note the minor changes. If this is your first time participating please review and understand the instructions below before the event. If you have any questions please send us an email and we will get back you as soon as possible. Email: huronbasstour@gmail.com

We will be hosting 3 information sessions on Microsoft Teams after our STAGE 2 event. Times and dates will be announced on Facebook and Instagram.

In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the Huron Bass Tour formally acknowledges and recognizes that this tournament is being held on the ancestral waters of the seven local first nations of Aundek Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning, Whitefish River, Wiikwemkoong and Zhiibaahaasing. We thank them again for their blessing to host this event on their homeland. May this event represent a celebration where we all can come together to enjoy professional competition on the biggest stage in Northeastern Ontario.

I look forward to seeing all of you again and personally meeting the new teams this summer welcome to Northern Ontario’s premiere Bass Open.

Best Regards,

Laszlo Feher

President – Huron Bass Tour

EVENT MAP

LAUNCH / MORNING CHECK IN INSTRUCTIONS

1 Review the table below and ensure you are at your designated marina for morning check in between 5:30am and 7:30am. You must go to the correct marina, or you will not be able to sign in as welcome packages are team specific.

2 A HBT team member will sign you in, complete a boat check, and provide you with a welcome package.

3 Install the vinyl boat numbers found in the welcome package on both sides of your out board so that they can be seen clearly. It is very important that your number can be seen on both sides, as it will be used for morning blast off checks and check in at the end of the day.

4 Launch your boat and head to the designated staging area (Blue Circle) as shown on the event map above.

5 At 7:45am the National Anthem will play.

6 At 7:50am Team 1 will pass in front of the docks where the MC will announce their names to the crowd. All teams will follow in order of boat number until the full field is completed. You must pass in front of the dock and go around Buoy J39, or you will not be allowed to score your fish (this is a check that confirms you are present and ensures that teams travel the same distance to both blast off locations).

7 Pick your blast off direction.

8 All teams will troll out single file at 10MPH to the selected blast off point. The blast off points will be marked with 9ft Banners that Indicate “NO WAKE 10MPH” / “DAY 2 BOUNDARY” and “BLAST OFF POINT” affixed to buoys numbers J32 & J50. No team is permitted to pass another team in the no wake zone while traveling to the blast off points (only exception is if their boat fails).

9 Once you clear the respective buoy you are permitted to go full speed.

WEIGH IN INSTRUCTIONS

1 Weigh-in will be in the post office parking lot next to the expo (early weigh-in will start at 2pm)

2 Return times – Outlaw Boats has provided us with an Outbound Boat as the official check in boat for 2026. You must check in with the marshal that will be on the boat before you head to the dock for weigh-in or you will be subject to late penalties.

3 The scheduled weigh-in starts at 4pm. Teams will dock at the docks attached to shore attendants will hold your boat and provide you with a weigh bag.

4 Bag up your fish in a timely manner and proceed to fish inspection station (silver horse trough under the “SHIELD” black tent) for weigh in.

5 After inspection you may proceed to the stage where we will announce your name, weigh your fish and take photos.

6 Upon completion of weigh-in, disembark the stage, place your fish back in your live well and cart them into the center of the channel to release them. Please ensure you hand your bag back to the dock attendants before you leave.

7 Feel free to move over to an area away from the docking zones and watch the weigh in from your boat. The scores will be recorded, uploaded to the website and digital display screen. We will have large speakers so everyone will be able to hear in front and behind the stage or you can watch the weigh in live on Instagram.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1 Pre Fish – You must be off the water by 4:00pm on July 31, 2026. If you are observed on the water after this time or after tournament hours with out permission from the directors on August 1, 2026 you will be immediately disqualified. Tour representatives will be present at each launch from 3:30pm – 4:30pm on July 31, 2026. They will also be handing out welcome packages early during this time and answering any last minute questions. If you pick up your package early you are responsible to make sure your boat numbers are installed. If you have no boat numbers we will not weigh your fish.

2 These are the only boats that are permitted in the channel once the day 1 weigh in is concluded for inspections:

Boat # 8 Grey Ranger 521R

Boat # 10 Blue Ranger 520R

Boat # 12 Blue Basscat Lynx

Boat #13 Grey Vexus VX21

3 Boundaries for Day 2 are defined as follows:

– No teams are permitted to fish easterly of buoy J50 and westerly of J32 during Day 2

– No teams are permitted to fish past the east side entrance of the Highway 6 Road Culvert on Day 2

– Teams are permitted to pass through the above noted area on Day 2 to travel from McGregor Bay to Bay of Islands or vice versa but are not allowed to fish.

4 Immediate DQ if observed fishing between the buoys on Day 2.

5 Immediate DQ if observed speeding between the buoys at any time.

6 All competitors will be held to the same professional standards of the team that has worked tirelessly to get this event off the ground. There will be zero tolerance for reckless operation of your vessel, un-sportsmen like conduct, harassment of staff, township staff, marina staff, spectators or competitors.

7 If you are not weighing your fish or not fishing day 2 you must either fill out the “Notice of DNF” form on the website under the SCB HAWEATER OPEN tab or inform the marshal on the stage before you leave between 2:00pm and your check in time.

8 Bags will be passed by a metal detector.

9 Haweater Dance After Day 1 at the Little Current Arena (Passes will be included in your welcome package.

10 Huge Fireworks Display Day 2 at dark watch it from Little Current boardwalk.

FISH CARE

COME PREPARED AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

Fish care is one of the highest priorities of the tour and since this event occurs during some of the hottest days of the summer, we request all the anglers to follow the steps below to prevent any unnecessary fish death. This event will be professionally filmed and observed by hundreds, maybe even over a thousand spectators so don’t be the team that brings in a bag of dead fish. Success of this event depends on the management of the fish as much as the people running it and the tour staff is counting on you to do your part.

1 Test and ensure that your live wells are in good working condition.

2 Fizzing is mandatory for this event, if you do not know how to fizz a bass please review the video below. Every team will receive a free fizz kit. We will also touch on this at the information meeting. We encourage teams to practice in the pre-fish and if you still need help, please ask one of our regular competitors to show you.

3 Pool noodle sections are recommended to be used on the surface of your live well to prevent the bass from impacting the lid while traveling in rough water. Please review the video below.

4 Live well additives such as G-Juice are recommended.

5 We request all teams to have ice on hand to keep their fish cool. Teams should have a minimum of 3 – 4 blocks or frozen 3L jugs to use throughout each day. The following locations have ice available, however, this event is during a festival and supplies will be limited; especially in Little Current.

Espanola Ice Locations

Your Independent Grocer Espanola – https://maps.app.goo.gl/RUoHrFWnnwpxToJfA

Petro Canada – https://maps.app.goo.gl/2fP87t7ke1uTJGep8

UPI Energy – https://maps.app.goo.gl/e5Ca4NxXHv4BwWYh8

Circle K – https://maps.app.goo.gl/SbWGs3hUSEdWjQ3X7

ESSO – https://maps.app.goo.gl/GKNt8vX6UVbrw6SV7

Birch Island Ice Locations

McGregor’s Landing – https://maps.app.goo.gl/iJY3mqN7F3un62UM7

The General’s Store – https://maps.app.goo.gl/c3Wqu1whTevci7Ht8

Little Current Ice Locations

Shell – 83 Manitowaning Rd – https://maps.app.goo.gl/u2ZvUMuYhAaV2n4W9

Shell – 26 Manitowaning Rd – https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qi3CnbfLjJzEttQS6