2025 Ontario Kayak Bass Trail
Yet again I will be fishing the Ontario Kayak Bass Trail (OKBT) circuit and looking to put up the best numbers that I can muster. In saying that, it's going to be a tall task to replicate the success I experienced last season. But as always I'll be bringing the kitchen sink and throwing it all at them. The goal remains the same qualify for "The Classic" but also this year I'm hoping to aim a little higher personally and get inside the top ten in a minimum of two events. So without further delay here is the schedule for the 2025 OKBT schedule;
May 17th-18th Lake Nippissing West End
Kicking the season off again nice and early is none other then Lake Nippissing West End. This dynamic fishery has seemingly become an early season staple for the OKBT, and it's easy to see why when you look at the numbers put out over the last couple events. This year I'll be looking to put together a smoother start to the season, as for those who followed the tournament recap blogs last season will know it was any but that last year. I started in what seemed to be a dead zone and had to completely abandoned that entire spot drive to a new area and scramble to put together a salvage stringer. Definitely looking forward to a strong start out of the gates at this event! Oh and buckle up because the OKBT is coming in hot this year with a two day event right out of the gate... that's right two days back to back on Lake Nippissing!
June 21stTri-Lakes
Well, well, well. Although the kawathas weren't on last year's regular schedule, lightening didn't strike twice. So here we go back to the Tri Lakes this season. Having said that it did show up for the classic last year, which I happened to qualify for, and on tournament day something different happened this time around. In the previous three tournament days before last year's Classic I had managed three fish total. That's it! At the classic it turned into a different story, as I eventually found good success flipping in shallow cover and not only filled my limit for the first time in the kawarthas but made a couple quality culls, still didn't leave with the best showing but it was a sure indicator of my personal growth on the water. I'll be looking to continue that upward trajectory on these lakes and hopefully do more then just attempt to survive this event!
July 19th Bay Of Quintie
Things are really coming full circle with this event, as this was the first event I had ever fished with the okbt four years ago. Now as this year's schedule rolled out and I got to check out the list I instantly got excited when I saw this venue. I love the idea of knowing where I've been and being able to fish the same waters from back then I'm hoping to give myself the confirmation that over the years I have become a better, more well rounded, and knowledgeable angler. I'm unsure of what to expect from myself at this event but as always we'll be swinging for the fences and who knows 5 of the right bites and things could finished off alot different from the card a submitted at that first event.
August 16th Lake Scugog
New Venue Alert!!!!!! Although a staple fishery for many circuits the OKBT has never graced these weedy waters. But all that changes this coming August 16th as this event will likely show out with big numbers, with more bass then you can shake a worm at and being such a centralized location, this event sure has everything you need to break an attendance record. "The Bog" as it is lovingly nicknamed is surely going to test just how far my abilities have come when dealing with weedy waterways. I'm not much for the green stuff and that is largely my struggle with the kawartha lakes in general but just as the OKBT looks to turn over a new leaf with a new lake maybe last year's late season success flipping and punching will carry forward for me and help me do the same when it's crunch time on Scugog.
September 6th Georgian Bay- Parry Sound
For me the season couldn't be ending in a better location, and given the high degree of uncertainty from the locations listed above I'm definitely happy to see Geogian Bay Parry Sound. Now make no mistake I want to be comfortably within the classic cut line by the time we roll into town for this event, but with my previous experiences on Georgian Bþay being on the more positive end of the spectrum if i need to make up ground this should play out as a great place to do just that. My highest finish in an OKBT event came from our last trip to this venue 7th place two years ago in a storm that had me posted up on an island for an hour, as it passed through. Here's to hoping for better weather and at least similar results. I know I can catch them on the bay but as I found out last year in Port Serven it doesn't do you much good if you don't get a picture in the bump board.
Lastly "The Classic" September 20th and that's all that needs to be and can be said at the moment. It's on the to do list and I got it checked off last year, this year I'll be looking to do the same and although this schedule seems less favorable, I'm no less determined to make it this year and qualify back to back years. Here's to 2025 and all that it has in store.
As always, thank you to the great anglers that come out to these events. It's always such a blast and an enjoyable experience being around such like minded and passionate anglers. Thank you to the people who put in all the work to organize and run these events. It is because of people like you that this sport continues to grow and get better and bigger every year. And lastly, thank you to the sponsors that support the OKBT. We are so fortunate to have the best companies in the sport fishing world supporting us and helping us maximize our time on the water, making us more proficient anglers. Being a leader of innovation and quality in their respective product areas, you can be assured that if they are on the OKBT Banner or website, they are top tier.