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We can send you fishing Andy. He will not only help you catch fish, he will keep
you laughing while fishing.
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 In releasing the final results for 2003, all of us here at Canadian Sportfishing would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of you who participated in our 2003 National Championship. We would also like to thank Ford Motor
Company of Canada, Rapala by Normark, Minn Kota, Lucky Strike and Panther Martin as well as all of our product sponsors for
their generous support every year in making Canada's only national fishing championship the success that it is.
After an extensive review of all entries, pictures and supporting catch information by
our Championship Committee to determine last year's winners, we would like to congratulate all winners on their achievements
in 2003. This past season again, seen some very very close points races for top honours in each of the respective contest
categories: For example, there is only a meager 12 points between 1st and 5th place in the Adult division of the Bass category.
The Trout, Panfish, and Coarse fish division were also very tight races this year. In the Youth division, the Bass, Coarse
fish, Panfish and Lake Trout categories proved to be the most competitive.
Mitch
Hames
Canadian Sportfishing Championship Manager |
 (The Ford Angler of the Year title goes to the
angler with the highest score when combining the points he/she earned in any or all of the Championship's 10 Fish Categories
in the Adult Division.)
Unstoppable, Untouchable,
Unbeatable, Unbelievable!
...can anyone dethrone Andy Vander Ploeg?
Andy has put High River
Alberta on the map once again! This is Andy's' Third consecutive Ford Angler of the Year title. In fact Andy
has been a force in the championship for several years before he achieved his final goal. However, this years' title was somewhat
bittersweet in that Andy's Father (Leonard Vander Ploeg) and long time fishing partner passed away on May 5 2003. Leonard
got Andy into fishing when he was only 5 years old, and it has been a huge part of Andy's life ever since.
Andy has
dedicated this year's title to the memory of his father and the time they spent together pursuing their favourite pastime.
Andy continues to dominate in the adult division; however, he had some serious competition this year and the difference between
1st, 2nd, and 3rd was much tighter than in previous years. Mr. Vander Ploeg entered a total of 86 qualifying entries in 9
categories coving 12 species of fish.
In total, Andy's score of 2119.5 points earned him first place.
Along
the way the "Master Angler" earned himself two Master Angler awards for Arctic Char and Whitefish, as
well as, two Big Fish awards for Whitefish and Suager. Congratulations Andy !!!
Could he possible
go for four in a row in 2004?
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