The 2008 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship kicks off today with anglers hitting the water Thursday.
Boats depart from the Sorting Gap Marina starting Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 a.m.
Weigh-ins are scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday. All events take place at the Sorting Gap Marina.
2007 champions Jim Moynagh and Joe Thrun will be back to defend their title. The team won the championship in 1998 and 1999 and were the first team to win three championship titles.
The pair finished second in the 1997 and 2000 contests and in 2002 finished third.
Local anglers Ted Olson, Littlefork and former Falls resident, Bob Hell, Duluth took second in the 2007 championship. Other local anglers expected to compete in the Canadian tournament include team No. 23, Mike Wilson and Leroy Wilson of International Falls, team No. 65 includes Tom Burri of the Falls, and team No. 68 includes Scott Crowe of the Falls, team No. 71 is Richard Rud and Jon Austin of the Falls, team No. 97 is Calvin McKay and Chad Jonson of the Falls, team No. 108 includes Larry Bollig of the Falls, and team No. 118 includes John Cann of the Falls.
Local followers of the International Falls Bass Championship will also recognize anglers fishing the Canadian championship.
Meanwhile, events today include a parade of boats at 5 p.m. and the Battle of the Bands at 7 p.m.
Daytime Land opens at noon Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Thursday’s featured entertainment is “Trooper” 9 p.m.
On Friday, the Sunset Country Metis Fish Fry will begin at 4:30 p.m. followed by Tyzen — Master of Suggestion at 7 p.m. for a family show. “Bon Journey” will wrap up the night with a 9:30 p.m. performance of a tribute to Bon Jovi and Journey.
On Saturday, the Kiwanis Steak Fry will begin at 6:15 p.m. followed by “John Rafferty and Friends” at 6:30 p.m. A one-man band performance by Pat Brett is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The angler awards presentation will wrap up the night at 9 p.m., followed by a performance by “Thinking of Pinky.”