The 2023 schedule has been set and the OKBT will be holding 5 events again this year with three new bodies of water and a couple of old favorites. We will also introduce a new 2-day format for the year end event.
May 20th – Lake Nippising –The first event is an early start to season again this year. This year we are heading to Nippising, specifically the west end of the lake from the Sturgeon River west and into West Bay and West Arm. This event falls on the season opener in Zone 11 and should be another early event where we may catch bass in various stages of their spawn cycle.
June 17th – Balsam Lake (includes Mitchell Lake) – This where it all began in 2018 and we are going back on the Kawartha opener. This time we are also opening up Canal and Mitchell Lakes for the event. Will you target largemouth or smallmouth? Both are abundant and in sizes to put up some good numbers. Should be a great return to a great fishery.
July 15th – Lake Simcoe – This world class fishery is the setting for the third event of the season. Taking place a few weeks after the zone opener, it should provide ample opportunity for anglers to search out and locate those shallow bass. The possibility for personal bests and record bags certainly exists on Lady Simcoe. It’s a big lake and holds big bass.
August 12th – Georgian Bay (Parry Sound) – The fourth event brings us to the big water of Georgian Bay once again, but this time we head north on the bay to Parry Sound. With islands, bays, and more water than you could possibly fish, the smallmouth and largemouth will be there for you to figure out and should provide some great fishing. If last years event out of Port Severn is a benchmark, then we are in for some big numbers in this event.
September 9th and 10th – Tri-Lakes (Pigeon, Chemong and Upper Buckhorn) – This chain of lakes is a Kawartha staple on most bass fishing circuits in the province. Smallmouth and largemouth are in abundance in these lakes and this event will provide great fishing for both. This event is also a 2-day event, a new format for OKBT this year, and will be a great way to end the season. This will format will really require anglers to put it together for both days to take away the win.
2023 will remain the same as far as the formats go for the OKBT. Each event will pay out a minimum of the top 5 as well as Big Bass of the day. AOY for 2023 will be determined from the best 4 of 5 events.
Stay tuned for event information and series updates.
As a disclaimer to this schedule, the OKBT reserves the right to change dates and venues due to conflicts or events out of our control.