Manitoulin Ice Showdown

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Reel in a chance to out fish Bob Izumi at the Manitoulin Ice Showdown
A Message From Manitoulin Expositor and Wikwemikong Tourism
Celebrity fishing personality Bob Izumi is gearing up to be on Manitoulin Island to host and film the Real Fishing Show at the second edition of the Manitoulin Ice Showdown on February 22-23, 2020.
Derby contestants will not only have a shot at over $50,000 in cash and prizes but will now have a chance to enter the “Out Fish Bob Izumi Contest”. This fun filled contest will have participants competing for a Manitoulin Ice Showdown prize pack with plenty of sponsored swag and of course bragging rights. To enter the contest participants will simply have to beat Bob’s heaviest fish throughout the weekend which will qualify them for a random draw to determine the winner. “This contest gives Manitoulin Ice Showdown participants a fun and unique chance to ‘beat Bob at his own game,’ which will surely amp up the competition a notch or two, as participants try their best to beat Canada’s most seasoned angler” states Giselle Aiabens, Special Events Coordinator, with a chuckle. The fun doesn’t end there, the Manitoulin Ice Showdown has partnered with the Manitoulin Brewing Company and the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Center to host the Meet & Greet Social with the Izumi’s featuring live entertainment from Elijah and the Backburners on Saturday, February 23 from 7-9pm. Join fellow anglers for appetizers, entertainment and the Live Draw for the Registration Prize for the 2020 Polaris Voyageur 550.
As part of The Fishing Manitoulin Destination Filming Partnership, Wikwemikong Tourism is bringing together industry partners to invest in promoting Manitoulin Island as a four-season destination. Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing Show, along with Fuel the Fire TV, will be filming the event as part of a unique collaboration to showcase four-season angling opportunities on Manitoulin Island. The two productions will air in 2020 and 2021 on Global TV, World Fishing Network, and the Sportsman Channel. The partnership includes Northeastern Ontario Tourism, Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Explore Manitoulin, and the Wiikwemkoong Anglers Club. “Having Bob Izumi film and host the Showdown will, no doubt, raise the profile of our event but more importantly filming the two television productions will ensure that we are doing our part to promote the Island as an iconic destination” states Tourism Manager Luke Wassegijig.
The Manitoulin Ice Showdown has evolved from the Wikwemikong Ice Fishing Derby into a multi-day destination fishing event attracting anglers from across the province. It is expected that having Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing Show combined with the over $50,000 in prizes will make the 2020 event an even bigger draw for anglers.
Bob Izumi is Canada’s most popular fishing personality and one of the foremost spokespersons on the sport. Bob has influenced three generations of anglers with his 40 years of promotional work through seminars, his Real Fishing TV show, magazine and radio show. Bob’s infectious enthusiasm and approachable demeanour have made him a TV friend to millions of Canadians. As anyone who has ever met him will agree, he’s exactly the same down-to-earth guy when you meet him in person.
For more information, or to purchase a ticket to the Manitoulin Ice Showdown, visit www.fishmanitoulin.com, Manitoulin Ice Showdown on Facebook or by calling 705-859-3477.
Quick Facts:

  • The Manitoulin Ice Showdown is a partnership event between Wikwemikong Tourism and The Manitoulin Expositor. The partnership began with the first Manitoulin Ice Showdown held in winter of 2019. The annual ice fishing derby attracts up to 500 regional visitors annually to Manitoulin Island for a day of family fun.
  • Wikwemikong Tourism is a department of Enaadmaagehjik (Wikwemikong Development Commission) and is responsible for community tourism development.
  • The Manitoulin Expositor is Northern Ontario’s oldest newspaper: printers and publishers since 1879. A winner of the Michener Award for Public Service Journalism.
  • Bob Izumi, affectionately referred to as “The Gretzky of Fishing,” has earned his unmatched credibility in the fishing world in part due to his incredible success as a tournament angler. He has fished more tournaments in Canada and the US than any other Canadian angler and is the only Canadian to win the Triple Crown of fishing; capturing the Canadian Open, the Classic Championship, and Angler of the Year titles in a single season. Along with his personal achievements, in 2018 he captained Team Canada to a second-place finish in the inaugural Pan Am Black Bass Championship held in Florida. In 2019 Bob was the driving force behind bringing the Pan Am Championships to Canada, where he led Team Canada to a first-place finish.