The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Nipawin is sure pumped over its chances of being christened Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town. Fred Bradshaw, MLA for the Saskatchewan town of 4,000, boasted that its "fishing draws anglers from all over North America." Premier Brad Wall chimed in that he casts his rod in the Nipawin area himself "and I have to say the fishing is great." And Nipawin Mayor Lawrence Rospad simply called his "an amazing fishing community." Nine other communities are vying for the Ultimate Fishing Town crown: Port Alberni and Chilliwack in BC; Nestor Falls, Thunder Bay, Port Rowan and Seeley's Bay in Ontario; Miramichi in New Brunswick; O'Leary in PEI; and Dauphin in Manitoba. But without Flin Flon Ð renowned nationally, some say globally, for its fish stocks Ð the list is hardly complete. The Ultimate Fishing Town contest is being sponsored by the World Fishing Network, a cable channel that reaches millions of homes across North America. The winning community, to be announced next month, will be profiled on a half-hour TV show and hook itself a $25,000 donation for fishing-related initiatives that benefit local anglers. More than 160 towns and cities were nominated for the honour before an Internet vote narrowed the list down to the 10 lucky finalists. Flin Flon was among the initial nominees, but, unfortunately, it seems no major push was organized to promote our candidacy. Had that happened, the hundreds, if not thousands, of anglers who enjoy our lakes would have decisively cast their online ballots. Flin Flon City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations would have gotten behind the effort. To paraphrase Marlon Brando, we coulda been a contender. The fact that we weren't is a shame. Talk to anglers who have hit Lake Athapap, Schist Lake, Beaver Lake, et al, and they will tell you that nowhere else are the fish bigger, hungrier or more plentiful. And there's no reason to doubt them. Look at how many lodges around our area stay in business thanks to lakes that produce world-record catches. Look at the distances from which anglers come to Flin Flon just for the chance to snag one for their rumpus room wall. The good news is that the title of Ultimate Fishing Town is probably not a permanent one. The World Fishing Network indicates it will likely hold the contest again, possibly on an annual basis, as a means of celebrating this beloved outdoor sport. If and when the contest relaunches, Flin Flon should be nominated again. The effort should be heavily promoted by civic leaders and community groups. Regardless of what happens this year, we are the true Ultimate Fishing Town. With Flin Flon's population on the downswing, promoting tourism is as important as ever. And if there's one thing we have to entice tourists, it's our fishing. Local Angle runs Fridays.
