Past Champions claim titles in QUINTE FISHING SERIES opening tournament
of the 2004 Season.

Brothers Tom and Steve Lawrence, Quinte Fishing Series Team of the Year in >97 and >98, showed the rest of the field that they plan on returning to the top as they took the opening walleye tournament of the 2004 season in Deseronto on May 30th.

Sunday morning saw 32 teams/boats take to the water in the opener in the only walleye tournament of the Series with the weather for a change cooperating with light winds and warmer temperatures. Teams were allowed to weigh-in four (4) walleye per team with two fish over 63 cm and two fish under 48 cm. but over 14" in length. With the Ministry slot size regulations still in place, any fish caught between 48 - 63 cm. must be released and a number of teams caught and released fish in this length over the course of the day.

With the last team weighed in, the Lawrence's with a weight of 18.26 lbs. claimed the first place cheque of $1,600.00 and with that two coats compliments of Mark's Work Warehouse, a $50.00 Gift Certificate from Kelsey's/Montanna's - Belleville and Quinte Fishing Series 2004 Tournament Champion hats. On stage, Tom said that they had gone to three or four spots and used a couple of different techniques over the course of the day to get their fish as they weighed in two walleye over the 63 cm. length and two under 48 cm..

In second spot were Scott Morrow and Steve Corry from Waterdown, Ontario with a weight of 18.02 lbs. and they took home $1,150.00. In this bag was A big fish at the time, weighing in at 8.56 lbs.. Local anglers, Chris Sherman and Dave Henderson placed third for the day and received $750.00 for their catch of 15.57 lbs. and with 13.78 lbs. Kevin Lavers and Larry Komidar took the fourth place prize money of $400.00. Kevin owns and operates Merland Park Resort in Picton and is one of the Series valued sponsors. Napanee's Trevor Davies and Randy Scero claimed the last of the prizes receiving $150.00 for their 12.50 lb. bag.

2003 Angler of the Year, Dean Thompson along with partner Mike Burriss ended up edging out Morrow and Corry for the H2Optix by Bolle's Big Fish Award weighing in a nice walleye of 9.03 lbs.
Dean and Mike took home $620.00 cash for the win as well as two pairs of quality H2Optix sunglasses for this great fish! Dean had a tremendous season in 2003 with two first place finishes, one second and one third and fourth place finish to give him the lowest aggregate total in the seven year history of the Quinte Fishing Series - 11 points and he could do it again!!

June 13th will see the Series acknowledge our dedicated and loyal sponsors with our first Sponsor Appreciation Tournament taking place at Centennial Park in Deseronto with a barbeque and get together after at the Deseronto Yacht Club. Six members of the local Belleville and District Fish and Game Club will also join us for this fun tournament and a good time we hope will be had by all.

The next tournament and first of our five bass tournaments will take place on Sunday, June 27th, 2004 at Fraser Park in Trenton (Quinte West). Last year saw three of the bass tournaments go over the 50 team mark and tournament officials expect to see that again in 2004. Entries for all tournaments must be postmarked at least one (1) week prior to the tournament date and further information can be obtained from :Pete Thompson, Tournament Director at (613)967-1024 or email at : pthompsontourdir@hotmail.com.