History

The Mitchell’s Bay Area Association is a non-profit charity created in September 2011. Members of the association are dedicated to preserving the natural environment of the Mitchell’s Bay area and promoting public participation in various water, hunting and fishing activities the area offers throughout the year.

Association volunteers decided soon after the groups inception that they wanted to offer a bass tournament on Lake St. Clair to highlight the area and showcase the incredible fishing opportunities. With the assistance of community stakeholders, bass fishing experienced competitors and valuable outdoor enthusiast contacts a goal to host a bass tournament evolved.

Through many planning meetings, brainstorming and research, the first tournament came to be. The first event was held in 2014 with 30 boats, 60 anglers registered. In 2016, we welcomed aboard the generous support of Peter Marshall and his Canadian Tire Stores, the tournament then adopted the name “Canadian Tire Mitchell’s Bay Open”. Since its inaugural tournament in 2014 the field of boats has grown exponentially; in 2022 our number of participants ballooned to nearly 200 anglers.

The MBAA is dedicated to ensuring they are 100% community based. With this in mind, the Children’s Event, a trademark from the first tournament in 2014 became the fabric of our commitment. Each year teams of volunteers host a day of fishing on Lake St. Clair for children from Chatham-Kent. The children are also led on a nature walk by the Sydenham field naturalists.

Over the past decade, there has been immeasurable support from the community, volunteers and sponsors without whom the tournament could not be what it is today.

Tournament growth over the years:

  • 2014 – 30 teams
  • 2015 – 21 teams
  • 2016 – 41 teams
  • 2017 – 59 teams
  • 2018 – 78 teams
  • 2019/2021 – 80 teams
  • 2022 – 95 teams