Fresh from being named one of the top 30 Canadian fishing destinations by Outdoor Canada magazine, Bay of Quinte Country is looking for support to get Belleville on the map as the number one fishing town in Canada.

The tourism agency’s president, Ryan Williams, said Belleville is looking to become a growing fishing ambassador for Canada in the heart of the Bay of Quinte region, which counts fishing as a top tourism entity.

Belleville has already been nominated nine times by local residents on the World Fishing Network’s (WFN) website, where the city could be crowned WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town in Canada, win a $25,000 donation for its community and have a television feature dedicated entirely to fishing in the region.

“We have partnered with and offer great angling charters through our website (www.bayofquintecountry.com), as well as supporting our biggest fishing tournament of the year, the Kiwanis Walleye World Fishing Derby (which takes place in early May),” said Williams. “We are looking to increase our partnership of fishing in Canada and to become a great leader as a fishing destination in both the province and the country.”

Williams added that residents suggested the $25,000 could be used to install fishing ladders up the Moira River, repair boat launches, or promoting a new fishing tournament in the fall out of Belleville for Walleye.

“These ideas will need to be up to the city on how spending the money,” said Williams. “A new fishing tournament in the fall would for sure be a great economic draw. This would spin off and draw more than the 4,500 fishermen who come in the region for the Kiwanis Fishing Tournament, but would also draw more recognition to the area in the best season to catch Walleye, as well as provide opportunities for fishermen to come to and experience the Bay of Quinte region. This tournament would have the potential to include a children’s ‘learn-to-fish’ component, as well as an exhibit showcase for the Bay of Quinte fishing area and the WFN. We would be looking to extend the partnerships we already present in the Kiwanis Walleye World Tournament, but in Belleville.”

All towns who submit a nomination to WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town Canada by April 8 will qualify for the first round of public voting. When the first round of voting begins, the top three vote getters in each of the four regions will automatically move into the finals. WFN will select an additional eight wild card towns to make the top twenty towns. The final round of voting will be for the top 20 towns only. The town with the highest total votes will be crowned WFN’s Ultimate Fishing Town Canada on June 6.

To support Belleville’s nomination visit www.wfnfishingtown.ca . Fore more information on Bay of Quinte Country visit www.bayofquintecountry.com .

via Fishing for votes – Belleville Intelligencer – Ontario, CA.