2025

David Chong, affectionately known to his friends & fans as “CHONGER” has been a part of the fishing scene for over 3 decades. While he is a successful, passionate and highly competitive tournament angler, he is also a fierce advocate for accessible fishing for everyone! David’s competitive angling resume boasts numerous multi-species tournament wins, international medals, “Angler of the Year” and “Team of the Year” titles! Over his tournament career, he has mentored many youth anglers and even coached current Bassmaster Elite angler, Cooper Gallant and EQ angler, Danny McGarry to their B.A.S.S. Nation High School Championship.

On the club side, David was a founding member of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation and the Canadian Bass Anglers Federation. He is still currently a member of the Aurora Bassmasters and serves as the president of the North GTA Bass Anglers. David ardently believes that the club level is a great starting point and extremely significant in bringing new anglers into the sport.

Growing up in the High Park region of Toronto, urban angling is a tremendous part of his angling background. As a lifetime member of the Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassadors, he strongly supports and encourages urban anglers to get out and take advantage of the urban fishing opportunities afforded them.

Possibly the dearest cause to David’s heart is getting the youth of today into the sport about which he is so passionate. For over 15 years, as the host of the “Catch a Dream” Kids Fishing Derby, he and his committee worked tirelessly to introduce children from the Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Make a Wish and other charitable youth organizations to this incredible pastime. He still, whenever possible, works with the Fishing FriendZy organization and their many youth initiatives!

When it comes to grass roots fishing events, David’s family has close ties to the town of Orillia and he has served as the honourary chairperson for the Orillia Perch Festival for over 12 years. The Orillia Perch Festival has been running for over 40 years with numbers of generations taking part in it. Community based family-oriented events, such as these, are exceptionally important to get families out fishing together as David did with his own family growing up.

As passionate as David is about the sport of fishing, he is equally passionate about our fisheries, conservation and the environment. He is currently a member of the Lake Simcoe Stakeholders Committee, trying to help maintain angling sustainability for our future generations! His goal is to pass on his passion about the sport of fishing, our fisheries and the love of the great outdoors!

2023

With a background in radio and television, Mike has worked as a communications provider for great recreational fishing companies and organizations such as Izumi Outdoors, Shimano Canada, GM Pro Bass, the Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission, the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association and Canadian National Sportfishing Foundation. Mike had the honour of working with Rick Amsbury during the formative years of National Fishing Week, and in 2012 Mike assumed the role of Managing Director of the CSIA and CNSF, a position Rick held prior to his passing in 2003. To this day, Rick’s wisdom and legacy continue to guide Mike in his efforts to promote the benefits of recreational fishing to Canadians.

2019

“OFAH Get Outdoors Program:
In 2001, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) initiated the Get Outdoors Program to provide our youth members with greater access to supervised, hands-on, and fun outdoor heritage activities.   The result is a national, award-winning, youth conservation and leadership program, which promotes fishing, hunting, trapping, and outdoor traditions.
Each summer the OFAH invites 250 youth, ages 8-16, from across the province to put down their cell phones, video games, and turn off their televisions for the opportunity to experience the only camp of its kind in Ontario. This camp gives today's youth first hand exposure to conservation-based activities including shoreline fishing, boat fishing, ATVing, archery, canoeing, rifle and trap shooting ranges, and more.  New this year, our first winter camp provided the opportunity for 30 youth to learn the basics of ice fishing, try their aim with airgun biathlon, and hone their winter outdoor survival skills.  
Entering our 19th year, the OFAH Get Outdoors Program is proud to have provided 5,500 youth participants the opportunity to experience outdoor activities through summer camp, winter camp, leadership conference, and mentored youth hunts.   These youth members have and will continue to become future stewards of conservation, and share our passion for fishing, hunting and trapping.”

2017

Due to the overwhelming interest of over 100 students wanting to start a fishing club, EDUCAST, lead by Darren Jacko and Steve Voros was formed over 13 years ago.  EDUCASAT provides a safe and friendly place to host over 1,500 students every year from across the province to learn about fishing and the environment.  EDUCAST has grown from a single day/120 student event to a two day/750 students per day event.  Over 100 volunteers help run the two day event with many local fishing pros teaching students about fishing.  EDUCAST has partnered with many organizations to also focus on conversation and the environment including waste management, fish restocking, catch and release programs, species recognition and invasive species.  The top qualifiers from the two day event get a chance to do a PRO/AM fishing tournament with some of the top pro anglers in Ontario. They have the chance to experience the sport side of the industry, with the focus on boat safety, ethics, conservation and of course enjoyment of the outdoors.

2015

In 2011, in recognition for his “outstanding contributions to Canada’s Firearms Community,” Garry received the John Holdstock Memorial Award from the Canadian Shooting Sports Association. In 2010, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters awarded Garry with a certificate of merit for his: “many years of dedication, leadership and outstanding work on behalf of anglers, hunters and the outdoors community in the province of Ontario.”
Internationally, Garry’s work has been recognized with a prestigious award from the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities, “Shooting Sports Ambassador of 2005,” in the spring of 2005.
Gun owners and hunters around the world credit him with leading the battle to defend gun owners’ rights.
In February 2014, Garry received Safari Club International’s Legislator of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to a key policy decision maker who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect well-regulated hunting and continued sustainable-use wildlife management. His years of supporting hunting and the shooting sports made him an ideal candidate, and his success in repealing the Canadian long-gun registry has been vital to hunters throughout the country. He is the first Canadian to receive this award.

2013

Thank you kindly - I am very honored. Rick was about as fine a friend as I ever had, we were more like family. I still have his jacket on a chair in my office where he forgot it the last time he was here shortly before he left us. He used to pull into the yard with his boat ready to launch it at my lodge, and I would yell down from my office deck and ask if he had a permit for launching the boat? Rick always answered the same way - "Right here in the cooler - come get one!".
We would often spend an evening in a marvelous stand of old growth white pine near here, having a beer and engaging in some of the most marvelous conversations on fishing, hunting and the future of our favorite sports. It was not uncommon for us to completely lose track of time and not return home until after midnight. Many of the efforts Tom and I work on today have their genesis in those conversations with Huck. Some people simply can't be replaced - Rick was one of them. I miss him every day.

2011

Each year on Canada Day (July 1) Fish TV with Leo Stakos and Ron James organize and host the Fish TV Celebrity Showdown. This popular event pairs pro anglers with many of their celebrity friends from the NHL, NBA, actors and TV personalities.The money raised through the Fish TV Celebrity Showdown is donated to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.To date, Leo Stakos and Ron James have raised over $200,000 for this worthy cause.

2009

“Big” Jim, as he is affectionately known has been an integral part of the Canadian sportfishing scene for over 25 years now and shows no signs of slowing down. Having first gained notoriety as a tournament angler, “Big” Jim was vaulted into the sportfishing spotlight with two Canadian Classic titles along with a slew of tournament victory’s. “Big” Jim has spent numerous hours educating youths in the sport of fishing and participated in charity events in support of the outdoors and in particular fishing.