for Can-Am 2000 event results, click here

Mick Thill battles a carp with a French-made SPARKLE high-end long pole.  Note the stretching elastic from the tip - since they're fluorescent, the effect can be rather dramatic

The Can-Am 2001 match fishing tournament took place April 21 and 22 at the same venue as last year's event, on the Little River in Windsor, Ontario Canada.  Last year, Team USA dominated with their skilled pole anglers stressing finesse and unified techniques and strategies.  This year, however, more of the Canadians came equipped with long poles and a more cohesive game plan.  The competition was much tighter this year as we shall see..
 

Mick Thill rifles through his massive assortment of floats

Mick discusses float strategies with Team USA members Bob Esbensen and John Wilkins

FLOATS for all conditions

Many of the team members arrived on Thursday night to practice on Friday, especially since the pegs would be moved over from last year, with half of the pegs set up north of the pollution plant's main inlet/outlet.  It was a time to gather some intelligence for an unknown section of the river. 
 

Mick goes over some of the float strategies for the different sections of the river.

With the continuous rain, earthworms came out everywhere, thus becoming part of the visual along with some key floats for the day

Team USA's Danny Murillo with a fine bowfin, or dogfish, the only one taken.  The fish actually was barking in his keepnet, keeping the catfish away..

Mick with a fine carp taken from the unfamiliar new section, which seemed to be providing more fish

Since Team USA members traveled from afar (as far away as Atlanta) and some never fished the Little River, many of them took advantage of the practice day, while Canadians were fewer and farther between.  On to the first day of the match...