Many of the anglers that fished that walleye tournament were amazed with the quality of the smallmouth bass fishery on Rainy Lake.
Discussion at that meeting lead to the Rendezvous Trail working with Lionel Robert during the summer of 1994 to lay the foundation of the first tournament scheduled for the last week of July 1995.
That meeting resulted in local businesses coming forward to sponsor the inaugural Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
In the late fall of 1995 the Ontario provincial government withdrew support for local tourist organizations and it became apparent that the Rendezvous Trail would not continue to remain active.
The tournament was spun off from the founding organization and early in 1996 Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship Inc. was created as a non-profit corporation.
Some of the highlights of the 1996 tournament were over 450 volunteers, increased daytime activities and family entertainment, Pathways to Fishing angling workshops for kids and the introduction of the Reel Raffle.
The Big Screen Tournament Information System, the Parade of Boats and the Kiwanis Steak fry also debuted in 1996.
Gord Pyzer of Kenora, a tournament angler, fishing educator and outdoor writer, authored the article.
Following the completion of the 1996 tournament the In-Fisherman Communication Network contacted the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
They wanted to use the new Big Screen Tournament Information System for the 1996 In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail Championship.
Rainy Lake, the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, its competing anglers and their tournament fishing techniques and tactics have been featured on In-Fisherman television shows and in magazine articles.
Al Lindner, co-founder of In-Fisherman, has stated that Rainy Lake is his favourite smallmouth fishing destination.
An addition was purchased for the Rendezvous Trail Special Event Tent to help accommodate the increasing number of spectators and anglers.
A second catch and release boat was added to ensure that the increasing number of fish weighed could be returned safely to Rainy Lake.
The criterion was that the title would be bestowed upon a competing angler who has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the promotion of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship and the advancement or Rainy Lake, Fort Frances and the Rainy River District as an angling and vacation destination.
For 2002 the field of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship was expanded to include the winners from six regional tournaments.
In 2002 a third Catch and Release Boat was added to ensure that the increasing number of fish weighed could be returned to Rainy Lake safely.
An additional fundraiser was created to help offset rising costs with the introduction of Bobber’s Big Bass Bargains.