Ontario angler surprises one of his fans

Trevor Barnucz holds up his surprise gift from fellow Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation angler Charles Sim.

DELHI, Ontario — Charles Sim inspired thousands of Canadian anglers when the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation competitor qualified for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

Only one other Canadian had ever done it.

Trevor Barnucz, son of Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation conservation director Jason Barnucz, was one of those anglers — a fact that Jason had mentioned to Sim.

So, in the spirit of giving, Sim surprised Trevor and his sister, Stefanie, with a gift for Christmas — a shirt, some keepsakes from the Classic and the lures he used there.

“Thank you, Charles, for your generous gift,” Jason wrote on Facebook after receiving the surprise. “The fact a Canadian made it to the grand stage of bass fishing was a feat many of us dream of, especially a 9-year-old boy. Charles’ gift will adorn the wall of Trevor’s bedroom alongside other mementoes of his fishing idols.