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Saturday, July 26, 2008
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Gull & greats Major bass fishing returns to state to benefit hall of fame Outdoors Editor For Ron Schara, the combination was undeniable: A great cause and a great Minnesota fishing lake.
The result: This week's Minnesota Bound Invitational Bass Tournament on Gull Lake.
"Three guys really into bass fishing tournaments came to me last winter and said they would like to see a first-class bass tournament on a little larger scale come back to Minnesota," Schara, host of the popular "Minnesota Bound" television series, said of how the tournament came about. A major bass fishing tournament hasn't been hosted in the state in more than two years, he said. "They asked if I would lend my name and the 'Minnesota Bound' name to it.
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The Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame has relocated to Gander Mountain in Baxter. The grand reopening of the hall of fame is scheduled Friday with an open house from 4-7 p.m. at Gander Mountain.
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Brainerd Dispatch/ Brian S. Peterson
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"I can't remember a tournament charity cause that dealt with fishing, and I said if we could find a fishing-related cause, I think I'd do it."
And, according to Schara, what better cause than the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame. Formerly housed in the Reed's Sporting Goods building in Baxter, it was without a home for months after the Reed's store was bought by Gander Mountain - until recently, when it popped up bigger and better than ever in Baxter's Gander Mountain store. All proceeds from the tournament will go toward ensuring that the nonprofit hall of fame survives.
"For starters, we knew the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame needed a shot," said Schara, part of the hall's charter class of 2000. "Then we thought about where it (the tournament) might be. And we chose Gull because it's a great fishing lake and in the heart of Minnesota tourism. And if we had it in the Twin Cities it wouldn't get the attention it would get on Gull Lake. We talked to the (Brainerd Lakes) Chamber and Cragun's (Resort). One thing led to another, and here we are."
The $75,000 tournament, scheduled Thursday through Saturday, will be headquartered at Cragun's Resort. Some 60 professional anglers are expected to compete, and the list of entrants resembles a who's who of Minnesota fishing. Among those expected to compete are hall of famers Al and Ron Lindner as well as a number of proven bass tournament anglers from around the state.
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One of numerous walleye mounts at the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame - with "Mr. Walleye" Gary Roach's hall of fame display in the background.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Brian S. Peterson
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Festivities kick off Thursday morning with a youth/observer event in which each competing angler will take one youth and one adult fishing for the day. A banquet Thursday night will honor members of the hall of fame, and the majority of current members are expected to attend for a meet-and-greet session. The hall of fame will conduct a silent auction, with prizes ranging from guided fishing trips with members of the hall of fame to tackle and autographed memorabilia.
The tournament is scheduled Friday and Saturday, with weigh-in ceremonies open to the public each day at Cragun's.
Competitors may weigh five fish per day, and Breezy Point's Brian Brown, who regards Gull as his home lake, figures 10 bass weighing a total of 30 to 32 pounds will win the event. First place is worth $25,000 in cash and prizes.
"It sounds like it will be a cool event," said Brown, one of a several area pros expected to compete in the tournament. "And it's for the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame this year. And it sounds like they want to keep doing it that way (holding a hall of fame fundraising tournament in the area). It sounds like they want to keep doing it (the tournament) on the basis of that. Hopefully it will keep going every year."
Schara is equally as hopeful.
"It (the response to the tournament) has been positive," he said. "If it goes off well the thought is to revisit it. It depends on the support. But if that happens we'll probably bring it back. And we might rotate some of the fishing charities."
But for this year, it's all about the hall of fame.
"There will be a lot of regular tournament guys that fish regardless of what it is," Brown said. "But there will be a lot of (big) names - helping the hall of fame will be a big thing. They'll be there because of the hall."
Said Schara: "A lot of us feel strong about making this happen. It's another reason for coming.
"It will be nice seeing them again, the hall of famers. They're mostly friends of mine or people I certainly admire. And I'll be around some of the tournament anglers and see what they have on the end of their lines. I'll take in what those guys are doing. I like to think I'm a good fisherman, but in a tournament setting, it's a lot tougher than when I was fishing tournaments.
"I look forward to spending some down time (in the Brainerd lakes area). We really appreciate the community support. And Gull Lake is one of the (state's) top fishing lakes."
BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864.
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