“We are looking forward to a fantastic champions’ night Thursday evening at Lake Mayer and then having a tremendous day of fishing on Saturday between all branches of the military,” said tournament organizer Byron (Bubba) Stephens of Bass Anglers Plus, Inc. Active duty, National Guard, and Reservists will be honored along with special honors for Vietnam veterans.

Stephens said the tournament will feature two boats with Army personnel, two with Navy men, two with Air Force anglers, two with Marines and two with Coast Guardsmen. The military anglers will be paired with 10 anglers from local fishing clubs. Two other boats will have teams composed of a safety officer and a military representative and a public relations representative and a military person.

Trophies for first and second place will be awarded to the top local anglers along with a big fish trophy. All military anglers will receive a trophy.

“We also have a celebrity angler here for the tournament,” Stephens said. “Mike DelVisco, a pro angler sponsored by Texas Roadhouse, participated last year and wanted to come back for this year’s tournament.”

Because of the unusually warm spring, Stephens said fishing may be a little tougher this year than it was last year when it took 15 ½ pounds for first place and the big fish weighed 5 ½ pounds.

“Last year during practice we were releasing bass from 7 to 10 pounds, but this year with the very warm winter the fish have already spawned so fishing may be a little harder. Some of the anglers have struggled to catch some decent fish, but we know they are there.”

The public is invited to observe and participate without cost, Stephens said. The lake has a two-mile-long walkway around it so people can observe the fishing and there are many recreational amenities for families, including children.

The awards ceremony will be held at 1:30 Saturday. Donations may be made to Bass Anglers Plus, Inc., PO Box 163, Guyton, GA 31312. The tournament is sponsored by Bass Anglers Plus, Inc., and Chatham county Park Services.

The Wounded Warrior tournament is the first of two major events held by Bass Anglers Plus, Inc., for the military each year. The 3^rd Annual Take A Soldier Fishing Bass Brawl, will be held on the Savannah River out of Hardeeville, S.C., this summer.

“We will have 30 to 40 boats for that event, with great anglers and military personnel participating. FLW comes in to support it and they bring their big weigh-in trailer and run the tournament professionally,” Stephens said.

 

Take a Soldier Fishing 2nd Annual Wounded Warrior Event

Lake Mayer, Savannah, GA

Saturday, April 14

www.takeasoldierfishing-ga.org

Maj. Byron A. Stephens US Army Ret., 912-224-3230
Byron (Bubba) Stephens Jr., 912-667-4842