In the past 26 years the Jim Ledbetter Memorial Team Bass Tournament has become one of the largest charity bass tournaments on the East Coast and has raised more than $770,000 for cancer research in the process.

“If cancer doesn’t get you it’s going to get someone you know and love,” said Curtis Barlowe, tournament director. Hosted by the Balls Creek Bassmasters, the 27^th Ledbetter Tournament will be held on Lake Norman Saturday with a $38,000 Ranger Bass Boat package as first prize.

“This is the first year we have partnered with Ranger Boats,” Barlowe said. “Denver Marine and Ranger boats are providing a 45^th Year Anniversary boat as the grand prize.”

Second prize is $2,000, third is $1,600 and the payout goes down to 20^th place which will get $200. Entry fee for the tournament is $140, which includes the Big Bass Pot. First big bass gets 70 percent of the pot, second gets 30 percent and the third big bass will get $200, donated by Dr. Ray Reaves.

Other special awards include :

Top Adult and Child (under 16) Team, $500, donated by Pepsi; Top Senior Citizen Team (55 and older) $500, donated by Corning Cable Systems; and Top Husband and Wife Team, $500, donated by Big Daddy’s.

Registration will be held at Queen’s Landing on Highway 150 from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday. Late registration will be held at the landing from 5 to 7 a.m. Saturday.

Proceeds from the tournament go to the V Foundation, named after the late Jim Valvano, the basketball coach who led the N. C. State Wolfpack to a basketball national championship in 1983. The tournament is named for Jim Ledbetter, legendary television fishing show host and professional angler from the Catawba County area. Both men died of cancer.

“We partnered with the V Foundation about 10 years ago and every penny we raise goes to fight cancer,” Barlowe said.

“I think we are going to have a great tournament,” he said. “We’ve got three days of warm weather before Saturday. I think that will move the fish up and turn them on.”

Good fishing, plus a return to Queen’s Landing should increase entries considerably, he noted.

“We normally have 200 to 250 boats. Our largest tournament was 267 boats and the most money we’ve raised over the 26 years in a one-day event was over $40,000 for cancer research, which is really important to us.”

Odds are good for an excellent turnout Saturday, Barlowe said.

“We’ve got people from as far away as West Virginia who come to this tournament every year. We already have anglers from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia pre-registered.”

Jim Ledbetter Memorial Team Bass Tournament

Sat, Mar 9, 2013

Lake Norman

Queen’s Landing

Call 828-308-2022

www.teamdenvermarine.com