“We have about 90 boats registered already,” Irwin said Monday, “which is about normal for the week of the tournament. We expect to have between 150 and 200 boats. A bunch will sign up on site Saturday. Some of the anglers like to get in the last flight going out because they get to fish longer.”

In the 23-year history of the tournament almost $800,000 has been raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tennessee and the tournament is a labor of love for Irwin, himself a product of the local Boys & Girls Club.

“My brothers and I were kids in our local Boys and Girls Club and it was very important to our family and to us in the development of our lives. And it continues to do great work for the local children,” said Irwin, former University of Tennessee football player and NFL veteran, who now serves as Knox County Juvenile Court Judge..

“My family also had a great love of fishing and I am a tournament fisherman myself. I wanted to have a quality tournament where the fishermen got paid back the money they pledge, so we work off sponsors and raise $15,000 to $16,000 that way.”

Irwin explained that all of the money donated by sponsors goes straight to the fund for the Boys & Girls Clubs. Due to his efforts Irwin was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame May 14, 2009, in Atlanta, Ga.

Entry fee for the tournament is $225 per boat, with a late fee of $10 assessed after 5 p.m. May 3. First place pays $10,000 guaranteed.

“We usually pay at least 30 places. The fishermen get back all their money by helping participate and raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs.”

Details on the tournament are available at three different websites, according to Patrice Staley who works for Irwin. The websites are for the Boys & Girls Clubs and a Facebook entry for the Tim Irwin Bass Tournament. They include : http://www.bgctnv.org/site/PageServer;

http://www.facebook.com/timirwinbasstourn; and

http://www.bgctnv.org/site/DocServer/Bass_Tournament_Form_2012.pdf?docID=1121.

“The Facebook page is new to the tournament and we are trying to gain exposure for it,” Staley said.

Irwin said historically it has taken around 20 pounds to win the tournament which starts at safe light out of Tellico Canal Ramp at Lenoir City, Tenn.

“Anglers can actually fish three lakes – they can fish Loudon or Tellico or, if they want to take the time to lock through, they can fish Watts Bar,” he said.

Although there are a few fish still spawning, the heaviest bags most likely will come fishing deep this weekend, he said.

“I think the majority of the fish will be caught off the banks, particularly up in the main part of the lake. They might find some fish on topwater early in the morning, but I think the big stringers will come a little farther off the bank than usual,” said Irwin.

“We had a very warm spring, the lake has been filling up and there is a moon coming this weekend, but by the time the guys get done practicing and messing with the fish on the beds I think the bigger stringers will come from those who find fish out in the deeper water.”

 

Tim Irwin Food City Bass Tournament

Sat, May 5, 2012

Fort Loudoun-Tellico Lakes

Tellico Canal Ramp

Call Patrice Staley, 865-215-6475