“Last year we gave them $2,600 and it’s been somewhere around that every year,” said organizer John Hair who operates The Tackle Shop on Columbia Road. “So far, we’ve raised between $7,000 and $8,000 for the Angel Tree Program.”

Hair explained that the tournament, which draws about 90 boats each year, was started to honor a local marine dealership owner who died suddenly a few years ago of a heart attack.

“Chuck Chapel owned Lakeside Marine and we decided to honor him by holding a tournament that gives to the Angel tree program through Journey Community Church here in Evans,” Hair said.

In The Angel Tree Program, tags featuring the first name of a child from a needy family, the child’s age, gender and gift wishes, are placed on Christmas trees at area Walmart stores, the Augusta Mall, CSRA Credit Union, the Kroc Center and Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores. Donors can pick a child and buy a gift for Christmas.

Hair said prizes provided by Zoom Bait Company, along with a big-screen television, will be raffled at the tournament, with all the money raised by the raffle going to The Angel Tree.

Originally scheduled for Dec. 7, the tournament was moved to Dec. 14, Hair said. Entry fee for the tournament, which will be held out of Wildwood Park, is $100 with a $10 optional Big Fish Pot. First place is guaranteed $5,000 and the payout will be divided to one every 10 boats, he said.

“We will have pre-registration here at The Tackle Shop (4009 Columbia Road, Martinez, Ga.) from 5 to 7 p.m., Dec. 10,” he noted.

“Fishing at Clarks Hill has been pretty good and we expect it to be that way for the tournament,” Hair said. “It too 22 pounds to win a tournament on the lake this past Saturday and right at 12 pounds just to get a check. The fish are starting to get in the ditches and there is a pretty good jig bite going on with a Green Fish Big Rubber Jig.

 

4th Annual Chuck Chapel Memorial Team Tournament

Sat, Dec 14, 2013

Clarks Hill Lake

Wildwood Park

Call John Hair at The Tackle Shop, (706) 432-8225