“Everybody has been hollering they wanted a tournament that paid a little money and Keowee is a fish factory this time of year,” said Trad Whaley, founder of the foundation that bears his daughter’s name. “I am going to hold the tournament up there because of the demand and the fact that everybody loves to fish that lake. A lot of our sponsors are from that area, too, so this allows me to do something for them.”

And, he added, to do it for the kids helped by the foundation.

“We’ve helped a few families this year and we’ve made a big difference over the last five years,” he said. Whaley said the foundation, which has held an annual tournament on Lake Hartwell for the past four years, raises $5,000 to $7,000 annually to help families who have children like his daughter, Claire, who have special needs.

Whaley’s daughter, Claire, was diagnosed with Ischemic Hypoxic Encephalopathy which means that parts of her brain were deprived of oxygen when she stopped breathing right after birth. She has not been able to develop normally, has the most trouble with her vision, and also demonstrates characteristics of cerebral palsy.

Whaley and his wife Angie created the Claire Whaley Foundation when they were denied participation in some state and federal programs because their family income exceeded eligible limits. The foundation exists to provide support for middle class working families who have children with special needs.

“Claire is doing good. She has made some good strides,” Whaley said. “She is starting to sit up some on her own. She is not normal, but it is a Godsend just to still have her. To us she is normal.”

In order to increase the money raised by the foundation so they can help more families, Whaley said he is considering holding three tournaments a year – two opens plus the annual tournament, which he may move to Clarks Hill.

“We may put our annual tournament on Clarks Hill in either April or May and then do another open in the fall on Lake Hartwell,” he said. “There are so many tournaments that have sprouted up on Lake Hartwell it is hard to find a date for our annual tournament. Right now it does not look like we are going to be able to get it done on Hartwell that time of year.”

Whaley said he has been in negotiations with the Clarks Hill Committee, which conducts several high-profile charity tournaments on the lake, about joining forces for a Claire Whaley Foundation Tournament on Clarks Hill.

The Keowee tournament Jan. 14 should draw a large entry, Whaley said, because of the low entry fee and first place guarantee of $2,500 – and the excellent fishing.

“I think the fishing will be great by then. It was taking 21 pounds to win a tournament in October and November and since then it’s been taking anywhere from 14 to 18 pounds every weekend. We’ve had a mild winter so far, which should set things up for a winning stringer at 12 to 14 pounds.”

The cold front this week should push the fish deep which is were a lot of Keowee anglers like to fish for them, he said.

“If it turns cold the fish will bite, but I also believe by then some of the fish will be shallow. They will be fishing Blade runners, Shakey Heads and tubes off the bluffs and there is always the option for the drop shot.”

Entry fee for the tournament is $125, with an option $10 for Big Fish, and entries will be taken up until blastoff the morning of the tournament, Whaley said. Payback will be one in 10 places, based on 50 boats.

Anglers may weigh in a limit of five bass at least 12 inches long. Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and coosa bass may be weighed in.

 

Claire Whaley Foundation Open Bass Tournament

Sat, Jan 14, 2012

Lake Keowee

Gap Hill Landing

Call Trad Whaley at 864-378-0952