So the two started the Mountain Music Kids Bass Tournament on Douglas Lake as a way of getting youngsters involved in fishing.

“I think maybe 16 or 17 kids showed up that first time,” said co-tournament director Chris Covington. Once it got started, he noted, it really took off and became a major attraction for youngsters from the area around Douglas Lake.

“About four years ago we reached 400 boats and we have about 400 boats each tournament. That’s as many as the Tennessee Valley Authority will allow.” Covington said the tournament has filled up for this year.

As of Sunday when they started taking entries, by the end of the day there were 330 boats already entered. As the entries have grown, so has the participation by the local business community and by volunteers who serve on the tournament committee. Four years ago, Covington said, the tournament committee gave away the first boat in the history of the tournament.

“That was a random draw off the boat numbers. This year we will give away two boats. One will be awarded in a random draw off the boat numbers and we will hold a raffle for the other one.”

Covington said there will be plenty of food and prizes for the kids – hot dogs, hamburgers and Mayfield Ice Cream.

“No kid will leave the tournament without something. We’ll have grab bags and t-shirts for them. We will pay 100 places with first place getting $1,000 and last place getting $50. Even the kids who walk across the stage and don’t weigh enough to earn a check will get something – tackle boxes, rod and reel combos and other tackle.”

The day will begin about 10:30 a.m. with food and prizes and check-in. There will be a sanctioned Casting Kids Competition conducted by the East Tennessee Bassmasters and local pro angler Bobby Joe Ferguson, who won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Douglas Lake in June, will be on hand to talk fishing with the youngsters and even give away tackle boxes and other prizes.

The kids tournament is a “real success story,” Covington said.

And he should know. He was one of the original 16 or 17 kids who fished the first tournament. Now 33, he is one of three co-directors for the tournament.

When Greenleef died about 10 years ago Jackson went looking for another fishing buddy and hooked up with Paul Loy. The three of them now work on the tournament year-round, Covington said.

“But it’s way more than just us three. We have 20 or so people and we hold meetings once a month. Then the closer we get to the tournament we meet once a week. We’ve got people out getting the sponsorship. It’s a group effort.”

 

21st Annual Mountain Music Kids Bass Tournament

Sat, Jul 30, 2011

Douglas Lake

Douglas Dam

Call Stanly Jackson or Chris Covington, 865-933-0082 or 865-607-0810