Aug 9, 2009 5 min read

Last July area bass and walleye fishermen were given a chance to win some cash and support a worthy cause while participating in their favorite pastime as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosted its inaugural “Fish For Life” tournament at the Youghiogheny Reservoir. Last year’s tournament was put together on short notice with 16 teams of walleye anglers and 19 teams of bass fishermen signing on for the inaugural event. The big winner for the day was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia as nearly $2,100 was raised.

The Society spends 76 percent of every dollar raised for patient services and cancer research, so in the end everyone was a winner.

There will be a change of venue for this year’s tournament, which will be held on the Monongahela River. The site of the event will be Washington County’s Ten Mile Creek Park at Fredericktown.

The second annual event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29.

Walleye and bass fishing clubs are encouraged to sign on to help out this worthy cause.

There are many good fishermen who regularly do well fishing for bass and walleye in the Mon, so why not put your talents to work for a good cause and a chance to put a little extra cash in your pocket?

Last year the walleye class was won by the team of Jim Gynn and Dave Jenco who caught three walleye, weighing 10.07 pounds.

Local walleye fishing celebrities Rich and Mark Fike who won the 1996 Cabela’s National Walleye Championship, finished fourth with one walleye that weighed in at 4.85 pounds, but it was enough to also win the Big Fish Trophy and the “lunker” pot.

Top honors in the bass event went to the duo of Jake Fazenbaker and John Brewer with a bag of six bass, weighing 12.16 pounds.

The team of Will Brantner and William Brantner, Jr caught the largest bass of the day. Their lunker weighed 3.88 pounds.

The Yough Walleye Association will again oversee the tournament, securing all necessary permits and insurance.

The Association will also handle the official weigh-ins, using its certified electronic scale.

Teams can enter either event, but they cannot compete in both.

The tournament is the brainchild of Scott Gates and his wife, Debbie, who is a cancer survivor.

Debbie was the inspiration for the inaugural tournament, but gives Scott the credit, saying, “It was pretty much his idea.

“We are enthused about the event even more right now since Scott recently lost his Uncle Bobby from Ohio to Leukemia.”

They have been busy rounding up sponsors.

“This year the economy is bad, and we haven’t had too many returns, but we’re hoping for the best,” She said. “I plan to get more circulars out this week.”

After surviving cancer, Debbie wanted to give something back and began raising money through candy sales where she worked and a donation box at S&S Bait and Tackle.

“We wanted to do more, so Scott and I began to brainstorm on what we can do to raise more money. We talked about a few things, including a cash bash, and Scott said, “What about a fishing tournament?’

“We did very well for putting it together on such short notice last year. Hopefully we do better this year. All we can do is pray for a better turnout. We’re hoping for 100 boats … at least 75.”

Sponsors already on board for this year’s tournament include Commonwealth Marketing Group, Yough Walleye Association, Gilleland & Merkosky Services, Farmington VFD, Cap ‘N Al & Sons, Avionics and Can-A-Bait.

In commenting more on her reason for getting involved in the tournament, Debbie said, “So many of our friends have been diagnosed with cancer. We’re really determined to raise more money, especially since Scott’s uncle lost his battle with lymphoma.

“It’s like, who doesn’t have cancer any more? Everybody knows somebody with cancer!”

That is all the more reason to join in the effort, especially if you are a fisherman or have a friend or family member who fell victim to this dreaded disease.

If you don’t fish, you can send along a donation in memory of a family member. There is no more fitting tribute to a loved one, especially if he or she was a fisherman.

Another way to support the cause is to join in the “Light The Night” walk Saturday, Sept. 26 at Uniontown Stadium.

Individuals or businesses that would like to support the cause with a donation or by joining Debbie’s team in the Light The Night Walk can do so by calling her at 724-439-0153.

Debbie said, “We had 15 walkers on our team last year and would like to have more this year.”

The Society designates all proceeds from the tournament to the Light the Night Walk.

It is a non-competitive walk, where supporters carry illuminated red balloons, patients and survivors carry illuminated white balloons and those walking in memory of someone carry illuminated gold balloons.

Entry fee is $ 100 per boat – $105 the day of the tournament.

There will be a lunker fish pot in each division, paying back 90 percent with 10 percent to go to the Society.

Payout will include five places in each division, and based on a field of 50 boats, it will be $1,500 to win. The first 10 places in each division will receive plaques, plus plaques will be awarded for the biggest fish in each division.

Check-in begins at 5 a.m. the day of the tournament. Boats will launch in two flights. The first is 6 a.m. the second is 6:30.

Walleye boats have to check in by 2 p.m., and bass boats before 2:30.

Bass fishermen can only use artificial baits only.

Entry forms are available at S&S and most area sport shops.

For tournament rules or more information, contact Gates by phone at 724-323-3477 or email him at walleyeangler@yahoo.com

Herald-Standard Outdoors Editor Rod Schoener can be reached on-line at rschoener@heraldstandard.com