Jul 13, 2008 By Rod Schoener 4 min read

Serious bass and walleye fishermen will have a chance to win some cash and help a worthy cause in the process Sunday, July 27 as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosts its inaugural Fish for Life tournament at the Youghiogheny Reservoir. The idea for the tournament came from Scott Gates’ wife who works at Uniontown Hospital and an avid fundraiser for the charity.

Scott said, “She wanted to do something to raise more money other than the raffles that are held at the hospital, plus the donation can at S&S Bait and Tackle at Markleysburg.”

Scott, who works at S&S and is an active tournament fisherman said, “She asked if we could do a fishing tournament, and I said, why not? We can try.

“We put it all together with the help of Chris Phillips who is the coordinator for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She thought it was an excellent idea, so we got things going, and it’s really taking off.”

The Yough Walleye Association will oversee the tournament.

All proceeds from the tournament will go to the Society and its annual Light the Night Walk, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Uniontown Stadium.

In 2007 the Light the Night Walk raised over $34 million for research and patient services.

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.

Gates said tournament sponsors are looking for support from various bass and walleye fishing organizations, including walleye clubs in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

Gates has been receiving many inquiries from bass fishermen and looks to hear from the walleye fishermen once club officers get the word to their memberships.

While preregistration is preferred, fishermen can sign up the day of the tournament, but they will have to pay an additional $5 fee.

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

Gates said, “We will pay five places in each division. Based on a field of 50 boats, first place will be $1,500. The first 10 places in each division will receive plaques, plus plaques will be awarded for the biggest fish in each division.

“The winning team in each division will receive one $100 gift certificate from Woodlands World, plus other consolation prizes will be drawn after the weigh-in.”

Trolling ey Sport Fishing Charters out of Copley, Ohio, donated a walleye-fishing trip for six fishermen. The trip will be awarded in a raffle drawing after the completion of the tournament.

Advance entry fee is $100 per boat.

Boats will launch in two flights. Walleye boats will go off first and will be followed by the bass boats.

Walleye boats have to check in by 4 p.m., and bass boats by 4:30.

Bass fishermen can only use artificial baits only.

Many local business have signed on as tournament sponsors, but Gates said that they will accept all the help they can get.

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or wanting to make donations can contact Gates.

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

Fishing news

Walleye fishing has been hit-and-miss at the Yough of late.

Some limit out and others start out good with three or four catches before being pushed off the lake by the many pop-up storms we’ve had lately.

Trolling crankbaits and nightcrawlers have been pretty effective.

Gates said, “Most guys are prefishing for the tournament and are not saying much.

“However, I do not that the largemouth seem to be biting better than the smallmouth on most days, but there was one guy who fished for three days and caught 25 smallies, all over 20 inches.”

Trout fishing has been pretty good at the tailraces with sulfur dry flies and mealworms producing.

Before the creeks became pretty muddy, everybody was catching fish, and Gates said he heard of a 28-incher caught at Meadow Run.

Trout fishing has been good on most days. The thing that seems to turn them off is high and murky water.

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