Fishing in the 27th annual Lake Nepessing Bass Club tournament won’t be easy ? just ask Larry Gargus.
‘It’s a tough lake to figure out,? said Gargus, a Lapeer resident and employee at Jan’s Sport Shop, Inc., 7285 State Road, Goodrich, the tournament’s main sponsor. ‘No one ever dominates or wins all the time.?
This year’s tournament is slated to start at 7 a.m. Sunday, May 28 at the Holloway Reservoir’s Walleye Pike Boat Launch in Davison, with check-in taking place from 4-6 a.m. The competition lasts until 3 p.m.
Jan’s Sport Shop general manager Brad Hempton said the shop has sponsored the tournament for its entire existence.
‘We were the first bass boat dealer in the state of Michigan, and Lake Nepessing Bass Club just recently celebrated their 30th anniversary ? they were the first bass club in the state,? Hempton said.
The Lake Nepessing tournament is also sponsored by several other businesses, including Brown’s Do-It Center, 7281 S. State Road, Goodrich.
Gargus said he expects between 60 to 70 teams, consisting of two people each, to participate in the tournament, which yields a first prize payoff of $4,000.
‘They come from all over the state to fish because the payoff is so good,? he said of the tournament’s contestants. ‘At one time, it was the biggest payout in the state.?
Gargus is a seasoned veteran of the Lake Nepessing tournament, having taken part in the past 23 events. He said he takes part in between 16-18 fishing tournaments each year.
Gargus also said teams catch many different sizes of fish. ‘The public is invited, and we usually have a good crowd for the weigh-in,? he said. ‘The winners have some small-mouth bass as well as some large-mouth bass.?
He also said it is tough to predict what the weather will be like on Memorial Day weekend (the tournament takes place the day before Memorial Day), as the weather has varied each year of the tournament.
‘You never know what the weather’s going to be like,? he said. ‘It’s a typical Memorial Day weekend.?
The team entry fee for the tournament is $150, which must be paid by Saturday, May 20. There is also a late entry fee of $175, which must be paid in cash.
Details: Jan’s Sport Shop, (810) 636-2241.