Mr. Lake Murray Partners With The Marines’ Toys For Tots Campaign
The 6th annual Mr. Lake Murray Tournament will have “a few good men” helping out – and some even fishing – on Lake Murray Saturday. The Bass Federation of South Carolina, which sponsors the annual tournament, has partnered this year with the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots campaign.
“It seems like we have been pushed further back each year in scheduling the tournament because the ramps at Lake Murray are so busy,” said Rich Gerken, TBF-SC president. “We are now so close to December that we decided to do something like this for Christmas. We are looking forward to doing something good for them.”
Gerken said the tournament is an “open tournament.” Anglers do not have to be a TBF member to fish.
“We try to use the tournament as a kind of membership drive,” he said. “We are hoping to get some people into TBF. This year we also brought in the Toys for Tots campaign to make the tournament as beneficial to as many people as possible.”
Gerken said some Marines will participate in the tournament and there will be some at the weigh-in to collect what the tournament has raised for Toys for Tots. Anglers are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy valued at $20 or more or make a cash donation of $20 or more to the program. The toys and donations will be collected at registration the morning of the tournament.
“We hope this will be a big success for Toys for Tots,” Gerken said. “It feels good to do something worthwhile for other folks.”
Entry fee is $140 per boat, cash only at the ramp. Registration at the Dreher Island ramp will begin at 5:30 and boat numbers will be assigned by order of entry.
First place prize will be $2,500, based on a field of at least 50 boats, plus there will be a Big Bass award.
If the fishing success following the early October storms and flooding is any indication, fishing should be good this weekend following the heavy rains over the weekend and Monday, Gerken said.
“The water temperatures have cooled down and that usually gets them going, feeding up for the winter. Generally, this is a topwater time of year and that is always a good pattern to go after, but there are always some locals who know their brushpiles and other structure, and that produces, too.”
Gerken said it usually takes 20 pounds or more to win the Lake Murray tournament this time of year.
Mr. Lake Murray Bass Tournament
Sat, Nov 14, 2015
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Call Rich Gerken at (201) 772-6401
