Fishing tournaments
The local area will share the national spotlight again this summer when the ESPN cameras return to Delta County for the BASS Federation Nation Northern Divisional event. The waters of the Bays de Noc beckon anglers from eight states vying to qualify for the BASS Federation Nation Championship, referred to as "the world championship of amateur bass fishing."
The event is scheduled for Aug. 10-14 and will be hosted by the Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We're excited to have the national BASS tournament and ESPN making a stop here for the second year," said Steve Masters of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This shows once again that the waters of Little Bay and Big Bay are a great destination for fishermen looking for bass, walleye and multiple other species of fish."
The Northern Divisional is one of six BASS tournament events held at various locations between March 30 and Sept. 18 and culminating in the 2009 championships Oct. 25-31 at a location yet to be announced.
Eight anglers from the Northern Divisional will earn a berth in this year's championship event.
The anglers practice Monday and Tuesday of tournament week with the competition being waged Wednesday through Friday.
The BASS Federation event may be the biggest in terms of national exposure, but it is by no means the only fishing competition slated for the Bays De Noc this summer.
The Bays de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishing Club is hosting three walleye tournaments, including the popular Wal-Mart Bays Classic Aug. 16. There is also a perch derby slated for early May and a salmon derby in Fairport in mid-July.
Here is a schedule of events:
- May 2 - BDNGLSF Perch Derby;
- June 13 - Camp 7 Kids Fishing Day sponsored by the National Forest Service;
- June 14 - Early Bird Walleye Tournament;
- July 11-12 - BDNGLSF/Moonshine Lures salmon derby in Fairport;
- Aug. 8 - BDNGLSF Kids Fishing Day, Escanaba Harbor;
- Aug. 10-14 - BASS Federation Nation Northern Divisional Tournament;
- Aug. 16 - Wal-Mart Bays Classic Walleye Tournament, held in conjunction with Gladstone Kids Derby;
- Aug. 22 - Wheats Bar Walleye Tournament;
- Sept. 20 - Last Chance Walleye Tournament;
- Sept. 26 - National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Great Lakes Sports and Rec Club, BDNGLSF will have a trout pond there.
The sport fishing club walleye tourneys are based out of the Gladstone harbor. In an effort to get more people involved, those participating will now be able to trailer their boat to launch wherever they choose. For information, contact the Bay View Bait & Tackle Shop in Gladstone at (906) 786-1488.
