Fishing Tournament Helps Raise Money For Breast Cancer Walk
By: Amy Mearkle
Updated: August 1, 2011
HUNTINGDON -- Fishermen spent a day casting lines hoping to reel in a big one while they were also reeling in some money for a good cause.
The first annual Coach Fields Classic fishing tournament was held on Saturday July 30th in Huntingdon County. Travis Wisor, a Huntingdon County native and the owner of Central PA Bass Fishing Adventures created this first time outing. The outing was hosted at The Inn at Edgewater Acres.
14 anglers took part in the smallmouth and largemouth catch, measure, and release fishing tournament by paying a $30 entry fee. Money raised at the event is being donated to the Central Pennsylvania Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk that is hosted by the American Cancer Society. This year's walk will take place on Saturday, October 1st at the Penn State Altoona Campus. Between entry fees and donations, this year's fishing tournament will be casting out close to $500.00 to the American Cancer Society.
"I named the tournament after Coach Fields because during his time at Juniata Valley, as a basketball coach and high school teacher, he had such a positive influence on me and so many other members of the Juniata Valley community," said Wisor. "Coach Fields loves to fish. He is also widely known in the area as someone who is always looking for a way to help somebody. We thought that having a fishing tournament that raises money to help save lives and end breast cancer deserves to have Coach Fields' name all over it," said Wisor.
Fishermen checked in on Friday night and were each given a ruler. Fishing began on Saturday morning. While fishing contestants were to lay the fish that they caught down on the ruler, take a picture of the fish that clearly shows the length, and then release the fish back into the water. No fish were killed as a result of this tournament. They were able to fish until 9pm. At that time they returned to the Inn at Edgewater Acres to show photos of their fish. The anglers then enjoyed a picnic style meal donated by Mark and Deb Saussure of Edgewater Acres.
Todd Davis of Alexandria took the top prize for the Smallmouth Bass category reeling in a mammoth Smallmouth that measured 18 and inches long.
Chris Voltz from Pittsburgh took the top Largemouth Bass category prize with one that measured 12 inches.
"A number of businesses jumped on board with us to make this a great event. I can't thank them enough for their generosity," said Wisor at the tournament awards dinner. Each contestant was given a special bag of fishing supplies donated by Doctor D's Tackle Shack owner Don Leright of Huntingdon. The top winners also received custom made flashlight holsters from AP Tactical Holsters and gift cards from Dick's Sporting Goods and Hoss's.
"We hope to make this an annual event and we want to make it bigger and better every year," said Wisor.
To learn more about the Coach Fields Classic visit : www.centralpabass.com
To learn more about Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the regional walk being held October 1st visit: www.makingstrides.acsevent.org/paaltoona or check out Facebook at Central
Pennsylvania Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Photo: Travis Wisor Owner of Central PA Bass Fishing Adventures with Deb Saussure from The Inn at Edgewater Acres.
The first annual Coach Fields Classic fishing tournament was held on Saturday July 30th in Huntingdon County. Travis Wisor, a Huntingdon County native and the owner of Central PA Bass Fishing Adventures created this first time outing. The outing was hosted at The Inn at Edgewater Acres.
14 anglers took part in the smallmouth and largemouth catch, measure, and release fishing tournament by paying a $30 entry fee. Money raised at the event is being donated to the Central Pennsylvania Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk that is hosted by the American Cancer Society. This year's walk will take place on Saturday, October 1st at the Penn State Altoona Campus. Between entry fees and donations, this year's fishing tournament will be casting out close to $500.00 to the American Cancer Society.
"I named the tournament after Coach Fields because during his time at Juniata Valley, as a basketball coach and high school teacher, he had such a positive influence on me and so many other members of the Juniata Valley community," said Wisor. "Coach Fields loves to fish. He is also widely known in the area as someone who is always looking for a way to help somebody. We thought that having a fishing tournament that raises money to help save lives and end breast cancer deserves to have Coach Fields' name all over it," said Wisor.
Fishermen checked in on Friday night and were each given a ruler. Fishing began on Saturday morning. While fishing contestants were to lay the fish that they caught down on the ruler, take a picture of the fish that clearly shows the length, and then release the fish back into the water. No fish were killed as a result of this tournament. They were able to fish until 9pm. At that time they returned to the Inn at Edgewater Acres to show photos of their fish. The anglers then enjoyed a picnic style meal donated by Mark and Deb Saussure of Edgewater Acres.
Todd Davis of Alexandria took the top prize for the Smallmouth Bass category reeling in a mammoth Smallmouth that measured 18 and inches long.
Chris Voltz from Pittsburgh took the top Largemouth Bass category prize with one that measured 12 inches.
"A number of businesses jumped on board with us to make this a great event. I can't thank them enough for their generosity," said Wisor at the tournament awards dinner. Each contestant was given a special bag of fishing supplies donated by Doctor D's Tackle Shack owner Don Leright of Huntingdon. The top winners also received custom made flashlight holsters from AP Tactical Holsters and gift cards from Dick's Sporting Goods and Hoss's.
"We hope to make this an annual event and we want to make it bigger and better every year," said Wisor.
To learn more about the Coach Fields Classic visit : www.centralpabass.com
To learn more about Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the regional walk being held October 1st visit: www.makingstrides.acsevent.org/paaltoona or check out Facebook at Central
Pennsylvania Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Photo: Travis Wisor Owner of Central PA Bass Fishing Adventures with Deb Saussure from The Inn at Edgewater Acres.
