June 30, 2022 at 11:14 a.m.
Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament set for Aug. 27
Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament set for Aug. 27
From that sad event came the Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament. The tournament is run under the umbrella of the Wisconsin Bass Team Trail, which holds several other tournaments in the Northwoods as part of their trail.
Because Gaskill felt it was most important to get kids involved in fishing, the proceeds of the tournament have always gone to an organization that supports kids fishing. This year, proceeds will once again go to the GO Program. This program, the brain child of Kelly Callaway, who is also an avid bass angler, looks to get kids out fishing.
"I want them to just GO," Callaway said. "I want them to GO out fishing, GO out and have fun. GO out and be a kid." He works with several county foster care programs to distribute fishing equipment and sometimes other outdoor-related items. Kids in the foster system have already been through so much, Callaway said, that he just wanted to find a way to help them be a kid again.
Organizers of the Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament also work with the GO Program, soliciting any and all donations of fishing gear, tackle and any other fishing-related items from individuals who may no longer be using those things.
The tournament is held on Boom Lake in Rhinelander. For many years, Gaskill was the tournament director for the Hodag Bassmasters Boom Lake Open, so organizers thought it was a fitting venue for a memorial tournament to remember tournaments past lead by him.
The local Let's Go Fishing Hodag Chapter will be selling food and beverages at the event, and the public is invited to visit with volunteers and learn more about Let's Go Fishing and what they do in the community as well. There are also raffles and an awards ceremony after the weigh-in for the tournament. The public is also invited to come and watch the weigh-in and awards as well.
The tournament also features three Dash 4 Cash hours. They will be the nine o'clock, ten o'clock and noon hours. If a team believes they have the largest fish that will be weighed in during that hour, they can come back to the launch ramp and weigh that fish. It will then be part of their limit of fish for the day. The winner of each hour will receive $100 for having the big fish that hour. The Dash 4 Cash adds an element of strategy for teams, especially if they are up the river above Boom Lake. It takes some time to get back to the launch ramp, but it may be worth it to cash in on an extra $100.
The Rod Gaskill Memorial has many sponsors who come back year after year, providing cash and prizes for the anglers that fish. The raffle organizers, too, look to area businesses to provide raffle prizes for the raffle that is held after weigh-in. The raffles also go to support the GO Program.
Anyone who would like to get in to the Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament is welcomed to participate. All boats must be equipped with all U.S. Coast Guard approved safety equipment, must be at least 16 feet long and have at least a 25 hp motor. They must also have a working livewell. Jet boats and stick-drive boats are not allowed. All boats must also have a working kill switch. Liability insurance of $300,000 is needed for each boat that participates and horse power rating must be 250 or less. The entry fee is $150 with an optional $20 big bass pot.
Those interested in participating can download an entry form from the Wisconsin Bass Team Trail website wisconsinbassteamtrail.com by clicking on the Rod Gaskill Memorial tab. All rules and regulations can be found there as well. Teams are responsible for reading and understanding the rules in order to compete.
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.