Published: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 08:20 AM
Catfish tourney helps kids
Boat Sales of Lake Wylie launches first event Nov. 7
LAKE WYLIE --
Most fishing tournaments are about bringing home the big fish and the big paycheck, and this one is, too. But the inaugural Boat Sales of Lake Wylie Catfish Tournament also is about bringing children to good homes.
“This is the first shot,” said Jeff Jackson, sales manager at Boat Sales of Lake Wylie. “A lot of the guys around the office like fishing, and we thought it'd be something fun to do and also it would be a way to involve the community.”
The event will be held, rain or shine, Nov. 7. Most of the money goes to the top anglers, but a portion will be donated to the Joe Wayne Jackson Legacy Child Fund, began shortly after the death of Jeff Jackson's father in a plane crash five years ago last weekend. The fund was a passion of Jeff's mother, and way of keeping his father's name and memory alive, Jeff said. Run through the North Carolina-based ABBA Fund, Child Legacy Fund donations provide money for families looking to adopt children through “interest-free covenant loans to Christian couples who are called by God to expand their families through adoption.”
“The cost of adoption is the number one concern for families considering it,” said Jason Kovacs, director of ministry development with ABBA. “It's a huge commitment.”
Founded five years ago in Charlotte, ABBA helps with both domestic and international adoption. The average cost for one adoption is about $25,000. Without assistance from donations, his group would not be able to do what it does, Kovacs said.
“We rely 100 percent on donations,” he said. “100 percent of the donations that folks give for adoption go straight to helping people adopt.”
The tournament begins with a shotgun start from Buster Boyd Access Area at 8 a.m., with the last boat weighing in there at 4 p.m. A 7 a.m. captains' meeting will be held prior, with prizes awarded at 5 p.m. First place takes home 50 percent of the pot, with 20 percent for second, 10 percent for third and 20 percent to the Joe Wayne Jackson Legacy Child Fund. Registration is $25 in advance or $30 day of, with a $10 lunker pool.
Each boat can weigh in up to three fish. Anglers must be 18 years or older, unless accompanied by an adult with parental permission.
Cary Vanden Broecke, vice president of the Carolina Catfish Club, would like to see the tournament become an annual event.
“We're trying to get more members to come out and fish it, as many as we can,” he said. “I have a feeling a good many of our club members will.”
The catfish club holds regular tournaments on three nearby lakes, including Wylie. More than 20 regular members, along with a few number spikes come tournament time, mean plenty of anglers who know where to look for catfish, Vanden Broecke said. A club tournament two weeks after the Nov. 7 event could also help bring out anglers itching to get their lines wet.
“There's some really good guys out there who know what they're doing,” Vanden Broecke said.
Jackson isn't sure how many anglers might show up, but he won't let it bother him either way.
“We're just shooting for a good time,” Jackson said. “If we have five people show up, great. If we have 100, even better.”
While the charity is important to Jackson, it doesn't hurt that he gets the chance to fish with friends and maybe even remind an angler or two about his company's winterizing services.
“It's a good time to do it,” he said.
For more information on the event, call 803-631-5432. For more information on The ABBA Fund, visit abbafund.org.
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