Gary Potter, president of International Falls Bass Championship recapped the fish-fun-filled weekend simply, “it was the best championship we’ve ever had.”
The seventh annual two-day, two-person team, two-location tournament brought in 61 teams and hundreds of community members and visitors. Thursday, Friday and Saturday included a variety of fishing and non-fishing related events catered to the whole family.
Included this year were a family fun zone each afternoon with games and inflatable entertainment for children, around 15 food and beverage vendors, an arts and crafts fair, the 5K Bass Dash, a classic car show, and nighttime entertainment featuring Damian the Hypnotist and the Teen Idol and Casting Call singing competitions.
Smokey Bear Park and the event’s main tent were packed with people young and old, who came out to enjoy the variety of events and what turned out to be a warm and dry festival.
“I did visit with people from Los Angeles and Arkansas who were in attendance and they were blown away by the enthusiasm of the crowd and how the volunteers just looked like they were having a great time,” Potter said. “International Falls should be very proud that they have made this event into Minnesota's premier fishing event. There is not another fishing event in the state of Minnesota that has what we have going on up north.”
Potter added that the championship once again proved to be a way for everyone to come down to the park and have some fun.
Next year, Potter said the board is looking at trying a few new things that will attract more people to the tent and make their experience better, including the second day weigh-ins.
“If the community liked this year’s weigh ins, wait until next year — we have some ideas that will kick it up a notch,” he said.
