Tournament offers activities for everyone

There are 67 teams listed thus far on the IFBC Web site at ifallsbass.com.

The 2007 IFBC champion team was Dale Labelle and Karl Howells with a total weight of 30.13 pounds. The team was followed by the second place team of Dave Genz and Larry Bollig, and third place team of Scott Dingwall and Jeff Gustafson.

The 2006 champions were John Janousek and Chad Johnson with a tournament record 30.75 pounds. The team was followed by Labelle and Howells, and Dingwall and Gustafson.

The 2005 champions were Dingwall and Gustafson with 27.73 pounds. They were followed by Travis Peterson and Steve Mattson, and Labelle and Howells.

Much of the success of the tournament is credited by anglers and organizers to the local community, which comes out in force to support the event. Many local volunteers serve on shore activities and also in their own boats as spotters, on-the-water emergency teams, water weigh slip and time keepers. Volunteers also provide their own vehicles as dock workers and to provide fish transportation and care.

Anglers will rise early Friday and Saturday for a group breakfast before the scheduled 7 a.m. departure to their assigned spots on Rainy River or Rainy Lake. Fish weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day with master of ceremonies Chip Leer announcing the event. The awards ceremony and raffle drawing will be held on Saturday evening starting at 7 p.m.

Ward Merrill, vice president of the bass championship board, said members are very mindful that this is an end of summer event, before Labor Day, just before kids go back to school, and more families are home to help make the event a major boost for the community.

“The objective of the board is to view the bass tournament as an economic development effort for this community,” said Merrill.

Merrill is most impressed with the level of city, community and business support for the tournament.

“It hasn’t been an uphill battle with this at all,” he added.

Merrill is also pleased with the fish transportation system, which allows the bass catch to be brought to weigh in via temperature controlled, aerated coolers and then released back to their location alive.

“We have a remarkably low mortality rate,” he added. “We might have lost one fish last year.”

One reason the tournament has grown considerably with each year, Merrill said, is that the board continues to add non-angler events to attract crowds and anglers after a day of fishing. This year the board added Thursday, a third day, to start the boat parade, along with more headline entertainment at night.

This addition of the arts and crafts show, the Family Fun Zone, the antique cars and the truck and tractor exhibit results in anglers telling Merrill and others they appreciate how the town embraces the tournament. Sometimes a tournament is about fishing and awards only. Here, Merrill added, the festival adds another element.

The Backus Community Center and St. Thomas partnership has put together the first Budak Memorial Charity Bike Ride. It was named for Mike Budak, an avid cyclist who died in 2007. In addition to competition racing and commuting by bicycle to work at Grand Mound History Center, Budak started local bicycle groups and Merrill thought the ride was a good way to honor him.

Bicycle enthusiasts may enjoy the opportunity to take part in the first Budak Memorial Charity Bike Ride on Saturday at 9 a.m. The route options include a seven mile round trip ride to Ranier; or a 26 mile, three-hour round trip ride to Voyageurs National Park. Lunch will be served to all riders at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall until 1 p.m. All paid riders receive a T-shirt, energy bar, water, picnic lunch and a chance to win a door prize.

Registration after Aug. 16 is $35 per person or $95 per family. Register at www.stthomas-ifalls.com or at The Sports Shop, St. Thomas School or the Backus Community Center.

The non tournament activities begin Thursday afternoon and the Parade of Boats will begin at 6 p.m.

Thursday’s entertainment includes the “Teen Idol” and “Casting Call” talent contests followed by the “Poor Boys” rock and roll band. Friday’s entertainment includes “The Country Nites Band”, the “Tina & Lena Comedy Show” and “The Swingin’ Seratomans”. Saturday’s entertainment includes the “Ronald McDonald Show”, Pat Porter, and “GB Leighton”. The beer garden opens at 5 p.m. daily.

The Early Iron Car Show, featuring classic cars from all over the area, will be parked on Third Street on Friday. The cars will be replaced by the biggest trucks and tractors from the area in the same location on Saturday.

The Family Fun Zone events will run each day of the tournament. This will be the first year of the Backus Arts & Crafts Festival.

The Family Fun Zone will be located in Smokey Bear Park. Along with minnow races and kid's casting, the RAD ZOO will have a live reptile demonstration. There will be games and mini cheerleading with prizes and all free of charge. Kids can also enjoy tractor rides, pizza and pie. A parental consent form is required.

The Fun Zone will also feature Ronald McDonald in person on Saturday at 10 a.m., local children’s author Mary Casanova at 11:30 a.m. and magician Fritz Herring at noon.

Pete Schultz, director of the area’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the impact of more than 120 anglers coming from out of town with their families is a noticeable impact on the local economy. Hotel owners report to Schultz that the fans of the tournament are coming to town and renting rooms.

Schultz said this is a major accomplishment just before fall, when kids begin football and other extra curricular activities which might prevent families from traveling. He said that the more simultaneous activities with the tournament, such as the Christian Motorcyclist Rally and the Budak bicycle ride, only help the positive impact.

“Now if we can only do this in April,” he added.