The 18th annual Austin Peay State University Governors Bass Tournament is just one month away.
This year’s edition will be held Saturday, May 12, at Kentucky Lake, with registration and boat launching from Paris Landing, Tenn., State Park.?Last season’s tourney was postponed one week from May 22nd, due to high waters and flooding that enveloped the area. Despite the delay, the tourney still drew 243 boats.
Twelve thousand dollars in prize money will be awarded with a guaranteed first-place prize of $5,000 for a second straight year. Second-place is guaranteed $1,500. Third and fourth-place will receive $1,000 and $600, respectively. The top 25 places will receive prizes.
Each individual entering the tournament has the opportunity to win the grand door prize, a Mercury 150 HP FourStroke engine valued at more than $13,000. In addition, other door prizes will be awarded.
Sponsored by Mercury, Motorguide, The Leaf Chronicle, Legends Bank, Morgan Contractors Inc., Jenkins and Wynne Ford Lincoln Mercury Honda, Tailwater Marine and Tackle, WJZM 1400 AM, WKDZ 106.5 FM, WVRY 105.1 FM Solid Gospel, Walmart Supercenters (Clarksville), DBS and Associates Engineering, Inc. (David Smith), Grandpa’s Outdoors, The Tackle Box, The New Clarksville Marina at Liberty Park, Discover Clarksville, Clarksville Floor Covering, The Leaf-Chronicle, Gateway Tire and Service, Clarksville Online, Clarksville Sports Network along with the Governors Club, the tournament will benefit Austin Peay athletics.
The tourney will begin 6 a.m., Saturday, May 12, although all contestants must be checked in between 4-5:30 a.m., with a mandatory meeting on the water at 5:45 a.m. Pre-registration entry fee is $110 per boat (two people per boat), $125 after noon, Friday, May 11.
Fishing with artificial baits only is authorized with no motor trolling allowed. A five-fish limit per boat exists.
The Governors Club will have sausage biscuits prior to the tournament and hamburgers and hot dogs at weigh-in.
Weigh in will begin at 2:30 p.m. and boats launching will take place in order of postmark of entry form. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass measuring 15 inches (with mouth closed) will be weighed.
Last year, the team of Dustin Graves and Mickey Hazlett claimed the $5,000 first-place prize with a five-fish total of 21.55 pounds, including a big bass weighing in at 5.99 pounds.
For entry form and more information, stop by the APSU University Advancement office or call (931) 221-7024 or (931-221-7127), between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. After business hours, call (931) 624-2909 or (931) 436-1044. In addition, all this information, including the entry form, is available at the APSU athletics web site: www.LetsGoPeay.com.By: Brad Kirtley
