The 21st annual Herman Gettelfinger Bass Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 5 at Fort Loudoun Lake, benefiting services provided by the Helen Ross McNabb Center.

This year the tournament will use the Big Bass format with weigh-ins every hour allowing each boat to weigh its single biggest fish against competitors’.  The new format will allow the tournament to give away a total of $26,500 in prize money, including a guaranteed $10,000 grand prize.  At each hourly weigh in prize money will be awarded to fisherman placing 1st-5th, a total of$1,500 per hour.

Early registration fee for each fisherman is $100 or $110 on the day of the tournament. For an official list of rules and regulations or registration information, participants should visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or contact Beth Farrow at beth.farrow@mcnabb.org, (865) 329-9030.

Fisherman will be permitted to launch from Tellico Canal Ramp, Toqua Recreational Ramp, and Louisville Ramp beginning at 5 a.m.  Fisherman launching after 9 a.m. must launch from Tellico Canal Ramp. The first casts will be thrown at 7 a.m. with weigh-ins beginning at 9 a.m. Weigh-ins will be held every hour until scales close at 3 p.m.

The Herman Gettelfinger Bass Tournament is one of the area’s most prominent fishing events drawing in fisherman from all over East Tennessee and the Southeast.  Over the past five years the tournament has grossed over $300,000 to provide mental health care, substance abuse treatment and social services to East Tennessee. Past participants are encouraged to spread the word to fellow anglers and make this year’s event the biggest yet.