For the seventh consecutive year, veteran bass pro Chad Morgenthaler will host a benefit tournament at the popular and productive Rend Lake fishery near his Illinois home. This year’s event, to be held on October 6th, promises to be even bigger and better than the previous successes.
“It has grown to proportions where it’s the largest event in southern Illinois,” Morgenthaler said. “We had a hundred teams last year and we’ve moved the date back a little bit so it doesn’t conflict with other schedules, so we expect even more participation this year.”
The previous six tournaments have benefitted the Special Olympics Illinois, but a change in management at that organization necessitated a change. Rather than cancel the event altogether, Morgenthaler and his title sponsor, Jasper Engines, looked for ways to spread the wealth. They identified worthy benefactors in the Illinois Conservation Foundation, which supports youth hunting and fishing, as well as Five Star Industries, which provides a variety of services to help those with developmental disabilities improve their quality of life.
“Because of cutbacks in the state of Illinois, charities need money more than ever,” Morgenthaler explained. “So we’ll be giving to a variety of groups, including high school fishing programs and conservation efforts.”
Anglers who wish to compete can download an entry form at www.chadmorgenthaler.com, under the “Check it Out” tab. Alternatively, they can pay online by going to www.ilcf.org and following the “Events” link.
Jasper will be the presenting sponsor, and a variety of other companies, including Plano, Mercury, Minn Kota, E21, Lew’s, EPCO, Phoenix, Rayjus, Bass Pro Shops and Dunn’s Sporting Goods (Marion, Ill.) will contribute to the effort. Svanda Chevrolet of Sparta, Illinois will contribute $500 as a prize for the biggest bass weighed in during competition.
The events will not be limited to fishing alone. In addition to on-the-water competition, there will be a dinner on the Friday night preceding the tournament at the Rend Lake Resort. It will feature a silent auction featuring a wealth of generous prizes including boat accessories, fishing gear, firearms and archery equipment.
Morgenthaler will be joined by fellow pros Dave Mansue and Mike DelVisco.