Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

Co-angler spots are still open for the Third Annual Mark Tipler Celebrity Bass Tournament. The tournament will take place Tuesday, July 12 on Forest Lake with the weigh-in and other events at Lakeside Memorial Park.

ìWeíd love to have as many people from Forest Lake come down to Lakeside Park and enjoy the day with us,î Tipler said.

The tournament starts at 8 a.m. when anglers meet for a breakfast at the Upper Deck Grill and Bar as theyíre briefed with last minute details. At 9 a.m. the boats will blast off and the anglers will do their best to catch fish.

While the anglers are on the lake, fishing tournament director Danny Suggs will be at Lakeside Park conducting fishing clinics that are open to the public. The silent auction will feature various fishing products as well as sports memorabilia.

The tournament will end at 3 p.m. when all the co-anglers will make their way to Lakeside Park for the weigh-in. Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams as well as to the team with the biggest fish.

Jeff Bosshadt has two second place trophies from the tournament and said last year he plans to take home a first place trophy this year.

After the weigh-in there will be a banquet at the Upper Deck Grill and Bar and the silent auction will continue.

With the tournament nearing, there are still co-angler spots open for the tournament. To reserve a co-angler spot call 651-779-8216.

Sponsors

To help raise money for the Regions Hospital burn unit sponsorship of the tournament is being sold. Sponsors already on board for this years tournament include Frankies Live Bait and Marine, Ranger Boats, Upper Deck Grill and Bar, KFAN, Minn Kota Motors, Fuji Film, Gamakatsu, Voodoo Baits, Gemini Sport Marketing Inc., Aqua Innovations, Rapid Press Printing, Gander Mountain, Sportsmans Warehouse and Country Wide Mortgage.

ìI would like to see more Forest Lake businesses get involved with the tournament,î Tipler said. ìThe tournament not only raises funds for a great cause, but my intentions when I started the tournament was to showcase the Forest Lake area and all it has to offer.î

While Tipler is still working to get more local sponsorship for the tournament, heís quite pleased with local efforts from some.

ìThe city has been great,î Tipler said. ìTheyíve been a big help and the city council has said they want to keep the tournament here.

ìSo many fundraising tournaments are done on Lake Minnetonka and the local pro fishermen are impressed with Forest Lake and theyíve said theyíd like to keep the tournament up here because itís different than an event at Lake Minnetonka.î

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605