Morson Bass International is this weekend

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The anglers are busy pre-fishing and all the preparations are ready for the 5th Annual Morson Bass International which is scheduled for this weekend.
One of the event coordinators, Nancy Miller, anticipates they will have at least 35 teams entered in the tournament and possibly more as they have quite a few new teams and many local regulars wait until the last possible minute to enter; which is this Friday.
The event kicks off on Friday evening with a supper for the anglers and a rules meeting to follow; all under the big tent at the end of Hwy. 621 in Morson.
The day begins early for the teams on Saturday. Breakfast is served for them at 6 a.m. and is open to the public at 7 a.m. Boats then leave the Government Dock at 7:30 a.m. to hunt for bass on Lake of the Woods.
At Noon concession stands open at the tent as does the ever popular silent auction, which will both run Saturday and Sunday. Beer gardens will also open at Noon both days.
Day 1 weigh-in ceremonies begin at 3 p.m. with the boats arriving at 3:30 p.m. and if last year was any indicator it promises to be very exciting for the crowd. That evening there will be music under the tent for age of majority, beginning at 9 p.m.
Sunday sees an early start again with breakfast at 6 a.m. for the anglers and the public at 7 a.m. After the boats depart at 7:30 a.m. a new addition to the event will begin at 8 a.m. under the tent. The LoW Fire Department will hold a rules meeting there for the first annual LoW FD Shotgun Scramble golf tourney to be held at Spruce Creek Golf Course near Morson.
For the kids (under 14) the always well attended Morson Kids’ Mini Fishing Tournament will be held at 12:30 p.m. on the government dock.
At 2 p.m. prizes for the golf tournament will be held at the tent and those will be followed by prize presentations for the kids’ fishing tournament.
Final weigh-ins for the MBI will begin at 3 p.m. with the top five boats from Day 1 being saved until last to build excitement. Last year it was down to the wire with the top three boats all being separated by mere ounces. In the end it was Terry Gill and Chad Hanson who squeaked out the win to take their second championship in three years. Gill and Hanson are returning this year hoping to make it number three, but more than 30 other teams are planning to spoil those plans.
The public is invited to attend the weigh-ins and enjoy some of the great food and fun this weekend.