Valley’s bass tournament Saturday

Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas is scheduled to participate.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

BOARDMAN — The Ninth annual Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Pro-am Bass Tournament, sponsored this year by O’Charley’s restaurant, is Saturday at Aqua Ohio’s Pine and Evans lakes.

The tournament, known this year as O’Charley’s Bass Classic, will involve 40 teams of professional bass anglers and their amateur partners competing for cash and prizes.

This year’s event will feature Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas, who is an avid fisherman, event officials said.

Additional major sponsorship is being provided this year by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Lowe’s.

The public can participate in several ways: By entering the pro-am bass tournament; by participating in the free Lowe’s Kids Fish & Fun Event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot between Lowe’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods on South Avenue; and by attending the tournament weigh-in starting after 2 p.m., also in the stores’ parking lot.

The competition pits top professional bass anglers paired with amateurs, who make a donation to the United Way.

For many of the amateurs, it is their best opportunity to fish from a fully-tournament rigged bass boat operated by an experienced angler who shares the ins-and-outs of bass fishing.

Prizes will be awarded for total weight and big bass following the tournament weigh-in, officials said.

This year’s tournament is expected to raise more than $15,000 for local programs and services supported by the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, which would bring the nine-year total to more than $100,000.

“The O’Charley’s Bass Classic is a unique event in the Valley and continues to grow thanks to the support of our sponsors, supporters and tournament participants,” said Walter J. “Buzz” Pishkur, president of host sponsor Aqua Ohio.

“We are thrilled to have O’Charley’s aboard this year,” he said. The Boardman and Niles O’Charley’s restaurants are operated Sam Covelli.

Pishkur encouraged anglers, parents and their children, and spectators to either fish in the 2008 O’Charley’s Bass Classic or come to the Lowe’s Kids Fish & Fun and weigh-in, all the while supporting a very worthy cause.

Included in Lowe’s free Kids Fun event are free casting competition, and other activities and games are planned for children of all ages.

Entertainment will include a clown, face-painting and the opportunity to watch the pro-style bass tournament weigh-in beginning around 2:15 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded to all who attend and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Also, Aqua Ohio said children also will receive an opportunity for a free fishing day at Pine Lake on a day to be determined.

Other corporate sponsors of the United Way Bass Classic are Whispering Pines Village, Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell law firm, Pipelines, and Sensus Metering Systems.

For entry information, contact JoAnn Stock at United Way at (330) 746-8494or Allison Gatta at Aqua Ohio at (330) 397-0771.