Jacksonville Rotary Club’s annual bass fishing tournament fundraiser will be April 3 at Lake Jacksonville.
This year’s tournament is the 21st held by the club, which began the tradition in 2000. The event was canceled by the pandemic in 2020. More than $4,600 in prizes is up for grabs, with first place worth $900. The tournament is open to any duo that meets the requirements, but a maximum of 40 boats are allowed to compete. The lake will remain open to the public during the event.
This year, in addition to its traditional lunch, the Rotary Club will feed the contestants a hot breakfast at 6 a.m. before they head out on the lake. Mayor Andy Ezard will speak at the event, as will Richard Weikert, father of late Staff Sgt. Matthew Weikert, for whom the club has named a scholarship it offers to high school students.
The tournament was founded by Keith Lape, Jacksonville Rotary Club president from 1999 to 2000. Lape was inspired by a similar…