Lucas Punkari
For the 11th-straight year, anglers will be hitting Lake Despair for the “Castin’ for Cash” tournament set for this Friday and Saturday (July 8-9).
After Gus McFaddin and Jon Evans captured the top prize a year ago with a record two-day total of 29.35 pounds, event organizer Bill Godin is expecting to see more of the same this time around.
“We will probably have around the same weights as last year,” said Godin, who owns Lake Despair Lodge along with his wife, Nellie.
“The mayfly hatch is out right now,” he noted. “And while some of the guys in the pre-fishing are saying that it is a little rough, others are saying that the pre-fishing is going really well.
“I’m looking to see everyone out here, and hopefully catching some nice fish,” Godin added.
As of press time, 60 teams were slated to take part in this year’s tournament, although Godin said he would accept up to 65.
From those teams, Godin figures about a third also will be
competing in the annual Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship in two weeks.
“We usually have a quite few teams that will compete in both,” he remarked.
“Out of the 60 teams, we usually have about 20 of those that will be for sure fishing in the Fort Frances tournament.
“And we also have a few teams for Minneapolis that will be coming up.”
Godin’s goal for “Castin’ for Cash” continues to remain the same: to have a fun weekend tournament that anyone can take part in.
“We have a lot of guys that come here that fish with their kids or their spouses,” Godin said.
“We like to have more of a low-key and fun atmosphere here, as opposed to being really serious like some of the other tournaments are, like Fort Frances,” he stressed.
The boats will launch from Lake Despair Lodge at 8 a.m. both days, with the weigh-ins starting at 4 p.m.
The public is invited to attend not only the weigh-ins, but also a fish fry set for Friday night.
“The only thing that we are hoping for now is that the weather will be good for everyone to have a good time, and for us to have a good turnout,” Godin remarked.
