Annual bass tourney begins Saturday

OTHELLO — Bass fishermen from throughout the Northwest will take their skills on the water to Potholes Reservoir and MarDon Resort for the annual Potholes Open Bass Tournament this weekend.

The Potholes Open Bass Tournament has been a mainstay of the Columbia Basin fishing community for approximately 30 years, said Tournament Director Ken Kernan.

“It is probably the oldest bass tournament in the state of Washington,” he said.

The annual tournament consistently features between 120 and 124 two-person teams with 122 teams preparing to take to Potholes Reservoir Saturday and Sunday for the two-day event.

While the tournament is typically limited to around 120 to 124 teams each year, the tournament is an opportunity to bring visitors into the Columbia Basin.

“We fill the tournament (spots) up in three days,” Kernan said. “It’s a family tournament more than anything else. It brings people into the community.”

Tournament participants from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California routinely make the trip to the Columbia Basin and former Potholes Bass Club President Dave Settle and his wife Vickie will make the trip from Texas to compete in the 2009 tournament, said Kernan. Dave Settle was president of the Potholes Bass Club from 1981 to 1983,

The final weigh-ins for the first flight begins at 11 a.m. Sunday and the second flight weighs-ins begin at 12:30 p.m. Kernan said.

Registration for the tournament is $100 and the top 25 placing teams will receive cash payouts, Kernan said.

The tournament will wrap up Sunday afternoon with the closing ceremonies and awards presentations following the final weigh-in.