WILD Jaeger Veteran Adventures (WJVA) hosted a charity bass tournament on Sept. 24, in conjunction with Georgia Bass Trails at Sugar Creek Marina on Lake Oconee.
The weather for the event was nothing short of spectacular, though it did warm up quite a bit into the afternoon. Anglers began to arrive in the wee hours of the morning and departed the dock at sunrise.
The weigh-in supervised by Mike Tarrer was held at 3 p.m.
The angling team of Uncle Bob Vandine and Tommy Tarrer (along with a canine whose name was not on the official results), reeled in the heaviest combination of five fish at 9.01 pounds. Dan Otto and Dave Callahan finished second with three fish weighing 7.68 pounds.
Although the event was competitive, the real impetus behind the tournament was a desire to raise money for Veterans’ programs. Vets also were allowed to enter the tournament at no charge and partner with a bass team as part of the competition. Veterans from all ages and services were signed up to attend the event and fish with an experienced angler.
According to Frank Adkinson of WJVA, several veterans signed up for the tournament and all were able to register for a raffle, also at no charge, for a backpack containing gift cards and other goodies provided by sponsors.
Several items were available as raffle prizes, including Abaco Aquafloat sunglasses, Molle Webbing tactical gear, Georgia Bass Trail caps, Tactacam cameras and apps, and a Daniel Defense rifle valued at $2,500.
Representatives from the 44 Draft House and Growler Bar also were on hand to provide cold beverages to fishermen who had been out on the lake for hours.
According to the company website (wildjaeger.com), “WILD Jaeger is a company of Veterans committed to our fellow Veterans. We strongly believe that connecting Veterans to other Veterans in outdoor activities can heal the wounds that are seen or not seen. Our goal and mission is simple: We strive to reach as many Veterans as possible and allow the meaningful connections between Veterans and nature to occur.”
WJVA is a registered 501c3 nonprofit that connects Veterans to other Veterans, connects Veterans to nature (through outdoor “adventures”) and connects Veterans to VA/state programs to improve quality of life.