Drought forces fishing tournament to move
Updated: August 7, 2012
DECATUR -- The drought is forcing part of a huge fishing tournament to skip town. Lake levels are just too low to do any fishing. WCIA-3's Megan Brilley has Tuesday's Drought Watch coverage.
The Bassmaster All-Star Fishing Tournament is supposed to bring big money to the city. It's scheduled for September 20 - 23. The nation's top 8 bass fishermen were supposed to fish on Lake Decatur for two days of that tournament, but this drought is making that impossible.
If you ask Mike Lowe how many times he's fished in Lake Decatur, "Well, into the hundreds probably thousands." Don't expect to be able to count on your fingers and toes.
"Keeps the kids out of trouble. Good nature to get out into."
His dad owns Mike's Tackle World. Fishing here has been his world since he was a kid. But, not anymore. Boats are being dragged out.
"Right now, it's stuck in the mud."
"There are spots across the lake that are 2 feet deep."
That's why the bass fishing tournament will cast its bait in Lake Shelbyville instead.
"It's disappointing because we wanted people to see on the national level what a beautiful lake that we have."
Plans had to be changed last-minute because of the lack of rain, and there's no way of getting boats off shore.
"There's not a lot that goes on in the city of Decatur."
Lowe was ready to see the big event on his hometown lake.
"As time goes on it seems like more businesses and more and more attractions leave Decatur. For something on this national level come to the city, it's a pretty big thing."
But, not all of the excitement will leave the city. There will still be a festival and the winner will be announced here.
"It's a shame that it's not going to be here but I'm still happy it's going to be in Central Illinois."
The weekend of the event is expected to bring in 7,000 - 8,000 people a day and $1-million overall. Hopefully, the change doesn't affect those numbers.
The Bassmaster All-Star Fishing Tournament is supposed to bring big money to the city. It's scheduled for September 20 - 23. The nation's top 8 bass fishermen were supposed to fish on Lake Decatur for two days of that tournament, but this drought is making that impossible.
If you ask Mike Lowe how many times he's fished in Lake Decatur, "Well, into the hundreds probably thousands." Don't expect to be able to count on your fingers and toes.
"Keeps the kids out of trouble. Good nature to get out into."
His dad owns Mike's Tackle World. Fishing here has been his world since he was a kid. But, not anymore. Boats are being dragged out.
"Right now, it's stuck in the mud."
"There are spots across the lake that are 2 feet deep."
That's why the bass fishing tournament will cast its bait in Lake Shelbyville instead.
"It's disappointing because we wanted people to see on the national level what a beautiful lake that we have."
Plans had to be changed last-minute because of the lack of rain, and there's no way of getting boats off shore.
"There's not a lot that goes on in the city of Decatur."
Lowe was ready to see the big event on his hometown lake.
"As time goes on it seems like more businesses and more and more attractions leave Decatur. For something on this national level come to the city, it's a pretty big thing."
But, not all of the excitement will leave the city. There will still be a festival and the winner will be announced here.
"It's a shame that it's not going to be here but I'm still happy it's going to be in Central Illinois."
The weekend of the event is expected to bring in 7,000 - 8,000 people a day and $1-million overall. Hopefully, the change doesn't affect those numbers.
