Michigan is a premier inland fishing destination, known for abundant rivers and lakes, exceptional varieties of fish, and a culture that promotes outdoor recreation. While East Lansing hosts the international athletes at the 2013 World Dwarf Games (WDG), 50 of the participating dwarf athletes will be exposed to the opportunities and recreation competitive fishing can provide during the first ever International Bass Tournament on Lake Lansing Tuesday, August 6, 2013.
Michigan is a premier inland fishing destination, known for abundant rivers and lakes, exceptional varieties of fish, and a culture that promotes outdoor recreation. While East Lansing hosts the international athletes at the 2013 World Dwarf Games (WDG), 50 of the participating dwarf athletes will be exposed to the opportunities and recreation competitive fishing can provide during the first ever International Bass Tournament on Lake Lansing Tuesday, August 6, 2013.
Fishing from a bass boat deck is like fishing from a dock. Very few, if any, accommodations are needed to participate. Boater-volunteers will make on-the-spot accommodations as needed and come away with a new appreciation for, and understanding of the dwarf community. In turn, WDG athletes will come away with a new appreciation for the generosity and camaraderie of Michigan’s angling community!
Boater-volunteers are providing bass boats, life jackets, rods/reels, artificial baits for two dwarf anglers, ages ranging from 9 to 64. The 50 anglers represent 9 different nations. Five younger anglers will partner with a parent (parent may not be a dwarf). All dwarf anglers 17 and up will have a Michigan fishing license provided for the day.
The Lake Lansing Launch (6271 East Lake Drive, Haslett, MI 48840) opens at 5am. The launch fee will be covered for anyone who doesn’t have a launch sticker. Coffee and donuts for will be available for boater-volunteers from 6 – 6:30am. Boater briefing begins at 6:15am. Boaters will be launched by 6:20am. Designated volunteers will be available to park trailers.
Dwarf anglers will be matched by draw starting at 6:30am as soon as athlete buses arrive from Michigan State University (MSU), and loaded into boats at the dock. Fishing begins by draw blast-off number as soon as your anglers are loaded.
Anglers will return to the boat ramp by draw blast-off number from 10:45 to 11:30am. Designated volunteers will back in trailers. Weigh in bags will be distributed as you pull out. Drive out knowing dwarf anglers on the ground may be hard to see. Anglers will unload once trailered boat is parked. Step ladders will be available in the parking lot, as needed. Anglers using a wheelchair will unload dockside.
Fish, boater, and anglers should proceed to the weigh-in station when the weighmaster calls you up by your draw blast-off number. Boaters please manage the weigh-in bag for your team. Having your own weigh-in bag is appreciated. Boaters please manage the fish release for your team. Boaters please stay with your anglers until after prizes are awarded and pictures are taken.
The Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation weigh in stage will be used for the weigh in. Lunch will be provided for boaters, anglers and volunteers from 11:30am until 12:30pm. This is a non-medal introductory event for the World Dwarf Games, so it is more recreational than competitive. Small trophies (not medals) will be distributed to anglers. There will be photo ops for boater and angler teams.
Awards and prizes will be presented as soon as the weigh in is complete. Anglers should be loaded for the bus trip back to MSU by 12:30pm. For safety reasons, we appreciate boaters staying at the launch until the athlete buses are loaded and on their way back to the MSU campus.
WDG INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT RULES
- Catch and Release – every effort should be made for safe release of caught fish (after weigh-in).
- Have safe fun! Many international anglers will be first timers in a bass boat.
- Pros (boater-volunteers) guide, rig equipment, demonstrate, help land fish. The anglers do the fishing.
- Five bass limit per boat (14″ minimum length); awards by boat/team for best limits (top 5) and big bass (top 3).
- Prize also given for biggest legal: crappie, bluegill, pike and ‘other.’
- Emergency (including restroom) returns to the launch do not disqualify a boat.
- Once you start fishing, YOU – the boater-volunteer – are the captain of your boat. We trust your professional judgment.
A total of 25 boater/guide volunteers will participate.
UPDATE: 7/29/2013 – They have the volunteers they need now, thanks. People are welcome to attend the weigh in to view this first of its kind international event.
The Dwarf Athletic Association of America thanks you for donating your time, talent and bass boat for the first ever International Bass Tournament for dwarf anglers! You are an ambassador of the United States, the State of Michigan, and the great sport of freshwater fishing. Use your time with your anglers with that in mind. If you have questions about what your anglers are capable of doing on their own, please just ask.
SIGN-UP DIRECTIONS for boater/guide and other volunteers:*
Please contact Len Sawisch via email: len@sawisch.com or phone: 517-393-3116 if you have not already confirmed your intentions to be a World Dwarf Games Pro boater! Be sure to indicate if you are representing a business, organization, or bass club!
* Pros (boaters) and volunteers will need to sign a WDG Liability Release and a WDG Code of Conduct form.
Online PDF map and directions to the Lake Lansing Launch.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan is the location of the 2013 World Dwarf Games, the largest sporting event in history exclusively for athletes with dwarfism. Hosted by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America.