Anglers kick-off 28th annual Kolar Toyota ALS Fishing Tournament

The Kolar Toyota ALS Fishing Tournament opens Saturday. Friday evening anxious anglers kicked off the event at a reception held at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s (UMD) Ward Wells Field House.

Now in it’s 28th year Tournament Director Blake Kolquist said it’s been amazing to watch the cause grow.

“Last year was a record year, which was incredible after all these years to keep things moving forward and to keep growing. So we’re looking forward to continuing that growth this year and seeing everybody out, showing up now and going to be a fun day on the water tomorrow,” said tournament director Blake Kolquist.

This year 103 boats are registered for the in-person competition on Island Lake, and 19 teams are competing virtually.

One of those in-person teams are Duluth’s Timmon Lund and Hermantown’s Greg Beach with the Catch Your Moment Foundation, a non-proft that takes those impacted by cancer fishing.

“Last year we dedicated [this] to one of my wife’s friends who was just actually diagnosed [with ALS] recently right before the tournament. So we dedicated last year’s tournament to that. We didn’t win, but we won because of that,” said anglers Timmon Lund and Greg Beach.

The tournament launches Saturday at 7 a.m. and lines can be cast until 2 p.m. In-person anglers are limited to six walleye and five bass per-team.

So far over half of the $300,000 goal has been raised. In the past 27 years over $4 million has been raised to help find a cure for ALS.

To donate, or for more tournament information, Click Here.