By Louie Stout

Jordan Smith's Son

Tournament bass fishermen are good about coming together to help out a fellow angler in need.

That’s why a group is rallying around fellow angler Jordan Smith whose new-born son came several weeks early. Smith's son has been hospitalized in Indianapolis with heart complications for more than a week and will likely be there much longer.

A benefit tournament will be held July 8 at Diamond Lake from 6 a.m. to noon and registration begins at 4:30 a.m. Entry fee is $100 and 50 percent of the proceeds will go straight to the family. There also will be a $10 big bass pot and $5 biggest rock bass pot. Payouts will go to the top three and there will be a 50/50 drawing. Hotdogs will be available after the weigh-in. Donations will be accepted.

In addition there will be drawings for several tackle prizes including a $160 hand-painted Floyd Wolkins swimbait.

Tournament organizers Izaak Wetzel (269-625-6482) and Cody Brown (269-689-5588) urge teams to contact one of them in advance to confirm your participation so they can get a handle on number of contestants. It is hoped that the tournament will draw a big turnout and raise a lot of money for a young family that is going through some really difficult times.