Charlie Cutting from Pekin was a guy who liked kids, especially the ones who needed a hand. He worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation to fill the dreams of critically ill youngsters. He organized Casting Kids competitions to encourage them to take part in the sport he loved.

After he died of brain cancer five years ago at age 52, his friends in the Tri County Anglers found a special way to honor his memory and help the children he helped so much.

"Charlie was an avid fisherman and did a lot with kids, so we decided to have a memorial tournament and raise money for St. Jude's," said club member Pat Reeves.

The fifth annual Charlie Cutting Memorial Buddy Bass Tournament will be from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Clinton Lake. Check-in starts at 4:30 a.m. at the marina. Cost is $110 per two-angler team, including big bass pot and ramp fee.

For more information, contact Reeves at (309) 241-1980 or patreeves@ncslink.net.

Catfish on the menu

PrairieLand Anglers fishing club based in Bloomington will host Cory Wills of B's Catfish Bait at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the UAW Hall, Illinois 9 just west of Bloomington. Free and open to the public.

Tournament notes

Playing catch up from vacation here, so here goes:

- Jack Menssen and Jason Estes won the Bloomington Normal Bass Club Tuesday night tournament Aug. 26 at Lake Bloomington with three bass of 7.56 pounds. Brad and Lynn Norris were second with 7.06 pounds, including big bass of 5.46 pounds.

- The Mackinaw Valley Bassmasters were third at the Region 2 qualifier at Fort Madison, Iowa, Pool 19 on the Mississippi River with 64.56 pounds. They advance to the Illinois State Bass Championship on Pool 12 at Dubuque, Iowa, later this month. Team members are Jerry Martoglio, Steve Anderson, Larry Russell, Randy Ferguson, David Hunt and Michael Hunt.

- Jeff Henson and Bryan Thrasher won the Thursday night event at Clinton Lake with 6.73 pounds.

- Brad Norris and Jamie Maisenbacher won the Strike King Everbloom tournament at Lake Bloomington recently with four bass weighing 8.95 pounds. They beat Dave Norris and Greg Bayless by .04 pounds.

Hours changed

The Evergreen Lake boat rental is closed weekdays beginning this week. However, the bait shop will remain open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both the boat rental and the shop will be open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends until Sept. 21, when both close for the season.

Scott Richardson is Pantagraph outdoor editor. Contact him at (309) 820-3227 or e-mail srichardson@pantagraph.com. Share stories and read past outdoor and fishing columns at www.pantagraph.com/blogs