Don Naquin, left, of New Iberia, former interim director of the Top Rod Big Bass Classic, discusses the Feb. 25 event with Neil Carret of Carencro, who has stepped up to fill the void as director. They were at Thursday night’s private fundraising event at Phil Haney’s residence for Caleb Sumrall, who has qualified for the Bassmaster Classic.

All systems are geaux, and how, for the Top Rod Big Bass Classic.

Neil Carret, interim director, was proud to share the good news Friday morning while taking a break from preparations for the event set for next Sunday at Lake Fausse Pointe out of Marsh Field Boat Landing.

While one of the organizers, Don Naquin of New Iberia, has a feeling there might be as many as 70 boats participating in the tournament with a big bass format unique to this region, Naquin knows for a fact the number of sponsors has outgrown the sponsors board with one week remaining, Carret was happy to report. 

“It’s all coming through and the checks are coming in. As a matter of fact, 30 sponsors go on a board. Don said we have to make a second board,” said Carret, a Carencro outdoorsman with a big heart and plenty of energy who was asked to take over as interim director by Tee Roy Savoy of Coteau Holmes. Savoy took over as director when the Big Bass Classic’s founder, the late Elvis “Top Rod” Jeanminette, died in January 2015.

Savoy’s wife, Jackie, was diagnosed with cancer in late 2016 and has been undergoing treatments and surgeries since. She has her third surgery of the year scheduled for Friday, it was reported earlier this year.

Savoy turned to Naquin, who acted in an outstanding role as interim director for last year’s Big Bass Classic. When Naquin said he would be unable to take full responsibility this year, Savoy asked Carret, who hit the ground running in early January and gets plenty of assistance from Naquin and Jeanminette’s older brother, Felix Jeanminette of Grand Marais.

Jeanminette, who retired from the Iberia Parish School Board as chief accountant in February 2011, said there has been an amazing response. 

“Everybody I talk with is very excited about what’s going on. The excitement is there. The sponsor support is there. This thing is overwhelming. Not a challenge, not at all,” Jeanminette said Friday morning.

“A couple guys I went to — like Armond Schwing, Blake Miguez, Doc Thomas and Raymond Wilson — all I have to do is show up over there and they’re all excited to be a sponsor of that Big Bass Classic.”

Jeanminette said he plans to fish the event, which pays a total of $4,000 over an eight-hour period for the first-, second- and third-biggest bass each hour, starting with the first weigh-in at 8 a.m., with Patrick Arceneaux of Lafayette.

“I’m trying to get others involved in it,” he said.

He is proud of the volunteer work being put in by Carret, he said. 

“He’s doing a great job. He and I spoke this week. He’s all excited,” he said.

Carret and Jeanminette’s younger brother were friends, Jeanminette pointed out. With the way this year’s event is shaping up, he said about Elvis, “He’s shining over us, I’m telling you.

“You always have to keep the eye on the purpose (this year’s fundraising beneficiaries). Those are very worthy causes — the Lydia Cancer Association and the Hookin’ Slabs Youth Fishing Club.”

Carret said the fishing club’s young members will be busy the day of the Big Bass Classic. They are in charge of keeping bass alive for release.

Big Bass Classic anglers can start launching in the predawn darkness from Marsh Field Boat Landing, BBC headquarters, but cannot make the first cast until 7 a.m. All entry fees, which are $100 per boat (maximum two adults or an adult with two youngsters under 15), must be paid before 7 a.m.

People can pay that morning at the boat landing, Carret said, noting the BBC officials will be there at 4:30 a.m.

“Don kind of thought we might get 70 boats. Our goal is 45. Anything over that is what we’re shooting for,” he said.

There has been a “pretty good response” to Facebook posts about the tournament, he said. There were 10 commitments, too.

Naquin said at mid-week there were 16 “early bird” signups, which was a high number compared to previous years.

For more information call 258-2908 or 519-9713.

 

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.