Mark Szitas of Meadville has been fishing since he was 6 years old when his father, the late Sheldon (Buzz) Szitas, took him fishing. He fell in love with the sport and has never tired of it.

Szitas, 48, participated in last year’s annual United Way Bass Classic Team Tournament, a benefit for the United Way of Western Crawford County, where he was one of the amateur fishermen competing with professionals.

He came in second.

Although Sandy Rossi, United Way executive director, said Szitas was “very close” to winning, Szitas said “it wasn’t that close,” noting his fish was probably a couple of pounds lighter than the winner.

Szitas is joining dozens of other fishermen Friday for the fourth annual Bass Classic Tournament where 26 professionals are registered already. “We are matching amateurs with pros this week,” said Rossi.

Channellock is sponsor of the event with The Meadville Tribune as the weigh-in sponsor.

Fishing boats will leave the docks at the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club at Conneaut Lake at 7 a.m. to spend six hours on Pennsylvania’s largest natural lake — hoping to win the bragging rights as well as the money for reeling in the biggest fish.

While fishermen are doing it for the enjoyment and the chance to win some cash, the big winner will be the United Way.

The tournament, suggested four years ago by Phil Ness and Randy Ferguson, is the agency’s top single fund-raiser (other than the phone-a-thon which involves confirming pledges), said Rossi.

The two men had been in tournaments and suggested it as a new way to raise funds for the United Way. This year’s goal is $19,000. That represents 4.47 percent of the annual campaign goal of $425,000.

Rossi said the two men believed it was “something we could do to raise money.

We had the natural resources.” After contacting the Crawford County Bass Masters for assistance, the event was planned.

Participants will be fishing for both small- and large-mouth bass. Funds are raised through sponsors, who then are allowed to enter amateurs in the tournament.

Although participants take their boats on the lake to fish, provisions are made to provide them with snacks and beverages throughout the event. David Thomas delivers the items via a pontoon boat throughout the six hours.