FROM STAFF REPORTS

CHELSEA – The annual Bill Ireland Invitational Fishing Tournament was held June 22-23 on Lake Alice at Kanawahala Program Center in Chelsea. Proceeds benefited the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

The tournament kicked-off June 22 with a Captain’s Party. The Captain’s Party included venison sausage appetizers and beverages with a silent auction. The Cajun Connection cooking team provided dinner, which included fried catfish, smoked pork, shrimp etouffee, hush puppies and a salad. Magic Muffins provided two cakes for dessert.

On Saturday, Tom Clark and Bo Pugh took home the first place trophy for 22.46 pounds of bass. Coming in second was Chuck and Casey Graham with 20.63 pounds of bass. Coming in at a close third was Henley Smith and John Hudson of O’Neal Steel with 20.46 pounds of bass.

Jamie White of Brasfield and Gorrie won the largest bass, weighing in at 7.10 pounds. Bo Adams of AlaCOMP caught the most fish, with 43 bass. Chuck Graham caught 7.6 pounds of stripe and Sam Farlow caught 3.5 pounds of catfish.

The fishing tournament started in 2004, and was re-named in 2010 in honor of a Girl Scout supporter, Bill Ireland Sr. This year’s event was chaired by Gabe Hulbert. Other committee members include Tom Clark, Caroline Clayton, Phyllis Davis, Marjorie Davis-Trimm, April Deal, Joel Goldstein, Chuck Graham, Bill Granberry, Bill Satterfield and Alice Williams. Largemouth sponsors included AlaCOMP, Alabama Power and Southland Tube, Inc.