The second annual Bill Ireland Invitational Fishing Tournament was held June 24-25 on Lake Alice at Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) located in Chelsea, AL. Proceeds benefited the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. The tournament kicked-off Friday, June 24 with a Captain’s Party on the deck of Lake Alice at KPC. The Captain’s Party included appetizers, a Cajun dinner and beverages with a silent auction. Following the 6 a.m. breakfast on Saturday, June 25, the tournament began with a shotgun start on Lake Alice at KPC and other private, local lakes.
Lynn Holt and Brent Suggs of Barber’s Dairy took home the first place trophy for the second year in a row with 24.97 lbs of largemouth bass caught on Strong Lake. Coming in second was Regions Bank team, Gabe Hulbert and David Lewis with 21.1 lbs of largemouth bass on Thompson Lake. Capturing third place was O’Neal Steel team, Henley Smith and John Hudson with 17.06 lbs on Collins Lake.
Bill Granberry of the RICOH team won the largest bass with a weight of 7.92 lbs caught on Lake Alice. Bill Granberry and David Lewis tied for the most bass, each with 17 filling their ice chests. Coming in first for all other species was Bo Pugh and Stevie Robertson with 20.8 lbs caught on Brock Lake.
The fishing tournament, started in 2004, was revived in honor of a wonderful Girl Scout supporter, Bill Ireland, Sr. This year’s event was chaired by Gabe Hulbert. Other committee members include Tahiera Brown, Tom Clark, Phyllis Davis, Marjorie Davis-Trimm, April Deal, Joel Goldstein and Alice Williams. Major sponsors included Alabama Power, EBSCO Industries and Barber’s. Special thanks to Harry Brock, Hank and Irene Collins, EBSCO, Jim Parsons, McDonald Strong and Lucy Thompson for donating their private lakes.
Photo: Brent Suggs, GSNCA CEO Trish Coghlan and Lynn Holt
