This past weekend the Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Bass Fishing Tournament.

We had 37 boats join us last Saturday to fish for a Grand Prize of $1,500.

The dynamic duo of Scot Freeman and Timmy McDaniel took this prize along with the ‘Big Fish’ prize of $360.00.

When all was said and done, the Chamber had profited $700 and we had paid out a total of $3,360 to the fishermen.

Not a bad fundraising opportunity for just a couple of hours work (for the Chamber and the guys fishing)!

Many thanks are due Ronnie Willingham for helping us on the day of the tournament and also Boyd Duckett for loaning us equipment and expertise in planning the event.

I would also like to thank the Chamber Board members who helped facilitate the event (especially those who were there at 4:30 a.m.)!

The Chamber of Commerce currently keeps the Fishing Tournament Calendar for the Demopolis City Landing.

So far, for 2006, we have 31 tournaments scheduled from Spring to Fall.

It is interesting to see the different clubs, trails, and teams that choose to fish from Lake Demopolis.

A few of the tournaments that we have booked for this year will be of great economic significance to the area.

They are several days in length and bring fishermen from all over the country.

Two of the tournament names that you will probably recognize are the BASS Federation Tournament that will be held in June, and the Wal-Mart sponsored FLW Tournament that will visit us in October.

Most of the tournaments that are held at the City Landing are just one-day events, but they too may have a lasting impact on the city in terms of marketing the city’s resources, events, attractions and necessities.