• 59°
franklin county times
CONTRIBUTED Russellville High School’s Gabe Wallace celebrates victory at the Tim Horton High School Bass Anglers Challenge.

RHS student wins Tim Horton Bass Anglers Challenge

Some fishermen will give up and go home early when the fishing is tough, but not Gabe Wallace.

Wallace, a junior at Russellville High School, refused to become discouraged when the bites were few and far between for anglers competing in the Tim Horton High School Bass Anglers Challenge on Pickwick Lake April 15. His persistence paid off, and he won the senior division of the tournament that attracted student anglers from three states. The tournament was staged out of Riverfront Park.

Wallace was able to catch only two fish, but both were giants, and his catch weighed 10.5 pounds.

“We had caught a lot of fish during practice on Friday, and I thought we were really going to whack them in the tournament,” Wallace said. “But the fishing started out slow and got even slower during the tournament. I really didn’t think I would have a chance to win, but I never let it get me down. I kept fishing hard right up to the end.”

His catch was anchored by a largemouth bass that weighed 6.81 pounds, which was the largest fish weighed in by a senior division angler.

For winning the senior division, Wallace won a $3,000 scholarship to the college, university or technical school of his choice. He also won a $1,500 scholarship to Northwest-Shoals Community College for being the top angler in the senior division from Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale or Lawrence counties. He won a $450 rod and reel for catching the largest bass in the senior division.

Also from Franklin County, in the junior division, J.O. Morgan of Phil Campbell came in third behind Phillips and Covenant Christian students with 3.15 pounds.

Since it began five years ago, the annual bass tournament that is organized by the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau has awarded $100,000 in college scholarships. Susann Hamlin, president and CEO of Colbert Tourism, said she enjoys being a part of a tournament that helps students continue their education. “We have students tell us every year that they will now be able to go to college because they won one of our scholarships.”

Horton, a professional angler and outdoors television personality from Muscle Shoals, said he looks forward to the high school tournament every year. “For a kid who loves to fish, it’s a great way for them to help pay for their tuition,” he said.

The students fish from boats piloted by an adult.

This article is contributed by Dennis Sherer/Colbert County Tourism.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x