The Maplesville Athletic Club’s third annual bass fishing tournament was a success, according to event organizers, and saw two locals take home first place.

When all boats had returned and weighed in, the tandem of Chase Benson, of Thorsby, and Chris Minor, of Clanton, took home the first place prize of $2,000, with a total catch weight of 19.88 pounds.

The event was held at Beeswax Creek on Lay Lake in Columbiana, and featured 63 boats.

The tournament launched at the first safe light on April 4, around 6:15 a.m. MAC member Vickie Smith said the start was pushed back due to inclement weather.

“We were a little nervous going in,” she said. “Because of the storms Friday night, the launch time was delayed about 30-40 minutes.”

Even as day broke, conditions at the start of the tournament weren’t exactly ideal for fishing, Smith said.

“It was so cold and windy, (the anglers) were a little slower getting off,” she said. “The water was pretty rough.”

Despite the delays due to weather, Smith said the amount of support shown by the anglers and their families was impressive.

“We had 63 boats launch,” she said. “Only three (boats) were solo, so we had around 120-125 fishermen.”

Smith said MAC members Rachel Norris, treasurer Angie McGee, Randall Hand and tournament weigh master Lance Honeycutt were in charge of the weigh-in table and leader board.

MAC members James and Dawn Smitherman, president and tournament master James Smith, Carrie Wallace, Michelle Armstrong, Kathy Hand and Richard Smith manned the lunch tables for those who attended the weigh-in.

“We roughly had 200-250 (friends and family) at lunch time and weigh-in,” Smith said. “It was a really good turnout.”

In second was the team of Bo Hunter, of Sylacauga, and Jon Canada, of Pelham. The duo caught a net weight of 18.40 pounds.

Third place was made up of Marty Giddens, from Alpine, and Chris Studdard, from Sylacauga, weighing in at 18.40 pounds.

The big fish contest winner was Tom Southern, of Sylacauga, who took the prize with a bass weighing in at 7.52 pounds.

Smith said the exact amount raised for the MAC was unavailable, but estimated the tournament pulled in $5,000-$6,000, on par with last year.

Smith also said the MAC received positive feedback from the tournament’s participants.

We listened to them and asked questions,” she said. “The general consensus was, the hard work put in shows, and they enjoyed fishing in it.”