One of the biggest fishing tournaments in Lake Mitchell history will include several local anglers.

A Walmart Bass Fishing League Bama Division event will be held Saturday and Sunday, with as many as 400 boaters and co-anglers competing for prizes including $11,000.

The fishermen won’t be the only local residents enjoying the tournament, though.

“Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public to attend,” said Julie Huber, communications specialist with the Walmart Bass Fishing League. “It is an opportunity for fans to wish anglers good luck, and most are typically very eager and excited to talk to fans about fishing—baits they use, areas they fish, techniques they use. The weigh-ins are also a great way to showcase what the fishery, Lake Mitchell, has to offer.”

Takeoffs will be at Higgins Ferry Park, located at 11161 County Road 28 in Clanton, at 6:30 each morning.

Saturday’s weigh-in will be at 2:30 p.m. at the park, while Sunday’s final weigh-in is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Clanton Walmart, located at 1415 7th St. South.

Huber said Lake Mitchell was chosen because it is a known good fishery with a population of anglers in the surrounding area capable of supporting the tournament.

“This is a great place to have a tournament because there are so many ways to catch fish,” EverStart pro Randall Tharp of Gardendale said in a release. “It should be a fun two days.

“You can use anything from shaky-heads to finesse jigs for spotted bass, and fishing up below the dam is always a factor. Also, flipping and swimming jigs are very popular there. It’s not going to take 20 pounds per day to win, but I would say 16 to 17 pounds will do very well.”

Chilton County anglers will include: Dustin Connell of Clanton, Joe Minor of Clanton and Nick Turner of Clanton.

The Bama BFL tournament is being hosted by the Chilton County Chamber.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, offering bigger prizes to those who qualify for regional championships and those who make it to one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.