Anglers, executives descend on Shoals

FLORENCE - A major bass tournament scheduled for Pickwick and Wilson lakes this week is a good way to land new development in the Shoals, organizers said.

The Professional Anglers Association's Optima Batteries Corporate Cup tournament features many of the world's top bass anglers. They will be competing on teams that include executives and other representatives of major corporations such as Toyota, Advance Auto Parts and numerous tackle manufacturers from throughout the United States and Japan.

Tim Horton, of Muscle Shoals, president of the Brentwood, Ky.-based Professional Anglers Association, said the tournament provides an opportunity to court corporate leaders who might be searching for communities where they can expand their businesses or hold business meetings.

"This is an opportunity to showcase the Shoals as not only a great place to fish, but also as a great place to do business," Horton said.

The tournament includes a golf tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Colbert County on Wednesday for many anglers and corporate leaders who are in the area for the fishing tournament.

Horton said the golf outing will show off one of the area's best assets and hopefully lure some of the corporate officials back to the Shoals for a round of golf or to hold a business retreat.

The remaining tournament participants will help clean up Wilson and Pickwick lakes Wednesday. Horton said the cleanup participants will compete to see who can remove the most trash from the lakes.

"It's our way of doing something for the community and the environment," Horton said.

Steve Holt, president of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, said the tournament will be a boon to the local economy as well as a tool for recruiting potential businesses.

"Anytime we have a major tournament like this, it's an opportunity to showcase our area," Holt said. "We often hear people who come here for fishing tournaments say they would like to live here. With this one, we will have an opportunity to also ask them to bring their businesses here."

Debbie Wilson, director of Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, said it is the first time a tournament has been staged anywhere in the country that paired professional anglers with corporate executives. She said many of the executives make decisions for their companies on where to expand their businesses.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to show these executives what the Shoals has to offer their business or industry," Wilson said.

Highlights from the tournament will be broadcast on the World Fishing Network, which will provide additional exposure for the Shoals.

State Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said all of Alabama could benefit economically from the executives participating in the tournament. He said state tourism officials realize that potential and are supporting the tournament.

"This is definitely a win-win for Alabama," Bedford said.

Competition for the tournament begins Thursday and concludes Saturday.

The anglers will take off from McFarland Park at 9 a.m. each day with weigh-ins at 5 p.m.

A tournament village featuring vendor booths and displays by many of the corporate sponsors, as well as activities for adults and children, will be open 2-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.