Hooked on fishing

FLORENCE - Most Shoals residents will still be sleeping Saturday as some die-hard fishing fans head to McFarland Park in Florence.

The Stren Series championship bass tournament got under way Thursday on Pickwick and Wilson lakes and each morning of the event, a crowd of devoted fans gather at the park to watch the anglers head onto the water for a day of fishing.

The rising sun glistened on the water and light fog rose from Pickwick Lake on Thursday as the tournament began. About 25 spectators stood along the shoreline to watch the 386 anglers competing in the tournament head out onto the Tennessee River. Among them was Laura Hoogenboom, of Twinsburg, Ohio, whose son, Kevin, is competing in the co-angler division of the tournament. Co-anglers fish from the rear deck of a bass boat piloted by a competitor in the pro angler division.

Laura Hoogenboom said watching the boats take off one at a time from the dock as the anglers raced to fishing spots on Pickwick and Wilson lakes was exciting. It was her first time to watch a tournament take off. Her son began fishing in the Stren Series this year.

She said it was not difficult to wake up before sunrise to watch the take-off, which began at 6:30 a.m.

"There was no way I was going to miss Kevin's first championship," she said. "Plus, I am an early riser anyway, so being out here this early was not a problem."

Many spectators took photographs as their favorite anglers passed by and shouted words of encouragement.

For fishing fans who like to sleep in, the afternoon weigh-ins provide another opportunity to meet and cheer for their favorite anglers.

Robb Young and Ryan Salzman were among the more than 100 fans who attended Thursday's weigh-in.

Young and Salzman, both members of the University of North Alabama fishing team, said they enjoy attending weigh-ins.

"It's a great way to meet the pro anglers and people in the fishing industry. For guys like me who hope to be a pro angler some day, the weigh-ins are a great place to network with potential sponsors."

Salzman said he makes lots of contacts at weigh-ins that he hopes to use for launching a career as a professional angler after he graduates. "Plus, I just like coming to the weigh-ins to see how big the bass are that are being caught and find out where the anglers are catching them."

The tournament, featuring top Stren Series anglers from throughout America and Canada, continues through Saturday. Today's weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at McFarland Park. Saturday's weigh-in begins at 4 p.m. at Walmart in Florence. Admission is free.

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