By Bart Moss / For the FCT

The Timmy Horton High School Bass Anglers Challenge was held on Pickwick Lake in Sheffield Saturday, and a few Franklin County fishermen made their mark among the winners.

This event, sponsored by Colbert County Tourism, is in its sixth year. Since it began, the tournament has awarded more than $120,000 in scholarship money to young anglers.

Because students can begin fishing the tournament in the junior division in seventh grade, they have many years of opportunities to turn their love of fishing into real scholarship money for college. Since the money accrues, several students have placed in multiple events, earning money they can use for the college of their choice.

Gabe Wallace, Russellville, has placed in the event for the past three years, placing third, winning last year, then placing second this year. His total earnings are more $10,000.

The tournament is hosted by Franklin County native and pro angler Tim Horton and is televised nationally on an episode of his television show, Timmy Horton Outdoors.

Franklin County winners also include Joshua Morgan and J.O. Morgan of the Phil Campbell anglers.

Joshua Morgan, a rising ninth-grader at East Franklin Junior High School, won the junior division. He caught five bass that weighed 14.43 pounds and won a $3,000 college scholarship.

He said he plans to attend Auburn University or the University of North Alabama and then go to medical school and become a pediatric surgeon.

“It was a great day,” he said. “It was hot all day, but we just fished hard all day.”
This year’s winners in the junior division are as follows:

• First place – Joshua Morgan, Phil Campbell Anglers, with 14.43 pounds
• Second place – Sam Hatcher, Muscle Shoals Anglers, with 11.90 pounds
• Third place – Ethan Tedder, Muscle Shoals Anglers, with 11.36 pounds
• Fourth place – J.O. Morgan, Phil Campbell Anglers, with 10.84 pounds
• Fifth place – Levi Sharp, L.A. Anglers, with 9.66 pounds
• Big Fish Award – Levi Sharp, 6.16 pound largemouth

The senior division winners were:

• First place – Walker Brown, Loretto, Tenn., 20.61 pounds
• Second place – Gabe Wallace, Russellville, 17.17 pounds
• Third place – Daniel Meadows, Mortimer-Jordan Anglers, 16.03 pounds
• Fourth place – Hunter Estis, Muscle Shoals Anglers, 14.25 pounds
• Fifth place – Tyler Crowell, Muscle Shoals Anglers, 14.14 pounds
• Big Fish Award – Stephen Peters, Colbert County Anglers, 6.63 pound largemouth

As a partner of the Timmy Horton High School Bass Anglers Challenge, Northwest-Shoals Community College presents scholarships to tournament winners from Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties. This year’s NW-SCC winners are Wallace, Estis and Crowell.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped make this year’s tournament a success,” said Horton. “I would like to thank local legislators Sen. Larry Stutts and Reps. Johnny Mack Morrow and Marcel Black.

“Most importantly,” Horton added, “I would like to thank the parents, grandparents and friends who have gotten these young people out on the water and helped them develop not just a love of fishing, but a love of the outdoors.”

Colbert County Tourism contributed to this story.