TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The West Alabama Bass Fishermen’s Association (WBFA) raised its largest amount ever for an autism benefit tournament, Oct. 3, 2015, at Lake Tuscaloosa.
The Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation club attracted 72 teams and raised $10,000 for the sixth annual L&L Marine Gene Griffin Memorial Tournament, which benefits Arts ’n Autism. The afterschool and summer camp program provides supervised visual and performing arts activities for children with deficiencies in language and social skills.
“It was the best year we’ve had,” said WBFA member Billy Camp of the tournament. “We were getting $6,000 to $7,000 before. With some of the money we gave Arts ‘n Autism, along with grants from the state, they got two new buses for the kids.”
The tournament usually draws 62 to 65 boats, according to Camp.
“I am hoping we can get it up to 100 boats,” he said.
Camp ran the tournament and got help from Bob Hale of L&L Marine, which furnished the weigh-in trailer for the benefit event.
Jimbo Williams and Trent Tilley won the buddy tournament with a five-fish limit weighing 11.46 pounds. Second place went to Rickey Dunn and Steve Plowman with five bass weighing 9.94. The big bass pot was awarded to Wesley Clark and Jason Russell, who weighed in a 4.65-pounder.
