High school anglers decend on Gadsden

Anglers from high schools across Alabama will converge on Gadsden Friday for The Alabama High School Bass Fishing Championship Friday and Saturday on Lake Neely Henry.  According to Drew Sanford, vice president and marketing director for the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association, the tournament will have anglers from 40 to 50 high schools from around the state.  He said organizers expect about 220 to 240 boats to participate in the tournament, with two competitors and an adult captain per boat.  Sanford said six tournaments took place during the season, with the top seven teams from each of the events qualifying for the final tourney of the year.  In addition to bragging rights, anglers can earn scholarships during the competition.  Faulkner University has committed $20,000 worth of scholarships to the student-anglers. Regions Bank has pledged $10,000.  Other sponsors and universities also have committed money for scholarships. The association will also give out $35,000 in scholarship money. A pre-tournament meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. this evening at Gadsden Convention Hall, and blastoff Friday morning will be at safe light.  Boats will begin coming off the water at 2 p.m. and make their way from Coosa Landing to the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre for weigh-in, which is expected to begin about 3 p.m. Saturday's schedule will be the same.