For nine years, fishermen have been coming to Selma to take part in the Buddy Bass Tournament, which is run through the Valley Grande Baptist Church.

However, unlike other tournaments, they don’t necessarily come for the competition. The tournament, which will be held Saturday, April 16, expects another large field of anglers with more than the weigh-in on their minds.

“We use this tournament as a ministry program,” organizer Will Langston said. “We use the tournament to try to lead these men to Jesus.”

Through the years, Langston said the tournament has proven to be a life changing and life altering experience for its participants.

“In the nine years we have been hosting this tournament we have had 61 men receive Christ,” he said. “We have also had numerous people that participated in the tournament rededicate their lives to Jesus.”

The tournament, which has its launch site at the Selma City Landing, will run from first safe light Saturday morning until 3 p.m.

First prize will be $3,000 cash payback prorated with a field of 60 boats.

The entry fee is $100 per boat with an optional $10 big fish fee.

Following the tournament there will be a barbecue at the weigh-in for the fishermen and their families with door prizes.

Though the tournament begins Saturday, there is another important piece of the puzzle on tap for Friday night.

A pre-tournament safety meeting will be held April 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley Grande Baptist Church to revisit the tournament’s rules and regulations and a program will be provided to reach the fishermen on a personal level.

This year’s speaker will be Mark Whitlock, owner of Mark’s Outdoor Sports in Vestavia Hills.

“We always have a guest speaker for them to give their testimony and it’s always a lot of fun,” he said. “We feed them and their families.”

Those who volunteer for the tournament, Langston said, are a dedicated group.

“They love people and are always there to minister at daylight on the day of the tournament,” he said. “There are men, women and children who are down there whether it is raining or clear.”

For more information, call Will Langston at 874-6657.