Rain? What rain?

As far as Pat Chambers of Centerville was concerned about Saturday’s weather, “I like it.”

Chambers and fishing partner Mike McMillian fought the showers all day and culled bass from first light to win the inaugural Buddy Bass Tournament at Selma City Marina.

Chambers and McMillian caught five bass weighing 18.54 pounds — in the last limit of the day — to win the $1,500 first-place check.

In second place were David Hagen and Joe Shoemaker with 16.89 pounds, earning a $750 check. They also tied for big bass with 4.73 pounds.

Joe Lay and Nicholas Turner were third at 15.48 pounds ($400), followed by Paul and Chase Tyus (15.2, $250) and Jeff and Earl Richey (14.76, $150).

Chambers said they stuck with one technique in one area.

“We were flipping around Miller’s Ferry,” he said. “We culled all day, and we caught our first bass at the first stop.”

Eric Jones, the tournament organizer, said he was excited to have 41 teams in the tournament, which was a benefit for Alabama Teen Challenge.

“I think we had a great number considering the weather,” Jones said at the afternoon weigh-in as a steady sprinkle fell. “Everybody got wet, but nobody got hurt.”

Jason Easter also felt good about the field of entries. Easter is a counselor and intake director for Alabama Teen Challenge.

“I was surprised with the number of boats that went out,” he said. “I expected a pretty good crowd, but this blew it away. We had 20 teams that signed up last night and this morning.

“About 10-10:30 this morning, the rain got really bad,” he said.

Easter also said he was happy with the community support for the tournament, pointing to the 90 sponsors and 114 door prizes.

“It’s not just a bass tournament; it’s a good bass tournament,” he said, looking at the final weights.

Garrett White and William Ross brought 14.03 pounds to the scales, but they went a different way from Chambers and McMillian.

“We went up river,” White said. “We caught our big fish on a buzzbait; we were usually throwing a lizard. … We probably caught 30-40 fish.”

Don Murphy and Frank Harkins tied for big-bass prize with a 4.73-pounder.

“We threw mostly jigs and spinnerbaits,” Murphy said. “We caught the big one on a buzzbait.”

Roger and Joe Stockman managed to bring in a 12.34-pound limit, but the showers gave them trouble.

“We were fighting the weather a lot today,” Roger Stockman said. “We threw everything. We really couldn’t pattern the bass.”

The final results of the tournament were:

1, Mike McMillian and Pat Chambers, 18.54 pounds, $1,500. 2, David Hagen and Jay Shoemaker, 16.89, $750. 3, Joe Lay and Nicholas Turner, 15.48, $400. 4, Paul and Chase Tyus, 15.2, $250. 5, Jeff and Earl Richey, 14.76, $150.

6, Keith King and Bud Mott, 14.12. 7, Garrett White and Williams Ross, 14.03. 8, Torrey and Tim Jones, 13.47. 9, Rick Knight and Ben Daniels, 13.15. 10, Don Murphy and Frank Harkins, 12.59.

11, Chuck Harris and Andy Dearman, 12.4. 12, Joe and Roger Stockman, 12.34. 13, Brandon Hawkins and Wesley Jones, 11.92. 14, Buddy Jones and Keith Lawrence, 11.61. 15, Matt and Wayne Sheffield, 11.44.

16, Don Shumate and Kayla Carlisle, 11.39. 17, Charles and Christopher Mills, 11.04. 18, Jerry Ware and Taylor Lane, 10.26. 19, Mark Andrews and Bubba Holley, 7.61.

Did not weigh-in: Todd Langston and Mike Heath; Donald and David Jones; Chris Henry and Park Chappelle; Nelson Sturdivant and Lance Sanford; Brad Jones and Duke Brown; R.C. Oglesby and Delaine Oglesby; Corey Cole and Kenny Green; Karl Jones and Corey Ingram; Brandon Threadgill and John Maughan; Chris Frith and Jake Averette; Robbie Fancher and Jeremy Nichols; Wayne Franks and Robert Fancher; Charles Massey and Horace Longmire; Demetric Powell and Larry Reeves; Joshua Glass and Shawn Jordan; Bug and Kevin Aaron; Earl Travis and Levert Hopkins; James Pierce and Allen Harris; Mark and Justin Mott.