Smithville’s First H.L England Memorial Bass Tournament

Smithville’s first H.L England Memorial Bass Tournament accepting entries for the July 31st competition.

Tournament Director Buryl Shirley said fishing runs throughout the night at Center Hill Lake’s Ragland Bottom starting at 7:00 p.m.

“H.L passed away last year sort of suddenly from COVID, and he just sort of just been a pioneer in the bass fishing tournaments around here for years and years,” Shirley said. “We just wanted to do something to remember him by.”

Shirley said three people are allowed per boat. Shirley said each crew’s top five heaviest bass will decide who wins the $2,000 first place prize. Shirley said him and a friend wanted to host the competition to celebrate England’s life.

“He fished in several tournaments himself back when the old Ed Rogers days when they was fishing,” Shirley said. “He won a lot of those. Just a well known guy in the community. His whole family was. His daughter is a school teacher down by the middle school. Just a good family.”

Shirley said fishers will catch small mouth, large mouth and spotted bass. Shirley said even young anglers can participate with two different youth categories.

“A lot of people are going to come, because of H.L,” Shirley said. “Some people don’t know H.L. they are coming to fish for the big prize. We’re going to try and do a scholarship with some of the money left over in memory of him and his name to a high school fisher.”

Shirley said a $50 entry is required. Shirley said participants can enter by contacting a tournament director at (931)-273-4392.