Fishermen from Dallas County and surrounding areas may want to drop a line for a worthy cause Saturday, Feb. 23, as the Selma Dallas County Sav-A-Life Charity Bass Tournament kicks off.

The cost for the tournament is $100 per boat with the chance to win $2,000 as the grand prize. Entry forms can be found at Rountree Outdoors, Steve’s Service Center, The Store in Valley Grande, Headz Outdoors in Camden and McNider Marine in Thomasville.

The tournament is a fundraiser for the Selma Dallas County Sav-A-Life, a Christian, pro-life ministry that provides practical, emotional and spiritual assistance to women, men and children who face pregnancy related issues, who are threatened by abortion or who have suffered harm from abortion.

Steve Craig, local business owner and the tournament’s director, said there has been an overwhelming response from local businesses who have signed on to sponsor the fundraiser.

“People are continuing to donate. We have, to date raised a little over $13,000,” Craig said. “We’re probably in excess of 70 [sponsors]. And we’ve got businesses still coming on board.”

Craig said from the calls he’s received and the buzz around town, he’s expecting a big turnout for Saturday’s tournament.

“I’m getting calls from all over saying they’re coming to fish. And the river should be back down, that shouldn’t even be an issue by next Saturday,” Craig said, addressing the recent flooding due to the heavy rains last week. “Everybody’s talking about coming to fish, so I’m expecting a big crowd.”

People will be fishing on the Alabama River between Jones Bluff and Millers Ferry lock and dam, Craig said.

And while entry forms are available at several locations throughout the county, Craig said people can still sign up the day of the tournament.

“Probably what’s going to happen is everybody who’s not already registered is going to wait until Saturday morning. They can sign up Saturday morning right up until take off time,” he said. “They just all have to be back at 3 p.m. for the weigh in, because weigh in will start at 3 p.m.”

Craig said encouraged people who haven’t signed up yet to consider the cause.

“It’s all to support Sav-A-Life,” he said. “It’s important because of the ministry that they do for this community.”