Anglers from surrounding counties are preparing for the sixth annual Wilcox Area Chamber of Commerce Crappie Tournament set for Saturday, April 13 on Lake Dannelly, also known as Miller’s Ferry Lake, in Wilcox County.

The tournament, which averages more than 200 participants each year, will begin Saturday at 6 a.m. with hourly weigh-ins starting at 9 a.m. and lasting until 2 p.m. that will award cash prizes each hour to the top three heaviest fish. The final weigh-in will be at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the tournament cost $30 per adult and $15 per youth 16 and younger, and can be purchased at multiple locations in Camden, Thomasville and Alberta. Tournament director William Malone said anglers will still be able to sign up day of the event at the Miller’s Ferry Marina up until 8 a.m.

“This is just a great event,” Malone said. “You don’t have to be in a boat; you can fish from a dock or pier. And it does not matter how many people you have in your boat. It’s a family event.”

Saturday’s tournament will also be the kick off to the month-long Big Crappie Jackpot Derby.

Malone said there are 200 tagged crappies in the lake that are worth anywhere from $100 to $25,000.

In addition to the grand prize $25,000 fish, there will be a fish worth $10,000 and three fish worth $5,000 each.  The remaining 2013 tagged fish will be worth $100 each with the following exceptions:  the 5th fish caught is worth $250, the 10th fish is worth $500, the 15th fish is worth $750 and the 20th fish is worth $1,000.  All prior year tagged fish will be paid $50 each.

Malone noted the lake is a great place to fish and that it is stocked with plenty of fish.

“You don’t have to travel anywhere to find some great fishing,” he said, “you’ve just got to get out there on the water.”

Tickets for the derby cost $10 per adult and $5 per youth, and can be purchased until the last day of the derby, May 12.

Both of the events are sponsored by Wilcox Area Chamber of Commerce and are done as a promotion of Millers Ferry Lake, Malone said.

“We’ve got one of the greatest fishing lakes anywhere around, right here in central Alabama — it stretches through Selma all the way to Montgomery. It’s just a great resource that we have here and the fishing is great,” he said. “These are just fun events to take part in that might even make a little money in your pocket, but in the worst case you’re going to have an enjoyable time out on the water.”

For more information on the crappie tournament or derby visit the www.wilcoxareachamber.com or call (334) 682-4929.