NATCHEZ — Dozens of local fishermen took to the waters of Okhissa Lake May 7 in an attempt to reel in some of the lake’s largest bass in hopes of winning their share of over $4,000 in prize money.

While doing so, these anglers also helped raise money for the Homochitto Heritage Club’s scholarship fund, which raises scholarship money for local high school seniors.

“It was a good (turnout) considering the flood situation,” tournament director Eddie Roberts said. “We didn’t draw as many from Concordia Parish (as usual).”

We raised $1,000 for the Homochitto Heritage Club.”

Roberts said this year’s tournament featured 57 fishermen, each paid $100 to enter the tournament. The money from the entry fees went toward paying the tournament winners and the rest went to the Heritage Club.

Roberts said the fishing went real well, he got good reports from the anglers and the lake put out a lot of fish for the tournament.

The tournament’s overall winner was Eddie Foreman, from Liberty, who reeled in a bass weighing in at 6.92 lbs. Foreman also won the first weigh-in period with that fish. Foreman totaled $1,250 for the tournament.

The day was separated into four weigh periods, each two hours long. The angler with the largest fish caught during each period received a price of $250. Second place in each period received $150 and third place received $100.

George Prince, Steven White and Jimmy Breen joined Foreman as the other weigh-in period winners.

White finished second overall in the tournament and totaled $750 and Breen finished third totaling $650.

The youngest winner of the day was 10-year-old Hayden Herring, from Meadville, Miss., he pulled in a bass weighing in at 2.68 lbs to finish second place in the final weigh-in period.

Roberts said this is the fourth-straight year they have hosted the tournament and hopes for it to just keep growing.

“We had around 100 people last year, we we’re just down (to 57) this year because of the flood,” Roberts said.

“We hope to beef this thing up (in the coming years) and keep building, but we can’t help what nature does.”

The Homochitto Heritage Club is an affiliate of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs. It is based out of Meadville.

The organization raises money for scholarship funds and community projects.