FLORENCE-Florence-Lauderdale Tourism will hosts its first “Fish Tales” night on Friday, November 14. North Alabama fishing legends like Ray Gresham and Bill Huntley will be on hand telling fishing stories in the Gallery at the new Visitors Center in McFarland Park from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Regional angler Sam Moody of Athens will moderate the event.
Gresham is regarded as one of the most dominant anglers on the Tennessee River over the past four decades. He also owned a local tackle store for many years. Well liked in the community and one of the best story tellers, Gresham had local fish fries at his home that became legendary.
An avid fisherman, mostly chasing smallmouths on Pickwick Lake, Huntley (along with his wife Pat) started Bumble Bee Bait Company in 1967, making spinnerbaits and jigs at night on the kitchen table. That was a time when high-speed bass boats were just coming into vogue, and Huntley saw the need for boats to be safe,
Bill Huntley
comfortable and more fishable.
His first invention, around 1970, was a device to put the trim handle on the throttle control for outboard motors. When he founded a company to make the devices, he simply named it for the initials “throttle-handle” — and “T-H Marine” was born. Today, the company is one of the largest manufacturers of accessories for the boating industry in the United States.
Now over 80 years old, Huntley still competes in area bass fishing tournaments and remains active in product development for T-H Marine. He will be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) in February 2015.
In addition to the “fish tales,” Tom Smith, longtime owner of Tom Smith’s Custom Rod and Reel, has donated to Florence/Lauderdale Tourism an impressive collection of mounted fish and trophies from his store which will be on display during the evening.
For more information, contact Florence/Lauderdale Tourism at 256-740-4141.
