NEWS

2015 Mobile-Tensaw River Delta Tournament Feature Story

ABT Mobile Delta Preview
by Dan O’Sullivan

The fourth event for the Southern Division of the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail is upon us.  This fourth event takes to trail to the southernmost part of the state and the Mobile Tensaw River Delta.  Like any tidal waterway, a fishery like the Mobile Delta brings with it a certain uniqueness that is not seen on the rest of the circuit.

We spoke to Keith Dees, who, along with his partner Tommy Walley are the current Southern Division points leading team.  The pair call Mobile home, and they have an understanding of the fishery, and Dees was willing to share a little bit of his experience with us.

“The Delta is a neat place,” said Dees.  “It is the most diverse fishery I’ve been to, and I have fished a lot of different places all over the Southeast in my lifetime. I took a client from work fishing once and we caught two limits of speckled trout, two limits of redfish, two limits of bass and seven or eight flounder; it’s something I’ve never seen elsewhere.”

With that said, he said the bass fishery is doing well over the past several years.  “We’ve had high water, which usually means that the fish will have cover to hide and feed in,” he said.  “The grass has also come back well since being killed off in Hurricane Katrina, so that also helps the bass fishery.”

He said that the amount of rains in the state recently will have an effect on the overall quality of the bite, but the he felt teams will still be able to do well.  “The water is running high and dirty lately,” he said.  “But, I think people will be able to catch them just about anywhere they want to fish; it all depends on the backwaters they choose.”

The fishery gives anglers plenty of options.  “There will be fish caught here around the Causeway area in the grass, and then there will be those who run,” he said.  “I wouldn’t be surprised to hear people doing well fishing a hundred miles away up in the river sections fishing the current.”

He said that he expects the weights to be manageable.  “I would expect that someone with ten pounds will be pretty strong in the points perspective; that always seems to be a steady weight around here,” he reported.  “I would also think that 16 to 18 pounds would be the winning weight.

“But, I’ve gone out thinking I would catch eight and caught 18, and gone out thinking I would catch 18 and caught eight; so you never fully know what it will take.”

The fourth stop of Alabama Bass Trail Southern Division begins May 29 with mandatory event check-in being held Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00PM at Saraland High School Auditorium at 1115 Industrial Pkwy, Saraland, AL 36571 and tournament takeoff and weigh-ins taking place Saturday at Live Oak Landing off Alabama Hwy. 225 exit 31 off of Interstate 65.

The sponsors of the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail include: Bill Penney Toyota, the Alabama Tourism Department, Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc., Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Alabama Power Company, Buffalo Rock, Inc., Jet-Pep, Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Frogg Toggs, Inc., HydroWaveTM, Alabama Foundation Specialist, Boat U.S., LEER, Vicious Fishing, E3 Sports, Inc., Costa Del Mar, Frogg Toggs, Inc., Power-Pole,  Window World and Yeti Coolers.