NEWS

2016 Pickwick Lake Tournament Feature Story

2016 Alabama Bass Trail Event Preview
Pickwick Lake
by Dan O’Sullivan

Decatur, Ala. April 21, 2016 – We are nearing the halfway point of the 2016 Alabama Bass Trail Northern Division schedule, and the third event for the season finds the anglers of the Northern Division strategizing for Pickwick Lake, the Tennessee River impoundment in Florence, Ala.

As much as the Shoals has been a historical landmark in the State of Alabama, and the music business, Pickwick Lake has been home to many significant historical occurrences in the sport of bass fishing.  Those historic waters will be a part of writing the story for the 2016 ABT season, but will also be a major chapter in one team’s careers.

One of those teams that has seemingly written chapters at many of the stops the Alabama Bass Trail makes is the brother team of Jesse and Jordan Wiggins.  The Cullman, Ala. based team has been a fixture of success on the tour, and thus far in 2016, they have a chance to head to the Bassmaster Team Championship once again.

Ironically, one of the members of Team Wiggins has already qualified for the 2017 Bassmaster Classic in Houston.  Jesse Wiggins won the Bassmaster Southern Open last month on Smith Lake, and sets the team up for a chance at both members heading to the Classic.

“It’s really cool that he’s already qualified,” said Jordan of his brother.  “But, I know him, and if we were fishing on the last day of the Bassmaster Team Championship; he’d be trying to win, and that’s the way it should be.”

However, that potential is a long way off, and the Wiggins boys are concentrating on this week.  With the pair in sixth place in the Northern Division points, they want to continue their solid season.  “Pickwick always seems to be the one place that we struggle a little bit,” said Jordan.  “We want to get out there and put together a plan that helps us put 18 pounds on the scales; that’s our goal.”

Pickwick Lake’s elevation is not quite at full pool, and with recent rains, and more expected this week, the TVA is expected to keep water moving through the system.  That will have an effect on the fishing.   “We’re going to have to keep an open mind because there will be many options,” said Wiggins.  “We could fish for smallmouth, there may be some bedding fish, or we could fish out on ledges; we’ll just have to see.”

Wiggins said that he expects to see anglers throwing swimbaits, crankbaits and bottom bouncing lures.  “A lot of things will work,” he said.  “We’ll have a bunch tied up, but I know we’ll also have our jighead and worm ready, it’s what we do.”

Anglers are expected to register on Friday night at the Coliseum located at 702 Veterans Drive in Florence, AL. beginning at 5:00PM, and the takeoff and weigh-in of the third stop of the 2016 Alabama Bass Trail Northern Division will be held at the MacFarland Park.

The sponsors of the 2016 Alabama Bass Trail include; Bill Penney Toyota, Phoenix Bass Boats, Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, Alabama Tourism Department, SCA Performance, Mt. Dew, Boat US, T-H Marine Supplies, AllState, TVA, Alabama Power, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Lew’s Fishing, Frogg Toggs, Crossed Industries, Alabama Foundation Specialist, Costa, YETI, Leer, E3

For information about Alabama Bass Trail and for complete tournament standings visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.