By Jason Duran
This weekend, the Alabama Bass Trail North Division returns to the deep, clear waters of Lewis Smith Lake to launch the 2025 season. Known for its deep structure, massive spotted bass population, and unpredictable conditions, Smith Lake presents a unique challenge that separates the most adaptable teams from the rest. This event marks the beginning of the trail’s twelfth season. Each of the five events in the North division have a $15,000 guaranteed first-place payout and over 64,000 paid out at each event. Teams need to do well in the first event to have a hope to make the ABT Championship.
The team of Jordan Wiggins and Steve Jacques are looking for some redemption from last year. They finished in second place in 2024 with 20.03 falling sort of first place by only .23 pounds. Last year, they spent a good bit of time fishing shallow from 4 to 2 feet of water. They caught most of their fish on a chatterbait, a buzzbait, and a worm. In 2023, Jordan teamed up with his brother Jesse and won the Smith Lake ABT 100 event in November with 17.50 pounds, fishing against the best 100 anglers in team fishing. Jordan calls Smith Lake home and has a rich history of fishing the lake with his brother probably even before they could walk.
In February, common fishing patterns at Smith Lake involve targeting drains in the early morning. Anglers typically know that fishing these drains can quickly lead to catching a limit of spotted bass. As the day progresses, teams often work their way up the creeks to upgrade their catch, focusing on catching largemouth bass in the backs of pockets. With temperatures in the 70s all week, this pattern is particularly favorable. Jordan mentioned, “It’s probably going to be the winning deal.” Currently, the lake is just a little above winter pool, and the low water levels are making it hard to access many usual spots in the back of the creeks, as they are now out of the water. This situation increases fishing pressure, making it a significant factor to consider. In this event, having a good boat number can provide teams with an advantage, allowing them to avoid some of the pressure and reach their main fishing areas first. This could be a key factor to winning this event.
The decision of the day at Blast Off is whether to turn left towards Rock Creek and the Sipsey or right towards Ryan Creek. The team mentioned, “You really can’t fish both sides; it’s hard to run around that much. We’ve tried that, and it is difficult to be effective with all the running around.” When asked which side they felt would be more productive for this event, they responded that the Ryan Creek side may perform better this week due to water clarity. They explained, “We got a little bit of rain last week, and the Ryan side tends to stay a little stained longer than the Rock Creek side, where it clears up quickly.” Because Smith Lake is so clear, the stained water can help anglers avoid spooking the fish as much.
When asked about key baits for this weekend, they mentioned a crankbait, a chatterbait, and a minnow. The minnow will be crucial for those looking to use Livescope. Many teams will be utilizing the Garmin Livescope to target fish. Smith Lake is an ideal location for teams skilled in using Livescope because the lake is clear and clean, making it easier to identify fish on the screen. If there is something on the screen, it is more than likely a bass instead of a drum or a stump like often happens at other lakes. Jordan noted that while many teams may cash a check using Livescope, winning will be tough if they rely solely on Livescope. Winning will require a mixed bag of spotted bass and largemouth bass. Catching fish that weigh over 3 pounds have recently been difficult. The team plans to spend this week practicing locating these larger fish and hopes to find a bunch of them. Their target weight for this event is between 17 to 18 pounds to secure a win, while 13 pounds should be sufficient to receive a check. Teams should find it easy to catch a limit, with many likely to land in the 12 to 13-pound range.
The weather forecast for the tournament weekend predicts variable cloudiness with a passing shower or two on Saturday, with temperatures reaching a high of 75°F. With favorable conditions and a roster of the best teams in bass fishing, Smith Lake promises to be an exciting kickoff to the season. Will a seasoned team use their experience to unlock the lake’s potential, or will an underdog make a statement?
Everyone must Registration & Check-In February 7, 2025 at Bevill State Community College Auditorium, Rowland Education Center, 1411 Indiana Avenue, Jasper, AL 35501. Check In: 4:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. Pre-Tournament Meeting: Everyone seated by 6:30 P.M. Blast off and Weigh in will be February 8, 2025 at Lewis Smith Lake Dam, 7811 Lewis Smith Lake Dam Road, Jasper, AL 35504.
All friends and family are welcome to attend this event. Bring lawn chairs and see some of the best bass teams in the country cross the stage. Everyone can watch the live weigh-in and over 4 hours of on-the-water live coverage on the ABT Facebook page, YouTube, and the ABT website. The 2025 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors Include: Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers – McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw – Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Jack’s, Garmin, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
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