Feature Story

By Jason Duran

The Alabama Bass Trail returns to the storied waters of the Alabama River for the South Division’s third stop of the 2025 season at Cooter’s Pond in Prattville. With a guaranteed $15,000 first-place prize and a field of 225 boats, the competition promises to be fierce as anglers navigate the river’s dynamic spring conditions.  This event is the midway point in the season, and teams are beginning to turn their focus to the points race. The team of Justin Mott and Randal Hamilton provides a preview of what teams should prepare for heading to the Alabama River.

Cooter’s Pond derives its name from the river cooter turtle, which are native to the southeastern United States. These turtles are commonly found basking along the banks of the Alabama River, and their presence has left a lasting mark on the area’s identity. The park at Cooter’s Pond serves as a popular launch point for anglers and offers scenic views of the river’s diverse wildlife.

The Team of Mott and Hamilton began fishing together as a team in 2019. Hamilton shared, “I have known Justin for many years. We have fished around each other, but never fished together. We talked about fishing an ABT one night and decided to fish the ABT Open on Lay Lake. It was the first time we had been in the boat together, and we won it.” That win put this team off to a great start. Since then, they have had a couple of good finishes and even a 4th place finish at Cooter’s Pond in 2023. They have finished 4th in the AOY and made it to the BASS Team Championship. They have quickly become a successful team.

Springtime on the Alabama River is a transitional period for bass fishing. As water temperatures rise, bass move from their wintering holes to shallower spawning grounds. Anglers often find success targeting these transitional zones, especially areas with submerged timber, brush piles, and current breaks. The river’s structure-rich environment, including ledges and backwater sloughs, provides ample opportunities for various fishing techniques. The team shared, “There are a couple of things that come into play this time of year. It can either be 15 feet high or 3 feet low. You have to have a game plan for high water. If you were to break the lake down, you must decide if you want to fish current breaks for spots. The key baits could be shaky heads, swimbaits, and crankbaits. Or we could fish for largemouth, and they should be headed to the bedding areas now. The key baits in those areas would be jigs, chatterbaits, and anything shallow you can pinpoint them with.”

Current flow plays a significant role in bass activity; when the current is strong, bass are more likely to feed aggressively, whereas slack water conditions can make the bite more challenging. Anglers need to stay adaptable, adjusting their approaches based on real-time water conditions. “There is a water level gauge that is out of Montgomery; it ranges between 21 and 22.5. If you are in the range of 20 and below, techniques like power fishing, throwing a big jig, and chatterbait are effective. This pattern typically fades off later in the day, and you have to punt to something else. However, this time of year, there is something about throwing a frog all day that can be good if you decide all I’m going to do is fish for largemouth. Teams that want to play it a little safer can use a shaky head, especially if we have current. Teams that mix it up between that could be very productive.”

The weather forecast for Prattville on Saturday calls for humid conditions with partial sunshine and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 83° with a low of 64°. Anglers should be prepared for changing weather patterns, which could influence fish behavior and tournament outcomes. The water continues to fluctuate, and until tournament day, teams won’t know what the water level is. It can change overnight. Mott and Hamilton suggested teams be aware of the changing conditions and reiterated that, “If the water is high, teams need to be careful; this lake is known for floating debris, and everyone needs to be extra careful in those conditions.”

With the dynamic conditions of spring, success in this tournament will hinge on anglers’ ability to adapt to the river’s changing environment. Those who can effectively read the water, adjust to fluctuating levels, and capitalize on the bass’s transitional movements will have the best chance of securing a top spot. As always, local knowledge and experience on the Alabama River can provide a competitive edge.

Launch and weigh-in will be on April 26. Blast off is at safe light, and the first flight is due in at 2:30. All friends and family are welcome to attend this event at Cooters Pond, 1844 Cooters Pond Road, Prattville, AL 36076. 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, Lew’s, Strike King, Southern Protection Agency, 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.