NEWS

Lake Jordan with Jim Hardy

by Dan O’Sullivan

It’s February 10, and the first event for the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail season is about to kickoff on Valentine’s Day.  The Southern Division; which is at 163 teams, begins its season on the 6800 acre Alabama Power impoundment Northwest of Wetumpka.

Jordan, as with much of the Coosa River, is known as a spotted bass fishery, but one that will often produce some quality largemouth as well.  However, with the expected weather conditions currently, the spotted bass may be the most consistent target.  At the time of writing, Accuweather is reporting that the skies will remain clear throughout the week with high temperatures in the 50’s and low 60’s.  However, the overnight lows are expected to be in the 20’s as the week progresses, culminating with a sunny, cold morning, warming to the mid 50’s with windy conditions on tournament day.

Undoubtedly, the anglers who perform well in the season opening vent will find a way to capitalize on fish that are relating to the current generated by the Lake Mitchell Dam upriver and the Bouldin Dam in the New Lake area.

Jim Hardy of Deatsville, a local angler, competing in his first season on the Alabama Bass Trail said that the small lake is unlikely to have too many stones unturned.  “With that many boats on the water, I would bet that every obvious – and some not so obvious – fish holding spots will be covered up,” said Hardy.  “The trick to doing well here is to find something that keeps you away from the heavy pressure associated with the crowds that will be n the lake.”

He said that he would be on the lookout for those types of areas, but said that he would likely be using one of a few different offerings, as would most of the field.  “I expect that Shaky Heads, jigs, jerkbaits, and crankbaits will likely play a role in the event,” said Hardy.  “If the weather stays cool, then we’ll have to work hard with slow moving lures, but if the conditions warm, the moving baits will be a factor.”

Whatever the conditions, someone will find a way to coax the right kind of bass into striking.  By the time weigh-in is over on Saturday, we will know which teams will have the inside track at qualifying for the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail championship, and who has the best chance at winning the Angler of the Year title.

The mandatory registration meeting will be at the Wetumpka Civic Center located at 405 South Main St., in Wetumpka.  Registration opens at 4:00PM so we can get team photos.  For teams whose first angler name on the registration form begins with A – G, registration begins at 4:00PM, H – R at 4:45 and S – Z at 5:45PM. The rules meeting begins at 7:00PM.

As last season, each of our tournaments will feature the live streaming video, but new for the 2015 season will be a live leaderboard so that friends, families and fans can keep up with each event.  Follow along on www.alabamabasstrail.org.

The sponsors of the 2014 Alabama Bass Trail include Bill Penney Toyota, the Alabama Tourism Department, Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc., Academy Sport & Outdoors, Garmin, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Boat US, Costa Del Mar, Alabama Power Company, Buffalo Rock, Inc., E3 Sports Apparel, Power-Pole, Navionics, Jet-Pep, Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, AFS, Inc., Window World, LEER, and Frogg Toggs, Inc., VIRB Elite,  HydroWaveTM, Vicious Fishing, and Yeti Coolers.

For complete standings visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.