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B.A.S.S.
ALABAMA WHEELER LAKE TOP150 TOURNAMENT MARCH 19-25
What will it take to win?
By Reed Montgomery
Wheeler Lake, Tennessee River System
Decatur, Alabama
Lake Level: Down 4 feet
Water Temperature: Mid-to-Upper 50's
Water Clarity: Stained to Muddy
As anglers again face the elements of March's high winds, severe cold fronts,
heavy rains, ice storms or possibly snow, each will find it very challenging
to find a good enough bag of bass, to win this prestigious event, featuring
severe competition from the world's best bass anglers.
In addition, last weeks heavy rains have muddied up many portions of this
huge impoundment's headwaters, feeder creeks and incoming Elk River on the
lakes lower end. There are clearing spots, but more rain is predicted this
week. Concentrations of both smallmouth and largemouth bass, preparing to
spawn, can be found bunched up on key locations. The angler that succeeds and
has enough weight to win after Saturday's weigh in, can take home $100,000.
Decatur Launch, site of the weigh-in, has an appropriately named main lake
area a few miles downstream, known as, " Decatur flats." Its not hard
to
find. Just look for dozens of boats in one area. Here, the popular attraction
for both bass and bass angler is the aquatic weed, millfoil.
This stringy, shallow growing, greenery attracts both species of bass and
many tournaments have been won fishing this oxygen-producing aquatic weed.
During late March, smallmouth bass hug the weedy edges and hang along
drop-offs, irregular weed edges, and around wood and rock cover along the
irregular bottom. Most are utilizing this refuge, to just hang just out of
the very swift current of the Tennessee River System, awaiting an easy meal.
Lures such as spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits and rattletraps, could be
what it takes to entice these aggressive bass.
Largemouths like to hang a little shallower and could be in 1-2 feet of water
waiting to spawn. Its all accoring to the weather and what you fish with.
Flipping lures into the thick weeds always gets the big bass bite with
everything from tubes to worms. Topwaters, soft plastic jerkbaits, floating
worms and lizards, even frogs and rats, will be annihilated from some very
big largemouth's during late March in and around this thick millfoil. Heavy
equipment, strong line and stout tackle is needed to horse these hogs from
cover, cover you often can't reach in the boat!
Downriver on massive Wheeler Lake, anglers can target a variety of main lake
points, creek mouths, small cuts, pockets, rock bluffs, piers, boathouses and
marinas. With low water of 4-5 feet down, navigation is hazardous for first
timers and extreme caution must be utilized when venturing away from the main
lake channel.
Although many feeder creeks, main lake flats and small pockets are now high
and dry, there is still plenty of water to fish. Some major feeders on the
lakes lower end, such as First and Second Creeks, Spring Creek, and the many
winding miles of the incoming Elk River, will show schools of both
smallmouths and largemouth's bunching up to spawn around wood and rock cover
and different bottom composition.
So what's it going to, TAKE TO WIN and WHO WILL IT BE?
My choice is reigning B. A. S. S. Angler of the Year, Tim Horton from
Spruce
Pine, Alabama. He earned that title because he is one of those top 10 in many
of the past B. A. S. S. events, including Wheeler Lake. He has guided on
the
Tennessee River System for years and knows its waters well.
As for the weight its all according to the elements. Like all major bass
tournaments there are always a top 3 that find the bass, when others
struggle. Like last weeks, Bassmasters Eastern Division Invitational on Lower
Tennessee River Lakes, Wilson and Pickwick Lakes. Although winning weights
were from 30 to 55 pounds, many zeros were recorded throughout the
tournament. Nearly 50 anglers zeroed for the entire 3 days. Many veteran
anglers some saw chances of making next season's Bassmasters Classic and a
chance at fishing the Top 150 trail dwindle.
My prediction? 60 pounds. We'll just have to wait and see... Reed
Reed Montgomery
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" Radio Talk Show
WJOX 690 AM
Birmingham, Alabama
Phone (205) 787-5133
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
E-mail: alabassgyd@aol.com
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
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