Alabama North Heads To Guntersville

By Troy Jens

The Groundhog saw his shadow, and the legend proves true this year as winter drags on in the mid-South. But a short warming trend is forecast beginning a couple days before the Alabama North Division of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series tournament on Guntersville Lake, and the anglers will be met with milder conditions on the legendary impoundment.

“The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that due to the flooding and cold water the grass is washed out on many places out in the main lake, eliminating many of the areas that the fish normally hold this time of year”, says Bassmaster Weekend Series angler, Ed Gettys. Gettys has been one of the top money winners in many tournaments on Guntersville Lake over the years, and his expertise has earned him recognition as one of the top local anglers of all time the area.

Justice Banks 5K For The Win on Guntersville

Guntersville, Alabama / Feb 27, 2010 – While the winter lingers on, the colder than normal water still had some hot action for the anglers in the East Tennessee division of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series held on Guntersville Lake.

“I came down yesterday, (the day before the tournament) I had about 5 hours to practice. I put my boat in the water three different times”, said John Justice, who won the Bass Weekend Series event on Guntersville lake and took home $5.000.00 for his effort. Justice tried areas up the river, in the mid river and on the lower end to locate a few key areas that helped him secure his victory in the Toyota Tundra BWS on Guntersville Lake.

BUSCH BEER SIGNS EXCLUSIVE SPONSORSHIP
WITH AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS

BUSCH Beer to have a presence at Bassmaster Weekend Series Events in 2010

ATHENS, ALA. (Feb. 25, 2010) – American Bass Anglers (ABA) announced today that BUSCH and BUSCH Light have signed on as the official beer sponsors of the ABA, continuing the BUSCH brand’s support of the outdoor lifestyle with an on-site presence at the Bassmaster Weekend Series.

The Journey West
For Weekend Series qualifier Darrell West, this Classic was a long time coming

By Kyle Carter
ESPNOutdoors.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — If you just walked up on the scene, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between Darrell West and the other 50 competitors in the 40th Bassmaster Classic.

His boat is brand-new, it's wrapped, his equipment is all top notch, and he looks the part. And that's the way he'd like it. The Bassmaster Weekend Series champion said he does his best not to be in awe of the names around him, but it's not easy.

He grew up watching Denny Brauer on television, and remembers Kevin VanDam when he first hit the circuit. VanDam and West are roughly the same age and about the time VanDam started living West's dream, West had his first child, which forced him to give up tournament fishing and as he put it, "get a real job."

BWS Champion Gets Press

The 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Champion Darrell West was covered by the press at and prior to the classic. Check out the coverage on Bassmaster at this link.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/bmseries/index

Pittman Secures Victory on Atchafalaya Basin

Anglers were met with less than favorable fishing conditions at the 1^st Louisiana Division Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series tournament for 2010 - held on the Atchafalaya Basin on January 30th.

Dealing with falling temperatures and rising water, Duane Pittman overcame the rest of the competitive field when he brought in the winning bag of 16.34 pounds.

George Crain wins $5,000.00 on Eufaula
Co-Angler Troy Phillips Wins $2,500

Athens, Alabama – Feb. 6, 2010 - George Crain of Cropwell, Alabama stepped a little closer to a possible berth into the prestigious Bassmaster Classic with his first place finish on Lake Eufaula during the Feb. 6 Bass Weekend Series event. Crain brought a limit of 5 bass to the scales that weighed 16.07 pounds, and took home the winning check for $5,000.00. Crain targeted mats in 2 to 4 feet of water and flipped a plastic beaver and a jig to secure his victory in the tournament.

Royal Purple - 2010 Angler of the Year Program

Athens, AL...American Bass Anglers announced today Royal Purple Synthetic Oil will continue to offer a special “Royal Purple Angler of the Year” program for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series tournament trail for the 2010 season.

Eufaula to Challenge Anglers Skills

By Troy Jens / ABA

From the very beginning of competitive bass fishing, when Ray Scott himself graced the weigh-in stage, Lake Eufaula -- which flows along the Alabama-Georgia border -- was considered one of the premier fisheries in the country. Pictures of heavy strings of bass from years past are still displayed in some places. The cycles of nature have lightened the loads now weighed in during tournaments on the lake, but Eufaula is still a top destination and a major player in the bass fishing arena. 

ABA’s Alabama South division will visit Eufaula on Feb. 6. As with any lake, the unpredictable early spring weather will be a factor in how anglers fish and what they catch.

“We haven’t had periods of rain like this in years,” says Ty Solis, an ABA member from Albany, Ga. He has been fishing Eufaula since he was a kid, going with his dad who also competed on the lake.

The Chattahoochee has been running red into the north end of the lake, bringing fresh, muddy water into the system.

“Most of the lake is muddy, but there may be a little cleaner water remaining in some of the backwater ponds,” Solis said.

These observations were echoed by longtime Eufaula competitor and ABA member Clay Jens.

“Muddy water will be a factor, and with the coming rains late this week it could be worse,” said Jens.

McMullen Takes 1st at Lake Sinclair

Athens, AL......1/30/10......Willie McMullen from Oxford, GA is one step closer to the Bassmaster Classic with a 1st Place win and $2205.00 in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series bass tournament held on Lake Sinclair.  McMullen’s only bass weighed in at 7.46 lbs. and was caught using a crawfish colored crank bait in 5ft-6ft of water. That same bass also netted McMullen the big bass award and an additional check for $230.00.