Weiss Lake to Host Fifth Stop of Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series’ North Division, June 18th
Decatur, Ala. (June 13, 2016) – On June 18, 2016, the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series is bringing the final stop of the North Division to the waters of Weiss Lake where a guaranteed first place prize of $10,000 is up for grabs. Hosted by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leesburg, the tournament has attracted 304 amateur anglers from across the southeastern United States and is expected to generate an approximate $300,000 economic impact for the Cherokee County area.
Takeoff is set for approximately 5:30 a.m. and weigh-in begins at 2:30 p.m. at the boat ramp at Leesburg Landing . Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Registration and briefing will take place at the Gadsden State Cherokee Center beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 17th. According to Alabama Bass Trail’s Program Director Kay Donaldson, the tournament is expected to pump an estimated $300,000 into the local economy of the host city through revenue generated by anglers and their family members dining, shopping, and overnight stays in local hotels and motels.
Sanctioned by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the tournament trail features two divisions: Northern and Southern. Each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes. Maximum number of boats is 200 and each tournament will have a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and will pay 20 places.
Northern Division:
Smith Lake February 27, 2016 hosted by Chamber of Commerce of Walker County
Lake Guntersville March 19, 2016 hosted by Marshall County CVB
Pickwick Lake April 23, 2014 hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board
Neely Henry Lake May 21, 2016 hosted by City of Gadsden and FishNeelyHenry.com
Weiss Lake June 18, 2016 hosted by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
Southern Division:
Lake Martin February 20, 2016 hosted by Alexander City Chamber of Commerce
Lay Lake March 12, 2016 hosted by Shelby County Commission
Mobile Delta April 9, 2016 hosted by Mobile Sports Authority and Mobile CVB
Millers Ferry May 14, 2016 hosted by Wilcox County Chamber
Lake Jordan June 4, 0216 hosted by City of Wetumpka
The championship is a 140 boat, two-day event. The 140 boats are comprised of the top 55 teams in points from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with the top 15 student boats collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective division, the top 5 couples teams and the top 5 collegiate teams. Hosted by Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, the championship tournament is set for October 7-8, 2016 on Lake Eufaula.
The championship is a no entry tournament and the first place prize is a fully-rigged 2017 Phoenix 819 Pro with a Mercury 150, trolling motor and electronics valued at $43,000 with an additional $40,000 in cash and prizes. The official bass boat of the Alabama Bass Trail, Phoenix Bass boats will also offer the tier one First Flight incentive plan to tournament winners in a qualifying Phoenix boat.
Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series’ sponsors include Bill Penney Toyota, the Alabama Tourism Department, Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc., Garmin, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Alabama Power Company, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Buffalo Rock, Inc., Crossed Industries, Allstate Insurance, Lew’s Fishing, Tennessee Valley Authority, Alabama Foundation Specialist, Boat U.S., Power-Pole, and Frogg Toggs, Inc., HydroWaveTM, and Yeti Coolers.
For more information on the Alabama Bass Trail and the tournament series, call Program Director Kay Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
About Alabama Bass Trail
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River (Millers Ferry), Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.