With a bass fishing history as rich as a Rockefeller, Lake Eufaula is one of the premier bass fisheries in not only the state of Alabama, but the country. In the short history of the Alabama Bass Trail, it has been the scene of fireworks, with the lake producing one of the heaviest winning weights as well as one of the heaviest total field weights for the inaugural season.
With much of the state being gripped by freezing conditions for much of the past month, many wondered at just how any event would produce. But, as the weather began to warm, transitioning from freezing conditions to moderate rains and warming skies; Lake Eufaula began to show its potential.
As if on cue, as the second event in the Alabama Bass Trail’s Southern Division neared, Lake Eufaula’s bass began to move. Word was that anglers would be able to run into quality bass on the bank, and some heavyweights would be more readily found in transition.
Even though the morning of the event was gloomy and drizzly, the anglers of the Southern Division did not disappoint. Leading the field was the local team of Ronnie Ray and Alton Stillwell, who brought a limit of Lake Eufaula largemouth bass to the stage weighing 29.09 pounds to win the event.
The impressive catch was reportedly taken mostly in eight to twelve foot depth on transition areas around the mid lake area; with the main basin near the dam contributing as well. Ray, a member of the winning team reported that the winning catch came on Ledgebuster spinnerbaits and Carolina Rigged Big Bite Baits Lizards. “We found the fish in practice, but really only thought we could get 25 pounds,” he said. “We got our first limit around 10:30, then were able to cull up until about 12:30.”
The pair has won several events on the lake in the past, but said winning an event like this was special. “We really thought that the entry fee and payouts of the ABT made it a great circuit,” said Ray. “Then the field size and the quality of anglers makes it very competitive; it really feels pretty good to have won this event.”
Ray and Stillwell earned $10,000 for their victory.
The second place team of Ralph Moseley and Terry Stevens brought 25.00 pounds to the scales and echoed the thoughts of the winners. “We thought we would be able to catch 22 to 23 pounds, so we really maximized what we had found,” the pair said. “We caught our first limit on topwater and sightfishing with a Big Bite Baits Warmouth, then caught a big one to cull with on a Rat-L-Trap. It was a great day on the water.”
