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The Alabama Bass Trail
ON THE TRAIL...
The Alabama Bass Trail
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Weiss Lake has been known as the “Crappie Capital of the World” almost since the lake was first created and the dam first started to produce hydroelectric power in 1961. The bass fishery is pretty impressive as well.
Kay Donaldson, director of the Alabama Bass Trail, a tournament fishing company, said that during the 2020 season, more tournament competitors caught their limit of bass than any other tournament on the Northern Division of the Trail.
The Weiss Lake stop on the trail is held in May each year, so as not to compete with the growing number of crappie events held earlier in the year. Since the Leesburg Landing Park was upgraded almost five years ago, Donaldson said the Weiss event has turned the corner in terms of attracting a large crowd to Cherokee County. “It’s one of the best facilities we attend,” Donaldson said. The size allows virtually all of the teams to start from the same location, allowing the organizers to spread out.
In 2016, the first phase of the upgrade was completed, creating parking spaces for more than 260 trucks and trailers. The following year work started on a four-space boat launch and additional improvements to the parking lot. A third phase of the project will include a huge pier with slots that can handle some three-dozen boats.
The May 16, 2020 tournament was the second tournament back after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased. The event drew 218 teams (two anglers per team). Due to the travel ban at that time, seven teams that had pre-registered were unable to attend.
The Weiss stop was won in 2020 by Mark McCaig, from Oxford, Alabama, and Tim Hurst from Anniston. They weighed in five fish at 22.6 pounds, easily outdistancing the second-place team of Stephen McAvoy and John Butts from Springville, who weighed in five fish at 16.12 pounds.
With several tournaments going on that same day, including a kayak tournament, the fishing was a bit challenging. “I can’t say enough about the folks there,” Donaldson said. “People from Leesburg and the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce and all their volunteers who came out were just great. The mammoth Leesburg Landing parking area meant that some of the teams had to park a bit away from the launch area, but the volunteers with golf carts helped ferry anglers from their parking spaces to the launch. Their help was invaluable.
The Alabama Bass Trail has included Weiss Lake for several years. After the initial first year, the next year was passed due
Photos by Chris Brown, Anglerschannel.com
to construction of the new ramp at Leesburg. The trail as since included Weiss for the past two years.
Donaldson also praised Weiss for the number of public access launches. “When the tournament fishermen arrive, they don’t all have to see that one primary launch to investigate the best fishing spots for the competition day. As far as an overall experience, I think Weiss Lake delivers as good as anywhere we go. The vision of the city of Leesburg joining with the state of Alabama and Alabama Power to create that mega complex for bass fishing, has truly made a difference that will continue for a lot of years to come.”
Jacksonville State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research released impact studies for the Alabama Bass Trail for 2019 revealed the Alabama Bass Tournament at Weiss was $387,828. “For a town the size of Leesburg or a community the size of Cherokee County, that’s a significant impact for a one-day fishing tournament,” Donaldson said. “With more lodging options available, the impact could be major.”
Hotels that were available were full for the weekend and for several days prior to the tournament because anglers generally came in a couple of days early to scout the lake. Campgrounds around the lake were also full.
Cherokee County Probate Judge and Commission Chairman Tim Burgess said Weiss has been home to a lot of fishing tournaments throughout the years, but having the Alabama Bass Trail at Weiss takes everything up a notch. “We’re so thankful that they can be involved in our community,” Burgess said. “It helps our local businesses, sure, but it gives a lot of exposure to Cherokee County. Maybe, as a result, people will find out what a great lake we have here. We want to share it with everybody.”
The bass fishery at Weiss has also been noticeably improving, too. Donaldson compared the Weiss tourney this year to the event at Lake Guntersville, which has historically been more widely considered a bass lake. Guntersville hosted the first event of the year in February with 225 teams. Only 51 of those teams weighed in their limit of fish. “That’s not a great number. You’d hope for something along the line of 150 or so,” Donaldson said. “Weiss had 218 teams fish with 145 limits for bass caught. The numbers are there. Weiss is full of bass and shows great promise. Those bass are only going to get even larger year to year.”
The Alabama Bass Trail will bring anglers back to Weiss May 15, 2021.
411 TWIN DRIVE-IN THEATRE & GRILL 67 Years of Making Memories
Initially opened in 1953 by Emory Johnson, the 411 Twin Drive-in Theatre and Grill continues to be a mainstay for entertainment in Cherokee County. Located at 300 County Road 265, just off Highway 411 between Centre and Leesburg, is still owned and operated by the Johnson family.
Featuring new release movies, you can catch a show Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the year. They are also open seven nights a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the summer season on weekends, guests can choose from two double features.
While some might think heading to the drive-in movie is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, 411 Twin Drive-In has kept up with the times. The films are shown in high-quality digital, ensuring a dynamic look and excellent sound quality.
There is no need to worry about what’s for dinner on your movie night. In addition to the traditional movie snacks, the Grill serves everything from burgers and wings to pizza. There is something for everyone in the family.
The Johnson family has been instrumental when it comes to movie watching in Cherokee County. Rex, who currently runs the drive-in, is a third-generation movie exhibitor.
The first walk-in theater in Cherokee County, the Cherokee Theatre, was owned and operated by his grandfather, Glover Johnson. His father, Emory, and the elder Johnson built the Emory Theatre, another walk-in theater in Centre. In 1953, Emory created the 411 Drive-in to meet the changing demands for entertainment.
As entertainment again changed, the drive-in closed in the mid1980s. Emory, along with his sons Rex and Carl, reopened the venue in 2001. Although the past generations are gone, their dreams and legacy live on today.
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