DESTINATIONWeiss The Alabama Bass Trail

The world will be focused on Weiss Lake the third week of October...

Tournament fishing at Weiss Lake takes a step up in 2023 when the Alabama Bass Trail brings its series championship to Weiss on October 20 and 21. Weiss will receive tremendous exposure from Bally Sports Southeast, which will televise the championship event. What this means to the rest of the world is that if you’re planning to visit Weiss Lake the third week of October, you’d better make your reservations in a hurry!

The series championship brings in 370 of the top anglers in 185 boats for the two-day event. Anglers will have an opportunity to scout fish the lake on October 18 & 19, but some may come in the preceding weekend to get in some time on the lake. Monday and Tuesday of the tournament are “dead days” for the teams. The anglers who will fish at Weiss qualified for the series-ending championship at five events on lakes in south Alabama and five lakes across the northern tier of the state.

We’re always overwhelmed by the help we get from Cherokee County, the people in Leesburg, and the people at the Chamber of Commerce,” said Bass Trail Director Kay Donaldson. “You always want to go somewhere the guys are going to catch fish; in addition, the hospitality has been great, and it’s always been a great place

(Continued on page 72)

(Continued from page 70) for us, everything you look for when you want to have a successful event.”

The Alabama Bass Trail, which includes lakes across the state, first announced it would add Weiss Lake to its tournament lineup in 2017 but has actually held events on the lake after the Leesburg Landing was completed about four years ago. Donaldson said the large boat launch and the massive parking lot to accommodate the boat trailers are a huge plus for Weiss.

Anglers will be seeking largemouth bass and spotted bass for the most part. Donaldson believes that between 36 and 42 pounds of fish over two days might be enough to claim the $50,000 first prize, and $50,000 is no fish story! A total of $100,000 in prize money will be paid out following the Saturday weigh-ins.

Donaldson said she’d never held an event on Weiss in October and was anxious to see what kind of impact the typical fall/winter lake drawdown will have on the anglers. “Our Northern Division guys are familiar with the lake drawdown. It’ll be a little more shallow. More bank area will be vacant than what we’re used to seeing. The good thing is that the fish group up a bit tighter, so I think the fishing will be really good there.”

One thing is for sure, hotels, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds will be full during that third week in October.