NEWS

2018 Lake Jordan Preview with Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay

2018 Alabama Bass Trail Lake Jordan Preview
with Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay
by Dan O’Sullivan

May 3, 2018 – Decatur, Ala. – This weekend marks the second to last event of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail’s Southern Division schedule. Jordan Lake has been one of the most anticipated events of each season because of the lake’s reputation for producing big spotted bass and a few quality largemouth.

This year, with Jordan being the fourth stop of the year, it may prove to be the most dynamic event of the year. With anglers seeking position in the Angler of the Year Race heading into the final event, Jordan could very well be the site of some extreme change though the standings.

One team that finds this weekend’s event critical is current Southern Division point leaders Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay. “Jordan is really the smallest lake we fish and boat draw may be the most important thing we’ve seen all season because of it,” they said. “The morning bite should be very important, and those teams back in line may get left out of the easy bites because of it.”

Turner and Lay said that the best chance to catch two or three quality anchor fish would be the early part of the day. “There will be a shad spawn in the grass, and that’s when a team will be able to catch a few good ones fairly easily,” they said. “But, that bite will only last an hour tops, and those late in the flights will have to make a decision about where to start.”

The veteran team said that the choice will be between shoreline grass or fishing deep, and that they would decide after they see their boat number. “Hopefully it will be an early number, because we had 19 pounds last year before the boats were finished launching,” they said. “If not, we’ll have to grind it out and hope to get a few big bites.”

The pair said that anglers would have a few choices as to what to fish; be it shallow or deep. They said topwaters, swim jigs and spinnerbaits could be effective early, but that deep jigs or worms would likely play a role throughout the day.

We just hope that we can get a few fish early to make a big difference for us,” they said. “It’s the kind of event that can make or break a season, and we’re hoping we can make it a good one.”

The fourth event of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail Southern Division season at Jordan Lake happens May 5 out of Wetumpka, Ala. The mandatory pre-tournament registration and angler information meeting happens on Friday May 4 at the Wetumpka Civic Center located at 410 South Main Street in Wetumpka, AL 36092, with registration happening from 5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. and the pre-tournament meeting beginning at 6:30 P.M. Takeoff and weigh-in occur at the State Boat Ramp at 600 Boat Ramp Road in Wetumpka, AL 36092.

The sponsors of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Toyota, Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, Buffalo Rock, Jack’s, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Alabama Power Company, Trapper Tackle, Lew’s Fishing, AFTCO, YETI, and E3 Apparel.

For information about Alabama Bass Trail and for complete tournament standings visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.