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Wheeler Lake Recap

Championship Grit on Wheeler Lake: The Best of the Best Close Out the 2025 ABT Season

By Jason Duran

The Alabama Bass Trail season always builds to this moment, one last test where the best from the North and South Divisions collide with nothing to lose and everything to prove. No entry fee. Two long days. $50,000 to the team that can out-fish 175 others on Wheeler Lake. And this year, that test demanded every ounce of grit anglers could muster.

For Donnie Beck and Tony Harvey, the dream weekend started with a decision before sunrise a run north to the dam, committing to the current, crowds, and chaos that come with it. “We always look to see where the Championship’s going to be,” Beck said. “When we saw Wheeler on the schedule, we were happy. If we could qualify, that would be awesome. To come here and actually win it unreal.”

The winning pattern was pure adaptation. “Fish were so pressured up there that we had to mix it, crankbait, Ned rig, drop shot just anything to get a bite,” Harvey explained. “I don’t think we caught two fish on the same bait.”

Patience was everything. If you are not used to fishing these types of areas it can be frustrating when the other teams start to show up. Their primary stretch from day 1 had a much bigger crowd on day 2. “There were boats everywhere,” Beck said. “We didn’t even get on our main spot till around noon” When the crowd thinned, “we caught three of our better fish and the last fish we caught was right at 6 pounds. They retuned to weigh in with after the long back and the leaderboard told the story: 41.03 pounds and a $50,000 payday. The biggest fish, a 7.80-pound Wheeler brute, at first looked like a drum. “He said, ‘I don’t know what I’ve got,’ and when it came up, I said, ‘It’s a monster!’” Beck laughed, their victory marks a career highlight for both anglers and another reminder that in Alabama Bass Trail competition, persistence wins.

For Beck and Harvey, the win is more than just a trophy, it is a statement for two Tennessee River veterans still chasing it as hard as ever. “We’re both getting up in age and got some aches and pains,” Beck said with a grin. “So, I mean, we might have had a fifty-fifty shot. But it is our biggest win yet, no doubt.” And the story is not over. In just a few weeks, the duo will roll into Wilson Lake for the final ABT 100 event of the year, where they will try to ride the momentum into another big payday.

Right behind them sat a team whose finish meant as much as the trophy itself: Fisher and Ryan Anaya, a father-and-son duo whose season and partnership reached a special crossroads. The Anaya’s weighed in 40.04 for two days and a $10,000 pay day plus an extra 2,500 Phoenix Boats Payday Bonus.

Practice on Wheeler began for Fisher back during the Bassmaster EQ that was here a few weeks ago. He finished in 5th place and moved him into 3rd in EQ standings. This time around at Wheeler was a little different. Dropping water scattered the fish, and every day was a new puzzle. “The fish all kind of pulled out toward the river edge, toward deeper water,” Fisher said. “Each day was different. You just troll around and look for bass.” They pieced together bites with finesse setups Neko rigs, Rapala Crush City Janitors in oxblood hues, and the new 6.25 Freeloader fished anywhere from one to eight feet deep.

They were happy about their year and how it turned out. “Everything else has been pretty consistent besides Pickwick,” Ryan said. “To make it into the top eight again and compete against these guys is awesome.” But what truly defined their week was perspective. Fisher, sits just one event away from qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series. “As far as us, it’s bittersweet,” Ryan admitted. “I hope he makes the Elites, we will still fish the 100s for sure. I gave him a little to get going, and now he’s teaching me. It is amazing to watch.” Fisher smiled at the thought. “I’ve got one more shot to make the Elites, and that’s a lifelong dream,” he said. “Ever since I was two years old, that’s all I’ve wanted.”

Rounding out the top three were Nolan Spencer and Jonathan Reese, who brought a two-day total of 36.63 pounds to the scales and a $5,000 payday. The Tennessee duo leaned on their familiarity with the Tennessee River system and made the most of a key area they discovered during practice.“I guess it just kind of suits our style. We are from Tennessee, so we’ve spent some time on most of these lakes,” they explained. “We honestly got lucky. We stumbled on a little something in practice, and I think we milked it for all it was worth. I’d love to have had a few of the ones that got away. Maybe we could have made a run at it, but we’re happy with it.”

Their approach centered on topwater baits, with a big Spook producing the bulk of their bites, supplemented by a spinnerbait and some LiveScoping. The pair targeted water between Decatur and the I-65 bridge, where the bite stayed consistent enough to keep them in contention throughout the event. Despite coming up just short of the championship title, Spencer and Reese were proud of their performance and are already looking ahead. “We came up a little short of the top prize, but we’re proud of the way we finished here at the ABT Championship on Wheeler,” they said. “We have got one more shot this season at the BASS Team Championship on Hartwell in December, and maybe we can make some noise there. Congratulations to the winners.”

Wheeler Lake tested everyone this year shifting current, cooling water, and pressure that punished even the most seasoned anglers. Yet what stood out across the docks was not frustration. It was respect for the lake, for the competition, and for the journey that brought them here.

From Beck & Harvey’s power and patience below the dam to the Anayas’ finesse and family bond, the 2025 Alabama Bass Trail Championship showcased what makes this circuit special: hard-earned lessons, shared success, and the relentless pursuit of better. The season ends the way it should with stories of endurance, teamwork, and dreams that keep growing.

For Donnie Beck and Tony Harvey, the title of Alabama Bass Trail Champions and a $50,000 check. For Fisher and Ryan Anaya, the memory of one last grind together before the next big stage. For everyone else, motivation to circle the next schedule and chase their own shot in the 2026 ABT season beginning February 21 at Lake Jordan.

View the full Championship results here:

Results – Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series

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2025 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors

Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw-Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Jack’s, Garmin, Lew’s, Strike King, Thompson CAT, Piranh02, Southern Protection Agency, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, Alabama Mountain Lakes.