WETUMPKA, Ala. – The 2026 Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series roars into its thirteenth season as the Alabama bass fishing community descends on Lake Jordan for the South Division season opener on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Hosted by the Elmore County Economic Development Authority and the City of Wetumpka, the tournament promises fierce competition as 225 two-person teams vie for a guaranteed $15,000 first place prize and a share of the $64,450 total payout.
Lake Jordan, a 6,900-acre gem of the Coosa River known for its productive spotted bass and largemouth bass fishery, will serve as the proving ground for teams seeking early momentum in the race for Angler of the Year honors. The fertile impoundment’s 188 miles of irregular shoreline and diverse habitat make it one of Alabama’s most consistent bass fishing destinations, offering both riverine conditions near Mitchell Dam and traditional reservoir fishing on the lower end.
“Lake Jordan is the perfect venue to launch what promises to be an exceptional season,” said Kay Donaldson, Program Director of the Alabama Bass Trail. “This fishery has a well-deserved reputation for producing quality fish and exciting weigh-ins. February conditions typically set up ideal opportunities for both shallow and deep patterns, and with 225 boats competing, we expect to see some impressive bags cross the stage. The energy and anticipation surrounding this opener reflects the incredible growth and enthusiasm we’ve seen year after year in the ABT Series.”
The tournament marks the first of five qualifying events in the South Division, with teams required to compete in all five tournaments to be eligible for the ABT Team Championship scheduled for October 16-17, 2026, on Lake Eufaula. The championship, which features a no-entry fee format and a $50,000 first place prize with a total payout of $100,250, will host up to 180 boats, including the 10 regular season winners, top 75 teams in points from both North and South divisions, and the top five student, collegiate, and couples teams.
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Location: Lake Jordan, Wetumpka, Alabama
Boat Launch: State Boat Ramp, 600 State Boat Ramp Road, Wetumpka, AL 36092
Takeoff: 7:00 A.M. or safe daylight
Weigh-In: First flight due in at 3:00 P.M.
The public is invited to attend the weigh-in festivities, where families can watch some of the region’s best bass fishing teams compete. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the excitement as anglers bring their catches to the scales.
About Lake Jordan
Lake Jordan’s reputation as a bass factory is well-established among competitive anglers. The fishery features excellent populations of Alabama spotted bass and largemouth bass, with growth rates among the fastest in Alabama. Both species routinely exceed 18 inches in length within five years, and the lake has produced multiple tournament bags exceeding 20 pounds.
Live Coverage and Broadcast
Fans unable to attend in person can follow all the action through comprehensive live coverage. The weigh-in and Live Leaderboard will be streamed live on www.AlabamaBassTrail.org, on Facebook at Alabama Bass Trail Series, and on the Alabama Bass Trail TV YouTube channel. The ABT Series will also bring live on-the-water tournament action directly from the boats competing in the events.
Full tournament coverage will be filmed and produced by the Alabama Bass Trail television series, scheduled to air later in 2026.
2026 South Division Schedule
Regular Season Prize Structure
Each regular season tournament features a guaranteed $15,000 first place prize and pays 40 places, totaling $64,450. The payout structure rewards consistent performance, with second place earning $7,500, third place $6,000, and prizes continuing through the field to recognize the depth of competition.
Additionally, the overall Angler of the Year in each division receives $5,000, with the runner-up earning $2,500. According to tournament organizers, more than $750,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded when the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series concludes its 2026 season.
About Alabama Bass Trail
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. The tournament series has established itself as the second-largest tournament trail in the United States and Alabama’s premier weekend tournament circuit for amateur bass anglers.
The ABT’s mission is threefold: to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The trail has generated over $118 million in tourism revenue for Alabama since its inception.
The tournament series features two divisions – North and South – with each division comprising five tournaments on five different lakes among Alabama’s 13 premier bass fishing destinations. The maximum capacity for each tournament is 225 boats, and the 2026 season sold out in under four minutes during registration, demonstrating the trail’s tremendous popularity and competitive appeal.
The 2026 Alabama Bass Trail Team Series is made possible through partnerships with industry-leading brands: Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Larry Puckett Chevrolet, 13 Fishing, Rapala, VMC, CRUSHCITY, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Jack’s, Garmin, Thompson CAT, Pirnah02, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, NetBait, Bait Fuel, Alfa Insurance Thomas ALFA-MAN Shelton, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro Guide Batteries, Yamaha, SCUM FROG, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
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