$15,000 Guaranteed First Place Awaits as 225 Teams from across the United States Prepare to Battle One of Alabama’s Greatest Fisheries
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. – The Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series (ABT) is set to kick off its thirteenth season as the North Division fires up its 2026 campaign this Saturday, February 28, on the storied waters of Lake Guntersville. Teams will launch from Lake Guntersville State Park, located at 1155 Lodge Drive, Guntersville, Alabama 35976, with blast-off set for 6:30 A.M. CST or safe daylight. Weigh-in is scheduled for 3:00 P.M. CST.
“Lake Guntersville is one of the most iconic bass fisheries in the country, and there is no better way to open a season than putting our anglers right in the middle of it,” said Kay Donaldson, Director of the Alabama Bass Trail. “Our teams have been preparing all off-season, and the atmosphere at a Lake Guntersville event is something that simply has to be experienced. We are thankful to Lake Guntersville State Park for hosting us, and we fully expect a tremendous turnout and a competitive day on the water.”
The 2026 ABT season sold out in record time, a testament to the trail’s reputation as one of the Southeast’s most competitive amateur tournament circuits and the second-largest tournament trail in the United States. With a guaranteed $15,000 first-place prize and payouts reaching the top 40 finishers at each event, the North Division delivers high-stakes competition across five of Alabama’s finest lakes. More than $750,000 in total cash and prizes will be awarded throughout the North and South Divisions this 2026 season.
The ABT consists of North and South divisions, each made up of five tournaments. Teams must enter all five events in their respective division to remain eligible for the no-entry-fee ABT Team Championship, set for October 16–17, 2026, on Lake Eufaula, where a $50,000 first-place prize headlines a $100,000 championship payout. The top 75 teams in points from each division, all 10 regular season event winners, and the top five teams each in the student, collegiate, and couples categories will earn their way to Eufaula.
2026 North Division Schedule:
Live on-the-water coverage will stream directly from ABT on-the-water analysts in chase boats throughout the tournament day. Fans can watch live on Facebook at Alabama Bass Trail Series and on the Alabama Bass Trail TV YouTube channel. The live weigh-in and Live Leaderboard will be available at www.alabamabasstrail.org.
The full 2026 North Division roster is now available. View the complete list of registered teams.
For additional information, photos, or to arrange interviews, please contact Angela Cross at angela@alabamabasstrail.org or 850-381-7015.
About the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is 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 13 bass fishing lakes on the trail include Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
Sponsors of the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series
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, Thompson Tractor Company, 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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