Tournament Series Feature Story
2018 Alabama Bass Trail Lay Lake Preview
with Anthony Goggins and Jeremy Headley
by Dan O’Sullivan
February 11, 2018 – Decatur, Ala. – As the first event of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail Southern Division nears, there is a sense of excitement in the air as it appears many of the lakes in the State of Alabama have just about burst wide open.
The recent deluge of rain that brought high, muddy water to the Coosa River system, followed by the warm conditions have seemingly had every bass in the river strapping on the feed bag. Social media has been ablaze with pictures and videos of healthy Coosa River bass, and the field should experience trong fishing come Saturday.
Anthony Goggins and Jeremy Headley have won on Lay Lake in the past, and they are once again looking at the lake to produce. However, according to Gogins, they are still looking for the magic formula. “I don’t feel like I’ve found exactly what I want just yet,” said Goggins. “”The weather the rest of this week and Saturday is going to dictate how this event plays out.
He said that he has been scouting the lake without putting too much pressure on areas know to be productive. “I’m still searching, but I’m trying to be careful as to not hit areas I know I’ll fish,” he said. “I’ seeing a lot of fish up to three pounds, but I know it’s going to take more to win.” Goggins reported feeling that it will take between 21 to 25 pounds to win the event; depending on the conditions.
He said that the fishing should be good regardless of the style that anglers like to fish. “I know a swim jig and Flippin’ will play a big part; they are standard on the Coosa,” he said. “That being said, we’ll see fish caught on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, squarebills, swimbaits, Shaky Heads, and just about everything else.”
The first event of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail Southern Division season at Lay Lake happens February 24 out of Columbiana, Ala. The mandatory pre-tournament registration and angler information meeting happens on Friday February 23 at the Shelby County High School Gymnasium located at 101 Washington Street in Columbiana, AL 35051with registration happening from 4:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. and the pre-tournament meeting beginning at 6:30 P.M. Takeoff and weigh-in occur at Beeswax Landing located at 245 Beeswax Park Road in Columbiana, AL 35051
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.
