Tournament Series Feature Story
2018 Alabama Bass Trail Logan Martin Lake Preview
with Mark McCaig and Tim Hurst
by Dan O’Sullivan
June 6, 2018 – Decatur, Ala. – For the Northern Division of the Alabama Bass Trail, Saturday, June 9 was supposed to be the culmination of the 2018 season. However, with the weather forced rescheduling of the first event a Pickwick, Logan Martin becomes the final turn on the 2018 racetrack that is the ABT Northern Division schedule.
The Coosa River fishery has been the site of several Alabama Bass Trail events throughout the years; including the 2017 ABT Championship, but this year’s event should be the first time that the fishery should be in purely postspawn mode for the event.
The team of Mark McCaig and Tim Hurst have been one of the most successful teams since the circuit began in 2014. They are multiple time ABT Championship and Bassmaster Team Championship qualifiers – and they are a team to watch for whenever the Northern Division hits the water.
The pair is especially at home on Coosa River lakes, and they say this event is going to be an interesting one. “We’ve never been at Logan Martin when the fish have all been in the postspawn, and there will be a lot of options,” they reported. “The Coosa River is known for its shallow water fishing, but there are plenty of deep water options, and that means that fish can be caught anywhere.”
While most anglers like to be able to narrow down their fishing to one or two techniques, McCaig and Hurst said keeping an open mind might be helpful. “The water is high, so there will be fish in the grass, and there will be fish on docks, and there will be fish deep,” they said. “The problem is, it’s not likely that anyone will be able to find enough quality fish in one area to win the event; you might have to do a little bit of everything to be successful.”
They reported that topwater baits, swim jigs, crankbaits, structure jigs and shaky heads would all be effective. “There will be a lot of options for sure, and the weights should be decent,” they reported. “It will probably take right around 20 pounds to win, and between 13 and 15 pounds to get a check; it should be a good event.”
The fourth event of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail Northern Division season at Logan Martin Lake happens June 9 out of Cropwell, Ala. The mandatory pre-tournament registration and angler information meeting happens on Friday June 8 at Celebrations located at 3005 Martin Street S. in Cropwell, AL 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 Lakeside Park at 2801 Stemley Bridge Road, in Cropwell, AL.
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.
