NEWS

Alabama Bass Trail North Division Weiss Lake Preview with Elliot Gault

By Jason Duran

The Alabama Bass Trail North Division visits Weiss Lake this Saturday, its fourth stop of the 2025 season. With only two tournaments left, the race for Angler of the Year intensifies. Weiss Lake’s unpredictable conditions, especially during this time of year, make it a formidable challenge for anglers.

The team of Elliott Gault and Austin Swindle currently are in 6th place in AOY and want to move up the leaderboard in this event. However, Elliott will be going solo in this event since Austin will be preparing for another event. Elliott has a good feeling about this event. “I have spent last weekend fishing and did really well. I live about 3 minutes from the boat ramp and spend lots of time on the lake.  It has been fishing really tough lately and it has shown in recent local tournaments, but I feel it’s starting to get better and on its way up right now.”

“The water level should stay high. I do expect them to not draw much water down, especially since the forecast has currently backed off on the amount of rainfall. It should stay close to full pool, if not a little more.”  The key this weekend will be the water level. Teams do not want to be fishing falling water.  Elliott shared he would “feel a lot better if the weathermen would get better with their predictions for rain for this week. And of course, there must be some other type of weather change with the ABT coming to town. We got a little cold front moving in and rain towards the end of the week.”

“I also anticipate the water is going to be rolling and have a little color to it. This will cause the event to play better towards the local guys because they know the grass beds well. The water levels make the grass not very visible right now. A lot of it is still brown and laid over just under the water surface. What will happen for many teams is they will fish the grass that is visible up close to the bank and not realize there is another 15 yards out from the bank they don’t even see.”

The lake is divided into a few crucial areas that consistently attract attention during tournaments. Elliott breaks down the lake into these key areas:

• Powerhouse Lake: Located near Weiss Dam, this deep-water section has constant current and cooler temperatures—making it a prime target for anglers chasing post-spawn bass seeking oxygen-rich water. Elliott said, “This area is mostly offshore fishing. There are roadbeds and house foundations in that area to fish. This area also gets most of the current since it is down on the end of the lake.”
• Cedar Bluff Bridge South, typically known as the Mid-Lake Region: This transitional area features a variety of habitats, including submerged brush, ledges, and shallow grass. It’s ideal for anglers who like to mix techniques and adjust to changing fish behavior. Elliott shared, “Teams will find lots of areas with bigger pockets. These are the more popular areas. There is a lot of grass and it will get hounded especially in practice. It can still be won out of these areas.”
• North of Cedar Bluff Bridge, also known as the Upper River Sections: This area has stronger current and moving water, attracting aggressive fish in these zones. Anglers who like to fish with reaction baits in current will likely be drawn here. Elliott favors this area, saying, “North of the bridge, it is more treacherous when running, especially with the floating debris we are going to have with the rain coming. If teams can get up there and find something, there is a good chance they could have it to themselves, unlike it would be south of the bridge, where chances are someone else will find it too. It never fails that someone rolls into those familiar pockets and catches them well.”

In early May on Weiss, bass are finishing spawning and moving into summer patterns, offering diverse fishing techniques:

• Grass Beds: Hydrilla and vegetation near the shore attract baitfish and post-spawn bass. Use topwater baits like buzzbaits or frogs in the shallows.
• Shallow Flats and Secondary Points: Bass often move to flats and points after spawning. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Carolina rigs are effective here.
• Docks and Wood Cover: Anglers can catch bass in shade or near wood cover by skipping jigs or soft plastics, especially as the sun rises.
• Structure is abundant on Weiss, with standing timber, rock piles, submerged brush, and shell beds providing ample hiding spots for bass.

Only two events remain on the North Division schedule, and the AOY race is officially wide open. A single misstep or a spectacular finish this weekend could determine a team’s season. Each team is determined to earn valuable points that will secure a berth in the Alabama Bass Trail Championship and potentially etch their names into ABT history.

AOY Top Ten

Place                Team                                        Points

1          Mark McCaig/Tim Hurst                         640

2          Hunter Davidson/Bryant Fikes                633

3          Damien Willis/Tyler Kiker                       620

3          Blake Hall/Jeremy Lamb                        620

5          Adam Bain/Kris Colley                           611

6          Elliott Gault/James Swindle                    600

7          Benjie /Johnathan Seaborn                    597

8          Jake Bice/Bryar Chambers                    595

9          Fisher /Ryan Anaya                               593

10        Eric Morris/Randy Tolbert                      590

Elliott concluded, “I have been fishing this lake for 8 years, and it has been my home lake, and I have not done really well at all. The ABT Championship two years ago was my best tournament here, and I finished 24th. I have committed to getting away from the crowd and finding my own things. I have a long day of fishing, not due in till 4:15. So I plan to use all of it. I think 19.50 pounds wins it. In recent weeks, it’s been around 18 pounds winning in the local events.” Weiss Lake has all the ingredients for a dramatic day on the water: a diverse fishery, high-stakes leaderboard battles, and unpredictable spring weather. Fans following the ABT this weekend can expect drama, big bass, and a shake-up or two in the AOY standings before the final stop.

Launch & Weigh-In is May 10 at Leesburg Landing, 1085 Riverside Street, Leesburg, AL 35983. All friends and family are welcome to attend this event. Bring lawn chairs and see some of the best bass teams in the country cross the stage. Everyone can watch the live weigh-in and over 4 hours of on-the-water live coverage on the ABT Facebook page, YouTube, and the ABT website.

The 2025 Alabama Bass Trail Sponsors Include: 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,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, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.