Shoals Youth Bassmasters Bring In Bass From A Hot Pickwick

The heat is on. While the 90+ degree temps have kept a lot of bass anglers off the water, the young anglers of the Shoals Youth Bassmasters braved the heat and fished Pickwick on August 8, where the trophy winners bagged 80.46 lbs.

Division winners.

Forty-six members of the club and their adult escorts pulled out of the McFarland ramp and headed for their first stop on Pickwick at 6 AM. Many of the youth found some good bass in the warm, no, hot, water. Some cool water fell on the crowd by the bucketful just after the weigh-in. Club Director Richard Laxson noted that the competitors endured not only the heat but also humidity.

Despite the conditions, some quality bass made the scales.

In the youth divisions, 10 and Under, Jemma Clifton took first-place honors with 12.98 pounds of fish. Can we say 13 lbs.? Jacob Weir won the first-place trophy in the 11 to 15 Age Division for an 11.7 lb. bag. In the 16 to 18 Age Division, D.J. Johnson’s 6.43 lbs. won the first-place trophy.

Division Trophy Winners

10 and Under Age Division
1st Place Jemma Clifton 12.98 lbs.
2nd Place Trent Sykes 9.75 lbs.
3rd Place Jeb Staggs 8.44 lbs.
4th Place Rhett Robnett 5.03 lbs.
Division Total 36.17 lbs.

11 to 15 Age Division
1st Place Jacob Weir 11.70 lbs.
2nd Place Jewell Brock 8.94 lbs.
3rd Place Billy Campbell Gray 7.94 lbs.
4th Place Levi Hicks 7.91 lbs.
Division Total 36.49 lbs.

16 to 18 Age Division
1st Place D. J. Johnson 6.43 lbs.
2nd Place Wyatt Lancaster 1.38 lbs.
Division Total 7.81 lbs.

Lunker
Jemma Clifton 6.02 Largemouth
Total Division’s Weight 80.46 lbs.

Tournament photos posted for viewing/download.

2026 Tournament Trail
May 23 First Creek Ramp, Wheeler Lake
June 13 McFarland Park, Pickwick Lake
July 18 Lock Six Ramp, Wilson Lake
August 8 McFarland Park, Pickwick Lake
August 29 Safety Harbor, Wilson Lake
September 19 First Creek Ramp, Wheeler Lake

Tournaments begin at 7:00 AM, and weigh-in is 11:00 AM.

Age Divisions
• 10 and Under
• 11 through 15
• 16 through 18

Youth anglers in each division must have a responsible adult advisor. The year-end picnic will be held after the last tournament. You must be a member before the August 29 tournament to be eligible for the awards and picnic.

Call 256-757-1660 for more information or email rklaxson@hiwaay.net.

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