Decatur, Ala. (May 5, 2023) – The Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series will enter its eleventh season next year as the state’s premier weekend tournament trail for amateur bass anglers with an 11-event schedule offering more than $750,000 in awards.
The season gets underway on February 10, 2024, on Lake Jordan and concludes on Oct. 18-19, 2024, with the championship on Lay Lake.
“We are excited to announce the 2024 Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series schedule, entry fee schedule, and increased payout. Anglers from across the country look forward to the early May announcement each year and we feel the changes we are making for 2024 will pique the interest of more anglers. Year after year, we are committed to providing a quality tournament trail with a lucrative payout for our anglers, and in 2024, we are projected to pay back over 108% in winnings to our anglers,” said Alabama Bass Trail Program Director Kay Donaldson.
Sanctioned by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the Alabama Bass Team Tournament Series contains two divisions, North and South, and each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 225. Teams must fish in all five tournaments in their respective division; no single entries will be allowed.
North Division:
| February 17, 2024 | Pickwick Lake hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism |
| March 16, 2024 | Smith Lake hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County |
| April 27, 2024 | Wheeler Lake hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism |
| May 18, 2024 | Neely Henry Lake hosted by City of Gadsden |
| June 22, 2024 | Lake Guntersville hosted by Marshall County Sports and Tourism |
South Division:
| February 10, 2024 | Lake Jordan hosted by the City of Wetumpka and the Elmore County Economic Development |
| March 9, 2024 | Lake Martin hosted by Alexander City Chamber of Commerce |
| April 13, 2024 | Logan Martin Lake hosted by City of Lincoln |
| May 11, 2024 | Alabama River (Cooter’s Pond) hosted by City of Prattville |
| June 15, 2024 | Lake Eufaula hosted by Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce |
Hosted by the Shelby County Commission, the championship tournament will be held October 18-19, 2024, on Lay Lake.
“Decatur Morgan County Tourism is very proud to host not only one but two Alabama Bass Trail events in 2024,” said Danielle Gibson, president/CEO of Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “This is an incredible opportunity for the City of Decatur. In addition to the third stop of the north division of the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series, Wheeler Lake will host the third stop of the 2024 Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series. We are always proud to showcase the beautiful Tennessee River and will work diligently to create a fantastic experience for all of the anglers. Working with the Alabama Bass Trail over the last 10 years has been enjoyable and beneficial for the City of Decatur and we look forward to our continued partnership.”
The no-entry-fee championship event will include up to 175 boats. The 175 boats are comprised of the 10 regular season winners, the top 75 teams in points from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with the top five student teams, top five college teams, and the top five couples teams collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective division.
Each regular season tournament features a $15,000 guaranteed first-place prize and pays 40 places totaling $64,450.
The no-entry-fee championship will feature a $100,250 payout with a first-place prize of $50,000. There is also a $5,000 bonus cash prize for Angler of the Year and $2,500 for runner-up Angler of the Year.
2024 Payout Schedule:
| First Place | $15,000 |
| Second Place | $7,500 |
| Third Place | $6,000 |
| Fourth Place | $4,000 |
| Fifth Place | $3,000 |
| Sixth Place | $2,000 |
| Seventh Place | $1,300 |
| Eighth Place | $1,300 |
| Ninth Place | $1,300 |
| Tenth Place | $1,300 |
| 11th – 15th | $1,000 each |
| 16th – 25th | $750 each |
| 26th – 30th | $600 each |
| 31st – 40th | $500 each |
| Big Fish | $1,000 |
| ABT Gear | $250 |
2024 Championship Payout:
| First Place | $50,000 |
| Second Place | $10,000 |
| Third Place | $5,000 |
| Fourth Place | $4,000 |
| Fifth Place | $3,000 |
| Sixth Place | $2,500 |
| Seventh Place | $2,200 |
| Eighth Place | $2,000 |
| Ninth Place | $1,800 |
| Tenth Place | $1,500 |
| 11th – 15th | $1,200 each |
| 16th – 25th | $1,100 each |
| Big Fish | $500 daily |
| ABT Gear | $250 |
In addition, the Alabama Bass Trail will pay the $500 entry fee for the 18 teams who qualify for the B.A.S.S. Team Championship. According to Donaldson, over $750,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded when the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series wraps up its season in 2024.
Anglers who fished all five events in their respective divisions in 2023 will be given a priority entry period beginning August 1, 2023, at 6 a.m. CST online at www.alabamabasstrail.org. Registration opens for new teams on August 15 at 6 a.m. CST. The entry fee is $1,600 per team, which includes registration for all five tournaments in the respective division. Each team may choose to pay a $600 nonrefundable deposit to hold the team’s spot. The balance of $1000 is due on or before January 2, 2024.
Alabama Bass Trail Tournament sponsors include Phoenix Bass Boats, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Advantage Trailer Rentals, Alabama Power Foundation, Alabama State Parks, Bajio Sunglasses, Big Bite Baits, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Busch Light, E3 Sport Apparel, Fish Neely Henry Lake, Jack’s, Lew’s Fishing, Mountain Dew, FishAlabama.org, Bill Penney Automotive, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Visit North Alabama, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Power-Pole Total Boat Control, Strike King Lure Company, Yamaha, Yeti Coolers and Garmin.
WOTM – TV will continue the live-streaming and Angler’s Channel will film and produce the Alabama Bass Trail television series to air at a later date.
For more information, call Donaldson at 855-934-7425 or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
