Wilson Lake is always a favorite stop for Top Rod Solo Trail anglers with the Wheeler Dam tailrace and the numerous big smallmouth and largemouth bass it holds. The pre-tournament dock talk on September 9 was all gloom and doom this time around though, with seemingly all of the nineteen anglers singing the blues before the tourney started. As always, however, someone will catch them, and on Wilson Lake, it will more often than not be Nick Reeves of Moulton, AL who turned two huge bites into another Top Rod Solo Trail victory. Overall, it was a tough day for most anglers, with relatively low weights for a day that was perfect weather-wise: 85 degrees and sunny with a gentle breeze. Water temps were in the mid 80’s, and the lake was clear.
With one stop remaining on the trail, there is also a new leader in the Shelton’s Outdoors Angler of the Year standings, as Josh Butler took over the lead from Johnathan Henry, who had held the lead since his season opening win at Guntersville Lake.
Reeves last minute heroics
Reeves last minute bite puts him over the top.
Taking home the first place prize of $570 was Nick Reeves with four fish that weighed in at 15.19 lbs. Reeves, who won a 2012 event on Wilson with nearly 28 lbs., weighed in a 5.92 lbs. largemouth that took the Allied Crawl Space Big Fish prize of $100 and also had a smallmouth over five pounds. Reeves is always a threat to win any tournament on Wilson Lake if TVA is generating power at Wheeler Dam, but he strayed downriver on this day to catch the winning fish. Revisiting one spot that he had caught a few little fish on on Friday. He managed to catch a fish on each occasion he fished it on Sunday. The last time was just ten minutes before weigh in when the lunker largemouth inhaled his Bill Norman DD22 and gave him another Top Rod victory.
Hines also cranked
Finishing in second place was Tyler Hines of Florence, AL with 13.70 lbs. of bass. Hines was fishing just his second Top Rod event, and would have taken home the victory if Reeves had not visited his magic spot just before time to check in. Hines takes home $285 for his second place finish. He also caught his fish on a deep running crankbait, a Strike King 6XD, as well as a 1/2 ounce black and brown jig with a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver as a trailer.
Weaver went deep
Taking home the final check for third place was Austin Weaver of Florence, AL with 13.60 lbs. Weaver took home $95 for his catch, which also came on a deep running crankbait. Weaver used a Spro Little John crankbait and a green pumpkin Berkley 10 inch power worm to catch his limit of largemouths.
Remaining places:
4th Jordan Wiggins 13.39
5th John Oliver 11.71
6th Josh Butler 10.09
7th Norman Ligon 9.91
8th Charlie Hodle 8.08
9th Blaine Shelton 6.80
10th Taylor Luna 6.60
Story provided by Top Rod Solo Tournaments
