Lake Guntersville has been on fire lately, kicking out 30 pound stringers left and right and 41 anglers from three states were on hand to try out their luck in the second Top Rod Trail event of the season.
The high winds that had buffeted the lake over the past week failed to show up, leading to a nice 60 degree sunny day. The conditions might have been better for the fishermen than the fish, however, as there were no eight pounders or 30 pound bags weighed in. Only at Guntersville could a 25 lb. winning weight and two more bags over 20 lbs. be considered an “off” day. Most fishermen reported a strong early bite that quit around 9 AM and then picked up again in the afternoon.
Taking first place honors was Jacob Gibbs of Baileyton, AL with a new Top Rod Trail record of 25.60 lbs. Gibbs easily takes over the top stringer of the year and also now owns the big bass of the year with his 7.26 lb. largemouth that took the $205 big fish pot. Gibbs caught his fish on a homemade Alabama Rig, fishing grass edges in 8 feet of water. He threw his A-Rig on 65 lb. braid, and used 4.5 inch Strike King Shadilicious swimbaits on 1/4 oz. jigheads. Gibbs won $594 for first place in addition to his big fish award for a total payday of $799.
Second place finisher Rick Williams of Decatur, AL went against the grain, forgoing the Alabama Rig in favor of a Strike King 6XD crankbait. Williams fished creek channels in the mid-lake area and targeted 12-15 feet of water with his deep diver. He also lost a seven pound fish at the boat that would have boosted his 21.48 limit. Williams took home $264 place finish.
Larry Sullivan of Decatur, AL also topped the 20 pound mark with a 20.78 pound limit that took third place honors. Sullivan caught one of his fish on an Alabama Rig in 30 feet of water, but his other four fish fell to an Excalibur XR50 One Knock Rattlebait. The Rattlebait fish were caught in grass from 1-4 feet deep. Sullivan took home $198 for third place.
Local Guntersville guide Tim Chandler of Meridianville, AL caught 19.34 pounds to take the fourth place slot. Chandler threw a homemade Alabama Rig on grass lines in seven feet of water to catch 20 keepers on the day. He used 3.5 inch Yum Money Minnows on 3/16 oz. jigheads on his A-Rig, which he tossed on 80 lb. Sunline Braid. Chandler received $132 for his catch.
In fifth place was Charlie Hodle of Hartselle, AL with 17.94 lbs. Hodle’s catch was worth $66. Hodle also threw an Alabama Rig but reported no bites on it. He switched over to a 5/16 oz. Bang-It Jig to catch four of his keepers off of rocky points in 10-15 feet of water. He also weighed in a fish that he caught on an XR50 Rattlebait.
The final check for $66 for 6th place went to Doug Webster of Pinson, AL. Webster had 7.77 lbs. of bass on the day that were also caught on an Alabama Rig. He used 80 lb. braid with 3/8 oz. jigheads and Yum Money Minnows on his rig. Webster caught his fish in five feet of water in dead grass.
7th place: Tony Tidwell, Horton, AL 17.52
8th place: Blake Hall, Hartselle, AL 16.77
9th place: Lee Black, Danville, AL 16.45
10th place: John Oliver, Russellville, AL 16.44
