Wheeler Lake doesn’t get the publicity that its upstream and downstream neighbors on the Tennessee River chain, especially this year with all the 30+lb. sacks coming from Pickwick and Guntersville. However, Wheeler does seem to be coming on strong and the 30 anglers fishing the Top Rod Solo Trail’s third event of the year on March 24 brought in lots of fat, healthy fish on Sunday.
The skies looked ominous all day, but the rain and strong winds held off until the weigh-in, and it was a pleasant 58 degree day with a good breeze most of the day. Water surface temps hovered around 55 degrees. The bass were caught in prespawn patterns while they wait for the water to warm up so they can go on the beds. Blaine Shelton caught his biggest bag ever on Wheeler Lake to take first place with an impressive 25.26 lb. limit which is pretty impressive on any body of water. Also, the Life-Like Taxidermy big fish of the year now comes from Wheeler after Josh Butler caught an 8.79 lb. lunker to take big bass honors.
Shelton shows up, wins
Blaine Shelton, Moulton, AL, hadn’t fished Wheeler Lake since the fall, but he showed why he is always a threat to win on his
Shelton threw a Venom Lures umbrella rig with 1/8 oz. jigheads and 4 inch swimbaits.
home lake. Shelton used some old locations and the latest lure to take home the top prize of $675 with his 25.26 lb. limit of largemouths. He had originally planned to make a long run, but stopped close to the take-off location a couple of times first and it paid off with two big fish. After that, he stuck around the Decatur area to catch his winning bag.
Shelton threw a Venom Lures umbrella rig with 1/8 oz. jigheads and 4 inch swimbaits using 20 lb. test Sunline fluorocarbon line. He fished rocky banks and points in 8 feet of water and caught 10 keepers on the day.
Butler boated a 8.79 lb. hawg.
Butler bags a giant
Josh Butler, Hayden, AL, took home $375 for second place witha 22.95 lb. limit that consisted of four largemouths and a smallmouth. His 8.79 lb. lunker took the Life Like Taxidermy Big Fish prize of $100 and also is now the big fish of the year leader. Butler also caught his fish around Decatur in 15 feet of water. He caught them on a single swimbait and an Alabama Rig and took advantage of an early morning bite. Butler threw a 4.5 inch Strike King Shadalicious in sexy shad on a 3/8 oz. head as a single swimbait and also used the same combination on his Alabama Rig.
Jewell shines again
Eddie Jewell, coming from Lawrenceburg, TN, has been a force in early spring Wheeler Lake tournaments over the past
Jewell caught his fish on a 3/4 oz. spinnerbait and a 1/2 ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait.
couple of years. He had another solid bag today with 22.05 lbs. to take home the 3rd place check for $225. Jewell had a mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouths and reported catching around 30 keepers on the day. He caught his fish on a 3/4 oz. spinnerbait and a 1/2 ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait in 2-6 feet of water. He fished gravel bars and banks in the midlake area.
Reeves ran up
In 4th place was Nick Reeves, Moulton, AL, with 19.57 lbs. of spotted bass and largemouths to take home $150. Reeves ran upriver and tossed a 3/4 oz. chartreuse and white spinnerbait around laydown trees and rocky banks. He caught his fish from 2-15 feet of water and reported that some of them were suspended high off the bottom. Reeves caught eight keepers on the day.
Henry keeps his lead
Taking the final $75 check for 5th place was Jonathan Henry, Grant, AL. Henry weighed in a 19.46 lb. limit of largemouths and also retained the lead in the Shelton’s Outdoors Angler of the Year race. He caught his fish in and around the Elk River arm of Wheeler throwing a 1/2 ounce Killer Bass Baits spinnerbait in white and chartreuse. Henry caught most of his fish in 1-2 feet of water around boat docks on 17 lb. P-Line. He caught 10 keepers on the day.
Sixth – tenth places
6th Rex Chambers, Baileyton, AL- 17.99 lbs.
7th Brent Crow, Hartselle, AL- 17.62 lbs.
8th Johnathan Poole, Trinity, AL- 17.09 lbs.
9th Danny Hudson, Carbon Hill, AL- 15.03 lbs.
10th Bobby Simmons, Lawrenceburg, TN- 13.36 lbs.
Photos and Story From Top Rod Solo Trail
