Hundreds of student anglers will fill Ingalls Harbor the second Saturday in May when the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation (ABN) High School Team Trail arrives in Decatur for a one-day tournament on Wheeler Lake.
Hosted by the Decatur-Morgan County CVB, the ABN High School Regional Qualifer is set for May 13, 2017, and is expected to draw an estimated 840 anglers from across Alabama. Wheeler Lake is the fifth and final stop for the high school team trail before the state championship set for June 9-10 on Lake Eufaula. Anglers qualify for the state championship by finishing in Top 40 to 50% of the field at each of the five ABN regional qualifiers depending on number of boats in the field. The first place team will advance to Costa B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship on Kentucky Lake June 19-24, 2017.
Prizes include a $1,000 scholarship, gift cards and gas cards. Representatives from presenting sponsor Diawa will travel from Japan and California to Decatur to present awards to the top finishers.
Registration, along with a tournament briefing, is set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 12 at the Ingalls Harbor Pavilion.
Ingalls Harbor, located at 802 Wilson Street NW in Decatur, will host the take-off and weigh-in. Launch time is at 5:30 a.m. and weigh-in is from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The tournament is sponsored by Diawa Reels, Academy Sports Gift Cards, Buckeye Lures, Big Bite Baits, Z-Man, Livingston, Pelican Products, Freedom Marine-Phoenix Boats, Lowrance, Hammer Rods, Dewey Barber Chevrolet and Fast & Easy Foods Chevron.
For more information, contact Darrel High, youth/high school director for the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, at 334.707.7355 or visit www.albassnation.org/high-school.
Can you believe it – 840 anglers = 420 boats – IN DECATUR – on Wheeler Lake. Back in 2010 when we started the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association we knew the idea was WIN-WIN and would be well supported by student anglers in our state but I am not sure anyone thought it would grow to this stage – AND THE GROWTH IS NOT STOPPING. Before it is over with, the adult side to B.A.S.S. will be left way behind in size and participation. KEEP A TIGHT LINE GUYS!
May 8th, 2017