Youth Winners Bring In Over 100 Pounds of Bass From Wilson Lake

Fifty-eight young bass anglers in the Shoals Youth Bassmasters anxiously awaited take-off time on Saturday, July 18th. Wilson Lake was the contest waters, and they launched from the Lock Six ramp with their adult boat captains, whom most called “Dad.”

Club director Richard Laxson said, “The weather was great for fishing earlier in the day. The conditions changed as the heat rolled in at weigh-in time. The feisty young anglers brought in a good number of 3-fish limits (reduced from 5 due to summer heat) and an equal mix of largemouth and smallmouth bass”

Photos from the weigh-in proved higher temperatures did not keep the tournament anglers from boating a bunch of good-sized bass.

Photo Album Available HERE.

First place in the youngest age group went to Jeb Staggs for a hefty 13.38 lbs. of bass. A close one for first place in the 11 to 15 Age Group was won by Jacob Weir for his 10.79 bag. D.J. Johnson topped the 16 to 18 contestants, weighing in at 8.69 lbs. And, the big fish of the tournament was a monster 7.28-pound largemouth brought in by Porter Ellison.

Trophy Winners
10 and Under
1st Place, Jeb Staggs with 13.38 lbs.
2nd Place, Willow Whitten with 9.84 lbs.
3rd Place, Dustin Whitten with 9.63 lbs.
4th Place, Turner Sykes with 8.16 lbs.
AGE GROUP TOTAL 41.01 lbs.

11 to 15 Age
1st Place, Jacob Weir with 10.79 lbs.
2nd Place, Brock Jewell with 10.14 lbs.
3rd Place, Chapman Ayers with 10.05 lbs.
4th Place, Porter Ellison with 9.87 lbs.
AGE GROUP TOTAL 40.85lbs.

16 to 18 Age
1st Place, D. J. Johnson with 8.69 lbs.
2nd Place, Brayden Poss with 6.55 lbs.
3rd Place, Wyatt Lancaster with 3.79 lbs.
AGE GROUP TOTAL 19.03 lbs.

Lunker
Porter Ellison with a 7.28 lb. Largemouth
TROPHY WINNERS GRAND TOTAL 108.17lbs.

2026 Schedule
May 23, First Creek, Wheeler Lake
June 13, McFarland Park, Pickwick Lake
July 18, Lock-Six, Wilson Lake
August 8, McFarland Park, Pickwick Lake
August 29, Safety Harbor, Wilson Lake
September 19, First Creek, Wheeler Lake

Tournaments will begin at 7:00 A.M., and weigh-in will be at 11:00 A.M. There are three divisions, and youth anglers in each division must have a responsible adult advisor/operator in the boat.
1. 10 and Under
2. 11 through 15
3. 16 through 18

The year-end picnic will be held after the last tournament, and you must be a member before the August 29 tournament to participate.

For information about the Shoals Youth Bassmasters, call 256-757-1660 or email rklaxson@hiwaay.net.

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