“It took 28 pounds to win, but it also took 24.40 pounds to take second place and 24.10 pounds for third place. Those are the weights for individual anglers,” noted Michael Garlen, tournament director for the Alabama North Division.

“But last month it was cold. It was 28 degrees when we took off that morning This week we are looking at lows in the 40s when we start. They are saying we’ll have temperatures in the low 60s with a chance of thunderstorms, so the weather is not going to cooperate, as usual. But, that is fishing.”

Garlen said a front came through the Guntersville area Sunday night and Monday and the temperature just bottomed out, but now is coming back up.

“Last month most of the fish were caught from 10 to 15 feet of water on swim baits, but this is Alabama and Guntersville is famous for the Alabama Rig,” he said.

“We are looking for 20 to 25 boats and that is a lot better than last year and the year before. It’s just that time of the year. Entries are picking up a little bit or people are fishing the smaller trails because they don’t have the money for the bigger ones,” he said.

ABA tournaments are a draw format with partners paired the morning of the event. Boaters who bring their own boat will be able to use them. Boaters and non-boaters share locations and expenses for the day, but the boater does not give up operation of his boat.

Anglers are fishing for points to qualify for the national championship and they must fish four divisional qualifying events and one divisional championship to qualify for the national championship. They can earn points in more than one division to qualify for the national, but angler of the year points are held in each division so AOY champions are named in each division. In the national championship they will be fishing for a new Triton bass boat.

Entry fees are $70 for a divisional qualifier (includes big bass), $140 for a divisional championship (includes big bass) and $150 for the national championship (does not include big bass). ABA tournaments are Triton Gold sanctioned events, so there is plenty of bonus money to be won for qualified anglers.

“We launch at safe light and weigh in at 3 p.m. I will normally get to the ramp about 4 or 4:30 a.m. to start registration, then cut it off about 15 minutes before safe light and do partner pairing for anglers who show up,” Garlen said.

The Alabama North Division started out on Guntersville in September and followed with tournaments on Guntersville in October and November. Following Saturday’s tournament on Guntersville, the division will also fish Jan. 26 and Feb. 16 out of Goose Pond on Guntersville, Garlen said. The division will fish Guntersville in March, Wheeler in April, Guntersville in May and June and the two-day season final will also be held on Guntersville at the end of June.

American Bass Anglers – Alabama North Division

Sat, Dec 15, 2012

Lake Guntersville

Goosepond Colony

Call Michael Garlen at (256) 998-0171

http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2013.php?Division=29