“The spots get stronger and stronger when the water cools down,” Gerald said. “Anglers catch them then off seawalls and ledges on topwater lures. If they are running water, they can also go upriver and catch them in the swift water below the dam.”

Spotted bass won’t be the only game for Saturday’s tournament, however, he noted. There should still be a good largemouth bite going this weekend, too.

“I have a good friend who caught some good fish flipping so there will probably be some fish caught flipping and I think you can still catch some out of the grass on topwater, too.

Saturday’s tournament is the last event in the Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail before the Classic January 7 on the anglers’ choice of lakes on the fall trail schedule – Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell, Jordan Lake or Lake Logan Martin.

Entry fee in the Buddy Trail is $100 per boat, with a one-time initiation fee of $50 per angler and an optional big fish entry of $10 per tournament. All proceeds will be paid back in full at the Classic in January. Anglers only have to fish one of the tournaments to qualify for the classic.

“We already have 117 individuals qualified for the classic, so we should have a good classic turnout,” Gerald said, adding that there is over $5,000 in the classic purse so far.

He also announced that the annual Airport Marine Charity Tournament will be held April 14 with a big payback guaranteed including $5,000 for first place.

“We are going to give away $25,000, including $5,500 in cash draw prizes,” he said. The charity tournament raises money for the Boys and Girls Clubs.

 

Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail

Sat, Dec 10, 2011

Lay Lake

Beeswax Creek Boat Ramp

www.airportmarinetrails.com

Call Flynn Gerald 205-678-9666