by Dan O’Sullivan

April 20, 2019 – Prattville, Ala. – Just when springtime breaks and perfect
conditions begin to arrive, it seems the weather throws bass anglers for a
loop.  While the temperatures and rainfall had been stable and light in the
period leading up to the third stop of the Alabama Bass Trail Southern
Division’s third stop, it changed drastically the two days prior to the
event.

Heavy rainfall and cooler temperatures greeted anglers during practice on
Thursday and Friday, and with it came a nearly 20-degree drop in
temperatures, and a two foot rise in water level.  However difficult those
conditions can be, the team of Dusty Jordan and Alex Bowdoin figured out the
conditions and brought 18.35 pounds to the scales at Cooter’s Pond to claim
victory and the $10,000 winner’s prize.

They credited Jordan riding with a former Elite Series pro for their win.
“I learned a lot from Ott DeFoe when the Bassmaster Elite Series fished here
last time,” said Jordan.  “The conditions were very similar, and he put on a
big time clinic in that high water, and we were able to use those tactics
today to win this tournament.”

They reported using a pear white 5-inch Berkley Swimbait rigged on a
3/4-ounce head as well as a heavy Shaky Head and NetBait T-Mac worm to catch
their fish.  “We were fishing a hump upriver, and caught a 16-pound limit
early, then culled to this weight by early afternoon,” they said.  “This is
a very special feeling because these are great anglers, and we’ve wanted a
win like this for a long time.  To do it after having a tough practice
round, then making adjustments and having it turn out this way makes it even
better; we’re thrilled.”

Rob Lee and Steve Winslett have been in this position before – at Cooter’s
Pond – having finished second at this same venue in 2018.  “We can’t feel
anything but good about this outcome, because after the practice we had we
are lucky to have even caught a decent limit,” they said.  “This is a much
better outcome then we expected, we were just hoping to salvage some points,
this is a big outcome for us.”  The reported catching all of their fish in
current on a 7-inch green pumpkin chartreuse tail Big Bite Bait Company
Finesse worm on homemade 1/4 and 5/16-ounce Shaky Heads; they earned $5,000
for their performance, along with the $1,000 America’s Fist bonus for
financing their boat purchase with America’s First Credit Union.”

Joe Wickoff and Radney Atchison stayed in Cooter’s Pond and caught 17.49
pounds on a 1/2-ounce chartreuse with gold blades Thunder Baits spinnerbait
made by Wickoff.  The pair earned $4,000 for their efforts.

Fishing without his partner Kyle Dorsett, and anchored by the 5.34-pound
Mountain Dew Big Bass of the tournament Allen Yarborough, posted a limit
worth 17.42 pounds to finish fourth. He earned $3,000 for his top finish,
and his big bass earned the $500 bonus for being the heaviest fish of the
tournament.

The Southern Division of the Alabama Bass Trail hits the water next at the
Lay Lake on May 18.

The Top 10 Standings are below, for complete standings, visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/ar-results/