The Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series recently took place at Lake Eufaula, Alabama, a location renowned for its rich fishing history, often referred to as the 'Bass Capital of the World.' Accommodating 100 of the top angling teams, the event involved a substantial prize pool of $100,000, with the first-place team guaranteed to earn $25,000.
This year's competition on June 11, 2025, illustrated the skill levels and strategic approaches of the participants. Anglers showcased a variety of techniques, targeting post-spawn bass in deeper waters as well as capitalizing on the brim bed and frog bites in shallower areas. Such diversity is essential in a body of water as dynamic as Eufaula, which covers approximately 46,000 acres and boasts over 640 miles of shoreline.
Todd Beaver and Kyle Sellers took the top honor, with a winning weight of 21.43 pounds, earning themselves a $25,000 prize. 'We caught around 50 fish throughout the day,' said Beaver. 'This morning, we started fishing in shallow water and threw a frog around, but the recent drop in water levels really affected the bite. We managed to catch one fish using the Spro Hollow Belly frog, but we decided to move on.'
Recognizing that the shallow strategy was no longer fruitful, they adjusted their tactics. 'We went deeper and began using the Strike King 10XD. When they wouldn’t bite on that, we switched to a green pumpkin football jig,' Sellers elaborated. This strategic pivot proved effective, although it involved considerable effort. 'We nearly ran out of gas while covering so much water on the lake,' Beaver added.
Taking second place with a haul of 21.02 pounds were Zeke Gossett and Ethan King, who capitalized on their recent success in the ABT South Event. 'Practice involved a lot of scanning as we committed to the deep bite. Just like in the ABT South Event, we didn’t go to the bank,' King explained. They focused their efforts on a mixture of bush piles and ledges, but noted a marked change from their prior experience. 'The bush piles weren’t as productive as the last time. There were many changes this week that really helped us; one key change was the water temperature,' Gossett said.
Gossett continued, 'When we arrived, it was at 76 degrees, and by the end of practice, it had risen to 85 degrees. The key to finding those schools out on the ledges was the water temperature being in the 80s at night. They didn’t show up as well as we had anticipated, but there were still plenty out there.' Ultimately, their perseverance paid off, as they captured a significant amount of their weight from one spot, aided by using a Strike King 10XD and a green pumpkin worm, bringing home a payout of $12,500.
The third-place team of Jason Thomason and Timmothy Hatcher weighed in at 20.87 pounds and received $10,000. 'We spent the entire week scanning the waters, starting on Tuesday, and we managed to identify about 30 potential schools of fish,' Thomason detailed. 'However, we were only able to access around 5 of these spots today due to heavy boat traffic.'
Their strategy involved targeting areas just off the river ledge and they were rewarded with early success. 'At our first stop today, we caught two keepers right away. After making a key adjustment, Tim hooked a six-pounder using a Tim Hatcher Fatt Daddy Jig,' he noted. The excitement escalated when they caught a 7-pounder on a homemade jig, further securing their place in the standings.
Looking ahead, the Alabama Bass Trail 100 series will continue its journey on November 1, 2025, as they head to Wilson Lake. The event at Lake Eufaula not only showcased the capabilities of top anglers but also highlighted the rich fishing legacy of the region.
For a detailed list of standings, interested parties can refer to the Alabama Bass Trail 100 results page. The 2025 series is supported by numerous sponsors, including Phoenix Boats, Strike King, Garmin, and many more, emphasizing the significance and community support surrounding this beloved fishing tournament.