Alabama Bass Trail’s North Division to Make Second Stop on Wheeler Lake March 23
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Decatur, Ala. (March 19, 2019) – The North Division of the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series will make its second stop for 2019 in Decatur this weekend, bringing with it 450 amateur anglers to fish the waters of Wheeler Lake where a guaranteed first place prize of $10,000 is up for grabs. Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the tournament is set for Saturday, March 23rd.
Sanctioned by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the ABT Tournament Series contains two divisions, North and South, and each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 225. For the tournament on Wheeler Lake, registration is full at 225 two-angler teams, with anglers traveling from across the southeastern United States to compete. According to Decatur Morgan County Tourism President and CEO Danielle Gibson, the tournament is expected to pump an estimated $450,000 into the local economy through revenue generated from dining, shopping and overnighting in local hotels and motels by anglers and their family members.
Takeoff is set for approximately 6:00 a.m. or safe light and weigh-in begins at 2:30 p.m. at Ingalls Harbor, located at 802 Wilson Street NW in Decatur. Takeoff and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Registration is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Ingalls Harbor Pavilion on Friday, March 22, with a captain’s meeting following at 6:30 p.m.
The tournament on Wheeler Lake offers an incredible payout with a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and will pay 40 places totaling over $47,000. In conjunction with the Alabama Bicentennial celebration, an additional $200 bonus prize will be awarded to the team that finishes in the 200th place.
Payout Schedule:
First place $10,000
Second place $5,000
Third place $4,000
Fourth place $3,000
Fifth place $2,000
Sixth place $1,500
Seventh place $1,100
Eighth place $1,100
Ninth place $1,100
Tenth place $1,100
11th – 20th $750 each
21st – 40th $500 each
200th Place Bonus $200
For more information on the Alabama Bass Trail and the tournament series, call Program Director Kay Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.