By Jason Duran
The Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series heads to Wilson Lake for its final stop this Saturday. With temps dipping into the 40s for the first time this year in North Alabama, the bass are already shifting into seasonal patterns that could set up a fascinating battle on one of the Tennessee River’s most overlooked fisheries. It will all come down to winter patterns, fishing pressure, and a whole lot of shad.
For reigning ABT Champions Donny Beck and Tony Harvey, who just pocketed $50,000 two weeks ago on Wheeler Lake, Wilson is home turf and a shot at making 2025 a dream season. “Wilson’s the one I want to win,” Beck said. “I pretty much live on this lake.”
A quick drop from mid-70s to mid-60s water temps is exactly what these anglers wanted. Instead of shutting down the bite, that cooler water can wake them up. “Cold fronts this time of year sometimes make them bite better,” Harvey explained. “Gets them more active.”
Expect bass to follow bait into creeks, pockets, and wood-laden banks, while another population hangs out around the dam and tailrace trying to pin shad in current. Shoreline riprap, piers, and clay-to-rock transitions are staples of Wilson’s habitat and will draw plenty of attention. Laydowns will be clutch when those fish tuck tight as the cold settles deeper into the week. Anglers should not overlook the chance to find schooling fish this time of year.
If there is a wildcard in this event, it is forward-facing sonar. “Wilson hasn’t really been exposed to the live scopers in a big tournament situation,” Beck said. “I think there’ll be a surprise for a lot of people. Midlake and downriver roamers could be a difference maker, especially for the polished scopers who specialize in suspended bass that have rarely been pressured here.”
Everyone looks to Wilson Dam first. “There’s definitely going to be 90 out of 100 teams that at least practice some up there,” Beck predicted. “But on Saturday I’d be shocked if it’s won at the dam, just because of the pressure.” The dam offers many different ways to fish, and teams unfamiliar with those conditions could face numerous challenges on Saturday. One is location management, as the area tends to fish small. Wind direction is another key variable; a strong upstream wind could make the dam bite not just tough but unfishable.
Teams can expect a few different patterns to play this weekend. For suspended fish, anglers can pair a minnow-style bait with LiveScope in unpressured down-lake areas, targeting roaming fish. Another productive pattern will be jig fishing around wood, docks, and other cover, as cold-front fish tend to hold tight. Creeks are still alive with bait, making topwater and spinnerbaits effective for targeting schooling fish and bait chasers.
And if you must run to the dam, “You’ve got to throw a swimbait,” Beck emphasized. With 100 of the best in the region launching into a not-so-big lake, good manners and boat awareness will absolutely influence the leaderboard. “Inside the towers at the dam, if people just work together, everybody can still fish,” Harvey said. “But one boat in the wrong spot can mess up several.” Beck and Harvey both admit they would rather roam and have space, but sometimes you have to fight for inches. This Saturday’s results may hinge on who keeps their head in congested water. When asked if that could be the difference between winning and losing, Beck and Harvey didn’t hesitate. “Oh, a million percent.”
The veterans expect a classic Wilson slugfest just shy of a true blowout, with a winning weight around 23 pounds. It should take 17 to 18 pounds to earn a check. Wind, traffic, and bait positioning will tighten that spread, but a big bite or two will be essential for anyone eyeing the top spot.
Coming off a massive championship win at Wheeler, Beck and Harvey arrive with momentum and maybe a touch less pressure. “It kind of takes a lot of the pressure off,” Beck said. “If we don’t do good, it’s all great.” But deep down, this is the one they want. “It would be a dream come true,” Harvey said. And you can bet the rest of the ABT 100 field feels the same way.
On Saturday, we will learn exactly what Wilson Lake has been hiding: hidden fish, new- age tech versus winter fundamentals, and crowded high-percentage zones versus quiet down-lake stretches. Wilson Lake has waited for its spotlight, and the ABT 100 is ready to flip the switch.
Launch & Weigh-In
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Location: Waterfront Marina & Dry Storage, 4451 Florence Blvd, Florence, AL 35634
First flight due in: 3:00 P.M.
Watch over four hours of live on-the-water coverage and the weigh-in on the Alabama Bass Trail 100 Facebook page, YouTube, and the ABT website.
2025 Alabama Bass Trail 100 Sponsors
Phoenix Boats, AMFirst, Landers McLarty Chevrolet, McGraw Webb Chevrolet, Rapala, VMC, Crush City, Buffalo Rock, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Jack’s, Garmin, Thompson CAT, Lew’s, Strike King, Southern Protection Agency, Piranh02, Alabama State Parks, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, NetBait, BaitFuel, TH Marine Supplies, Power-Pole, Pro-Guide Batteries American Trailer Rental, Yamaha, Anheuser-Busch, American Baitworks, E3 Sports Apparel, FishAlabama.org, Sweet Home Alabama, and Alabama Mountain Lakes.
The Alabama Bass Trail 100 is run by the Alabama Bass Trail and is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.
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