Over 200 anglers paid a visit to Weiss Lake over the weekend, competing for the $10,000 grand prize in the Alabama Bass Trail’s North Division Tournament Series .
Hosted by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, this was the third event of the 2018 Northern Division season at Weiss Lake launching out of the Leesburg Landing. The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Mountain Lakes Tourist Association of which Cherokee County is a member. Its goal is to promote the state as a year-round fishing destination, preserve natural resources and encourage conservation among high school and college students. Weiss Lake is one of 13 lakes comprising the trail.
Each tournament features a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and pays 40 places, totaling more than $47,000. The winning team of the championship walks away with a fully rigged bass boat valued at $45,000, and there’s a $5,000 bonus cash prize for Angler of the Year and $2,500 for runner-up Angler of the Year.
We spoke Theresa Hulgan, Executive Director of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce she told us that the local and surrounding area has the potential of seeing a half a million economic impact. There were 500 Anglers who had visited over the past few weeks pre-fishing, and returned to fish the ABT tournament this past Saturday, that contribute to our local economy. They buy gas, food, lodging, supplies and more to help fuel our local economy. It is estimated that the average Angler spends $1,000 in the community he is fishing a tournament in.
“We are thankful to be part of the ABT Trail and have them fish Weiss Lake. ABT will return to Weiss Lake in April of 2019 for a ABT North Division Tournament. This tournament is made possible by the Town of Leesburg for hosting the tournament at Leesburg Landing. The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce pays a membership to be part of the ABT Tournament Trail and have the opportunity to bring tournaments to Weiss Lake.”
The sponsors of the 2018 Alabama Bass Trail include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Toyota, Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Wedowee Marine, Buffalo Rock, Jack’s, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Alabama Power Company, Trapper Tackle, Lew’s Fishing, AFTCO, YETI, and E3 Apparel.
Complete results can be found by Clicking Here
Watch The Official Weigh-In From Weiss Lake Below:
