HomeNewsAlabama Bass Trail Announces 2017 Tournament Trail Schedule Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) is pleased to unveil the 2017 tournament schedule, which includes a new cash payout reaching over $566,000 plus a grand prize new boat giveaway. The team-style tournament series will be held on eleven of the lakes of the Alabama Bass Trail beginning February 18, 2017, with the championship tournament to be held on October 6-7, 2017. Sanctioned by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series contains two divisions: North and South. Each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 225. Teams must fish in all five tournaments in their respective division; no single entries will be allowed. North Division: Wheeler Lake February 25, 2017 hosted by Decatur-Morgan County CVB Pickwick Lake March 11, 2017 hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Lewis Smith Lake April 22, 2017 hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County Neely Henry Lake May 6, 2017 hosted by City of Gadsden Lake Guntersville June 10, 2017 hosted by Marshall County CVB South Division: Lake Jordan February 18, 2017 hosted by City of Wetumpka Lake Eufaula March 18, 2017 hosted by Eufaula-Barbour Chamber of Commerce Lake Martin April 8, 2017 hosted by Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Alabama River / Cooter’s Pond May 20, 2017 hosted by City of Prattville Parks and Recreation Lay Lake June 3, 2017 hosted by Shelby County Commission New for 2017, the championship event will include up to 180 boats. The 180 boats are comprised of the 10 divisional tournament winning teams, top 75 teams in points from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with the top 10 student boats, top five college teams and the top five couples teams collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective division. Hosted by the City of Pell City and the Pell City Chamber of Commerce, the championship tournament is set for October 6-7, 2017, on Logan Martin Lake. Anglers who fished all five events in their respective divisions in 2016 will be given a priority entry period from August 1 to August 14, 2016, to register online at www.alabamabasstrail.org. Registration will be open to the public on August 15, 2016. The entry fee per tournament is $1250 per team, which includes registration for all five tournaments in the respective division. Each team may choose to pay a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold the team’s spot. The balance of $750 must be paid by January 15, 2017. Each tournament will feature a NEW increased payout with a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and will pay 40 places totaling over $47,000. The winning team of the championship will walk away with a fully rigged bass boat valued at $45,000, and there is a $5,000 bonus cash prize for Angler of the Year and $2,500 for runner-up Angler of the Year. Over $566,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded when the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series wraps up its season in 2017. “We are excited to announce a new payout for the second time in four seasons. We are blessed with great sponsors and a dedicated group of anglers and this new increased payout is a step in showing our current anglers and others that we want to be the best team tournament trail in the country,” said Kay Donaldson, ABT program director. 2017 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 Current Alabama Bass Trail Tournament sponsors include Bill Penney Toyota; the Alabama Tourism Department; Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc.; Academy Sports & Outdoors; Garmin; Garmin Virb XE; Wind Creek Hospitality-Montgomery; Wind Creek Hospitality-Wetumpka; T & H Marine Supplies, Inc.; Alabama Power Company; Buffalo Rock, Inc.; Tennessee Valley Authority; Boat U. S.; Allstate Insurance Company; Lews Fishing; Alabama Foundation Specialist; FishNeelyHenry.com; Power-Pole; YETI; Hydrowave; Crossed Industries, Inc.; and Frogg Toggs, Inc. Pond MD will manage fish care and Southern Stream Live will be the live-streaming company. For more information, call Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
