Tag: Other Stories

Hometown hero leads JSU
team to top spot
in college fishing

Story by Carol Pappas and
Bassmaster Writer David A. Brown
Submitted photos
from Bassmasters

When Pell City’s Zeke Gossett began his fishing career, he was only 10. With 35 high school and three college championships plus dozens of opens and charity tournaments behind him, Gossett certainly wasn’t finished with his winning ways.

On March 9, he hoisted the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship trophy high in the air with teammate Lucas Smith of Southside as proof.

They competed in the championship on Lay Lake, and they were presented the trophy for Jacksonville State University on the Classic stage in Birmingham during the Bassmaster Classic festivities.

“I really worked hard for this win, for sure,” Gossett said. “We qualified for this tournament a couple of weeks ago through the college bass tournament on Smith Lake. They took the top 10 from that tournament,” which had 250 boats in the field.

“Getting to weigh in on the Classic stage in front of all those people was amazing and winning on top of that made it that much more special,” he said. “Getting to represent JSU on such a big stage was an awesome thing as well as spreading the word about our fishing team.”

Couple that with winning in his senior year – with a freshman – and the moment was indeed one to savor. “My partner is a freshman this year, so I was happy to win it with him and watch him soak up the experience with me.”

And Gossett isn’t through by any means. When he graduates in December, he plans to fish the Bassmaster Opens and guide around the Coosa River.

Quest for the championship

Despite a slow start, Gossett and Smith capitalized on a morning flurry that yielded a five-bass limit of 17 pounds, 4 ounces, which led the JSU team to victory in the championship tournament presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lay Lake.

Gossett, a senior majoring in parks and recreation, and Smith, a freshman business management major, fished the lake’s south end and targeted main-current seams. Their first half-hour was frustratingly fruitless, but then the bite ignited, and the winners boxed their weight by 9:30 a.m.

“At one place where we actually caught three of our keepers, we ended up catching four more in a row, and we had to stop fishing to cull,” Gossett said. “That kind of hurt us because the school was fired up, but we couldn’t figure out which one to cull.

“We hit a flurry — I caught two in a row, then he caught two in a row. It was crazy. Our biggest one today was a 3-13. Our smallest was barely 3 pounds.”

Gossett and Smith alternated between 1/2-ounce Z-Man Jack Hammer ChatterBaits with Reaction Innovations Little Dipper trailers and those same Skinny Dippers rigged on 1/2-ounce swimbait heads.

“Some places were better for the ChatterBait and some places were better for the swimbait,” Gossett said. “Anywhere the ChatterBait would get hung up a lot, we’d throw the swimbait.”

Smith said being at the right place at the right time was key. Strategic site selection was also an important element of their game plan.

“There were two feeding windows; one at 7 and one about 9:30,” he said. “After 9:30, we didn’t cull anymore.

“The current definitely played a role, for sure. We targeted spotted bass because the current was so strong, and we knew we could catch them in the current breaks.”

Gossett said told reporters the victory was particularly gratifying, given its redemptive backstory. During his sophomore year, his team fell short in what he considered an ideal scenario.

“We had a tournament back in 2016 on Lay Lake in June, which is my favorite time of year, and we absolutely bombed,” Gossett said. “I put in a lot of hard work practicing for this tournament, and it paid off.”

Family tradition
keeps growing on
Neely Henry

Story by Jackie Walburn
Submitted photos

At the family-owned and operated Buck’s Island Pontoon and Bass Boat Warehouse, new for 2020 are the Bentley Pontoon line, the Caymas Bass Boat line, plus three new Skeeter fishing boat offerings and expanding selections – including kayaks and accessories – at The Loft at Buck’s Island, the pro-level tackle store.

Located in Southside on Neely Henry Lake, Buck’s Island is a full-service, new and used boat dealership that specializes in pontoon boats, bass boats and aluminum fishing boats. In business on the Coosa River lake in Etowah County since 1948, Buck’s Island also sells new and used outboard motors and has 18 dedicated service bays providing maintenance, service and repairs on all types of boats. Buck’s also welcomes trade-in boats and offers used boats of all varieties.

An on-site, pro-level tackle store called The Loft carries full lines of reels, tackle and clothing and accessories. Online ordering is available at shopbucksisland.com.

Founded by Buck Lumpkin 52 years ago, Buck’s Island remains in the family, says co-owner Mary Lumpkin, who operates Buck’s Island with husband Tony, Buck’s son. “And we are proud to say that our daughters and son-in-law are going to carry on the business, as the third generation.” Daughter Angela and husband Israel and daughter Katie are already working at the business founded by their grandfather,

The Loft at Buck’s Island, opened in fall of 2018, is geared to professional tournament anglers with a professional buyer helping to stock the tackle store that sees customers from throughout the state, Mrs. Lumpkin says. With a huge selection of tackle, reels and lures, The Loft also carries clothing and hats from all the brands they sell, plus sunglasses and clothing from Costa and Calcutta Outdoors.

Added to The Loft’s offerings in late 2019 were kayaks, the fastest-growing market in boating. The Loft carries Jackson Kayaks, a brand founded by Olympic kayaker Eric Jackson and made in Tennessee, and YakAttack, USA-made fishing gear and accessories for kayaks.

Brand name boats offered at Buck’s Island include Bentley and Crest Pontoon boats, Caymas Bass Boats, G-3 Boats, Polar Kraft fishing boats, Stingray bowrider boats, Falcon Bass Boats, and Suncatcher Pontoon boats by G-3, a Yamaha marine group company. Buck’s also specializes in Yamaha and Mercury outboard motors.

Of the new lines and models for 2020, the Bentley Pontoon “is a lot of pontoon for the money,” Mrs. Lumpkin says. “We’re happy with the line and how it looks, the quality and the pricing.” The same goes for the Caymas Bass Boat line that’s new to Buck’s Island this year.

She says the new tri-toon standard for pontoon boats, with three pontoons and up to 300 hp motors that allow for pulling skiers or tubers, are becoming the preferred family and friends boating option for Buck’s customers. But runabouts, like the Stingray bowrider boats, remain popular. Fiberglass bass boats generally outsell aluminum fishing boats at Buck’s, depending on how customers like to fish, with the new fishing kayaks now in the mix for fishing the Coosa River and its lakes.

Check them out online at bucksisland.com

B.A.S.S. tournament puts
Logan Martin on national map

Story by Carol Pappas
and Bassmaster Writer Thomas Allen
Photos courtesy of Bassmaster

Even the rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm on and around Logan Martin Lake as more than 200 anglers from all over the country and Canada launched the inaugural 2020 HuK B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia March 5. 

The historic event, held during the Bassmaster Classic weekend on Lake Guntersville and the BASS Collegiate Series Championship on Lay Lake, chose Logan Martin as its inaugural site for the up-and-coming sport of kayak bass fishing.

Hosted by the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, local officials quickly recognized the impact this national tournament had on the region. “We had over 200 anglers from all over the United States and Canada visit Pell City, stay in our area and patronize our local businesses,” said Chamber Executive Director Urainah Glidewell. “We heard so much positive feedback about how welcoming, warm and accommodating Pell City has been from the anglers. We appreciate being a part of this inaugural event.”

Chamber President Caran Wilbanks agreed. The Chamber, she said, was “honored and proud” to have hosted the inaugural tournament. “Over 222 kayakers, along with some of their families, came here from across the nation and as far away as Canada to fish in our beautiful lake and to shop and dine in our wonderful city.

“The comments and feedback we received from the anglers were all positive and enthusiastic about their Logan Martin Lake and Pell City experiences. We hope this tournament will be the first of many in the years to come.”

City Manager Brian Muenger cited the economic impact of the lake and tournaments like these. “We were extremely pleased at the turnout for the event. The total registration for the event was more than double the initial estimate we received from B.A.S.S., which speaks to the unique appeal of the event,” he said. 

“More than two-thirds of the 222 fishermen came from outside of the area, and most came several days in advance to pre-fish for the event. The lake is a major economic driver for our area, and events that bring in outside anglers for long periods of time help increase that impact even further.”

Chasing the big fish and the trophy

Davis topped the field of 222 anglers with a strong five-bass limit measuring 87 3/4 inches.

Davis’ big fish measured 20 inches to cap off his winning limit, earning him the $10,000 first-place purse.

Logan Martin is the third reservoir along the Coosa River, which begins in northwest Georgia and runs south to the Alabama River. The Coosa River is home to the legendary Coosa spotted bass, one of the strongest fish that swims. However, to win on Logan Martin, a big largemouth or two are necessary.

Davis caught nearly 40 bass during official competition, but his limit consisted of three solid largemouth and two spotted bass.

Clear Creek hot spot for tourney

“I launched in Clear Creek, along with many other kayakers, and spent the day working a short length of bank,” Davis said. “This part of Alabama is saturated, and there was plenty of current rolling through the lake, which helps the fishing. I got on a short stretch of rocky shoreline and literally fished it all day long.”

He said the current was positioning the bass along an edge that seemed to reload with fish by the minute.

“I spent seven hours on that little section and never moved,” he said. “I used a Storm Arashi spinbait the entire time, which is unusual for me because I typically throw a Senko. However, the spinbait was the only lure I had that matched the baitfish I was seeing. The fact that I was fishing from a kayak forced me to slow down and focus on a specific area, and it worked.”

Davis fished out of an Old Town Predator PDL that he’s had for two years.

“I sold my bass boat and bought a couple of kayaks. The Old Town has been incredible,” he said. “I’ll be fishing from a kayak as long as I can. I love it.”

Mark Edwards from Pipestem, W.Va., wrapped up his event in second place after a solid day on Logan Martin where he produced a five-bass limit measuring 84 3/4 inches. Edwards runs a Native Watercraft Titan and attributes his success to its stability and accessories.

“I run a Torqeedo kayak trolling motor, which was critical to covering a lot of water and dealing with the current running through the lake right now,” Edwards said. “I started in Clear Creek on both days of practice. I found fish in the main lake pockets, but in a kayak, I couldn’t cover enough of those pockets to be competitive. So, I focused on the fish I found in Clear Creek and it paid off.”

Edwards’ limit consisted of two largemouth and three spotted bass.

“The spotted bass were schooling all day long in Clear Creek and I managed to catch some nice ones throughout the day,” he said. “This was a great event on a great lake even though it rained nearly the entire day. I’ve been fishing competitively from a kayak for three years and I’m super excited to see it getting national attention from Bassmaster. That’s going to take this community to new levels and I’m proud to be a part of it.” 

Jonathan Lessmann of Madison, fished out of a Bonafide 127 rigged with a Torqeedo trolling motor, YakAttack accessories and a Humminbird Helix 7.

“I launched in Clear Creek and watched the water muddy up as the day went on,” Lessmann said. “But as the current picked up, I was able to catch fish from a mudline on a consistent basis. I threw a custom white spinnerbait with a hybrid skirt in two feet of water or less to catch most of my fish. After several passes, I was able to narrow down the specific area where the bulk of the fish were staging, and it really paid off.”

Lessmann is a disabled Army veteran and found that competitive kayak bass fishing is good medicine for the body and soul.

“I can’t really stand for long periods of time, so a kayak is a natural fit,” he said. “I’ve always been an avid fisherman. Without fishing I don’t know what I’d do. Thankfully, a veteran friend of mine introduced me to the sport, and I’ve been crazy about it ever since.”

Rounding out the Top 10 were Eric Siddiqi (84 1/2 inches) of Ohio, Lance Burris (84 1/4) of Missouri, Dave Sewell (84) of Indiana, Jimmy McClurkan (83 3/4) of Tennessee, Mark Brinkley (83 1/4) of Tennessee, Rus Snyders (83 1/4) of Tennessee and Corey Racer (83) of Texas. 

Most Basssmaster kayak events take place and wrap up in the same day. But because this was Classic week, B.A.S.S. invited the top 10, competing for more than $30,000 in cash, to cross the Classic Stage at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham the next day. Organizers thought it would bring more excitement and exposure to the inaugural event.

The B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series continues on Lake Fork in Texas, Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake, the Upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., and wraps up at Clear Lake in Northern California.

Parks aplenty on
Neely Henry & Logan Martin

Story by Linda Long
Discover Archives photos
Submitted photos

Each year thousands of people flock to one of the public parks on Neely Henry and Logan Martin lakes. Alabama Power operates two of those parks, Ten Islands at the Henry Neely Dam, and Logan Martin Park, now named Double Cove, next to Logan Martin Dam. 

But that’s not all to choose from. Lakeside Park, located adjacent to the Pell City Civic Center and run by the city, is another popular spot.

Josh Yerby of Alabama Power explained that in addition to providing hydroelectric power to its customers, the company also provides all kind of opportunities for recreation, which is why it has begun a new initiative called “The Preserves.”

 “The nature of Alabama Power land holdings lend themselves to extensive green and natural spaces that can play host to and offer a variety of unique outdoor activities,” he said “The Preserves are core to the Alabama Power ideal of merging nature with crafting special places. These lands allow people to enjoy, learn and grow a deeper appreciation of our state’s ecology and natural landscape.

“They allow our citizens to access and enjoy our lakes. They are inclusive and open to all. The Preserves will be located throughout our service territory with varying amenities, such as playgrounds, trails, boat ramps, picnic areas and fishing piers.”

Those amenities are exactly what draw visitors to both Ten Islands and Double Cove. Yerby says the newest addition at Ten Islands is an almost 2-mile nature trail complete with rustic designed gazebos sporting their tin roofs.

“This park is a very popular place for people to go,” said Yerby. “It’s part of the Alabama Birding Trail, which always draws a lot of visitors.”

Double Cove

Logan Martin Park, known as a mainstay of Alabama Power-operated parks was renamed Double Cove by Alabama Power as part of The Preserves.

Yerby says the park offers a two-and-a-half mile hiking trail and a new playground for the kids and is completely handicapped accessible. It’s equipped with a boat launch, swimming area, picnic areas and fishing piers.

Both Alabama Power Parks are day use, free admission and are open from dawn until dusk.

Yerby explained that while Alabama Power is required to provide recreational opportunities for stakeholders, according to their license, “we go above and beyond those requirements with additional facilities and by exceeding the industry standard for recreation sites. Our mission is to create and maintain amenities for people of all interests to enjoy while promoting healthy lifestyles, economic development and adding positive contributions in each community.”

Lakeside Park

Lakeside Park in Pell City is another favorite. Picnic areas and pavilions are available along with an approximately one-mile, non-motorized walking trail and Kids Kastle, an impressive and imaginative playground the community built in a single weekend. 

The park is a popular spot for fishing tournaments, including national and state brands, like Bassmaster Classic, Crappie USA and Alabama Bass Trail. It most recently hosted the inaugural Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by Tourney X presented by Abu Garcia. It drew 243 boats and anglers from around the country.

The park itself is 67 acres fronting Logan Martin and features dozens of ways for the entire family to enjoy the outdoors.

From picnics to swimming at the park’s beach to fishing from its docks or launching your own boat, Lakeside Park is quite a destination point for outdoor enthusiasts.

There are four pavilions for rent, an Alabama native plant walking garden, the Wetlands Project with viewing platform, an amphitheater and outdoor exercise equipment.

But arguably the most popular destination point of all is the splash pad. With its 40-plus water features, there’s no mistaking the fun in the sun for kids. It features pavilions for rent for events, like birthdays, and it even has after-hours, private party opportunities.

It’s closed on Mondays for maintenance, and it is open seasonally from May to Labor Day.

Logan Martin event celebrates 10 years

Story by Linda Long
Submitted and file photos

Is anything better than a day on the lake? With a boat? How about a day on the lake with 80 boats? That’s the plan from organizers and sponsors of this year’s Logan Martin’s LakeFest and Boat Show, May 15-17, at Pell City’s Lakeside Park.

Produced by the Logan Martin Charity Foundation, the popular event marks its 10-year milestone with what is billed as the largest in-water boat show in the Southeast.

“It’s a lot of fun. We have vendors, crafts and music all weekend long, said Eric Housh, event coordinator, “but the centerpiece of the whole thing is the boat show. For this 10th anniversary, we’ve got some really special things planned.”

Boat dealers will present over a dozen lines of boats with some 80 models, from pontoons to speed boats and personal watercraft and just about everything in between. Those interested in buying a boat can get “up close and personal.” They can even kick the wheels, so to speak.

“So, they get in the boat and take it out for a test drive,” said Housh. “It’s a try it before you buy it sort of plan. It’s really a great opportunity to try it out see how the boat feels while it’s actually on the lake.”

Housh says he was brought on board as event organizer “back when the thing was just an idea.” That was 10 years ago, which means he’s now been planning, organizing, communicating and coordinating for the past decade.

“I think the first year we had maybe five to seven hundred people, over the whole weekend,” Housh recalled. “In year three, we got flooded out. Last year, we had close to 20,000 over the course of the weekend. We’ve grown from meager beginnings of just a few hundred people to a great event. We’re proud of it.”

No admission is charged, since the entire event is funded by sponsorship dollars. America’s First Federal Credit Union is one of the lead sponsors and does onsite financing for the boat show. Others are “local businesses,” Housh explained. “Whatever we don’t use to produce event we donate back to local charities,” he said. “Over the course of the event, we’ve donated over a quarter of a million dollars. Last year, we gave $31,000. This year we will probably double that. We’ve set aside funds for the past several years to do some massive improvements to Lakeside Park.”

Those improvements include a new park pavilion and some enhancements to one of the piers for public safety and to facilitate boat parking.

Housh said his favorite part of the three-day event is set for Friday night when local veterans will be honored with a dinner and a fireworks show.

And, as always, the event is “flush with giveaways,” including a boat and an ATV, Housh said.