Alabama has been the focal point of the bass fishing world lately, having hosted REDCREST on Lake Guntersville then the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship on Wheeler Lake. Now, it’s time for the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals to visit the bass-crazed state.
Stop 3 Presented by Phoenix Boats will take the Invitationals field to Lewis Smith Lake. While not far from Guntersville or Wheeler, Smith should provide MLFNOW! viewers a very different experience.
Spotted bass rule on Smith, and the sprawling fishery is much deeper and clearer than the nearby Tennessee River impoundments. As the pros start to figure out the playing field in advance of the event (which will take place Tuesday through Thursday due to Easter weekend), here’s everything you need to know to figure out a winning Phoenix Fantasy Fishing strategy.
*Note: John Cox was mentioned in a previous version of piece but has decided to withdraw from the field.
Watch out for the Wiggins brothers
In a fun wrinkle, this Invitationals season has turned into a series of family showcases. At Stage 1, three members of the Lane family all competed on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The Robinsons then got their turn on Lake Hartwell, and they made the most of it, with Marshall Robinson finishing fifth and Mitchell Robinson taking home the trophy.
Now, the Wiggins brothers are up – Jesse, Jordan and Jarrett – are all in the field at Smith. And while it might seem tough to top the Robinsons’ performance on Hartwell, circumstances seem to be aligning perfectly for a similar showing – it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see multiple members of the Wiggins clan in the top five.
Both Jesse, a member of the Bass Pro Tour, and Jordan have logged multiple professional wins on Smith. Jarrett doesn’t compete as often, but he’s surely spent plenty of time in the boat with his brothers. Plus, with most of the bass likely to be in and around the spawn, this doesn’t figure to be a derby dominated by forward-facing sonar. Dragging a “shakin’ head” down the banks could be the winning strategy, and that’s right in the Wiggins’ wheelhouse.
Ride the momentum
The fish should be farther along in the spawning process on Smith than they were at Hartwell, but there could still be some similarities between the fisheries, both of which offer a mixture of spotted and largemouth bass. It’s easy to envision Mitchell Robinson employing a similar program to the one that earned him the win. Dustin Smith, who Robinson narrowly beat, should be at home fishing shallow, too. Kyle Cortiana is coming off a Top 10 on Hartwell and also has a fourth-place finish on Smith at a 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on his résumé.
Also, speaking of momentum, you should always pick Drew Gill. The Fishing Clash Angler of the Year leader finally had his first stumble of the season at REDCREST, so he’s sure to be mad at ‘em.
Past success on Smith
Smith Lake has been a regular stop for MLF trails in recent years, including Toyota Series events each of the past two springs. So, there’s a decent number of anglers in the field who have tasted success on the fishery at this time of year.
High on that list is Greg Pugh, a last-minute addition to the field who has logged a BFL win and two other Top 10s on Smith, including a fifth-place finish at an FLW Tour event. Additionally, Austin Swindle has four Top 10s on Smith to his credit in Toyota Series and BFL competition, while Josh Butler, a fellow Alabamian, has had some strong local showings on the fishery. Flint Davis finished fifth in the Toyota Series event last April. Finally, Lee Black lives near the lake in Moulton, Alabama, and has a pair of BFL Top 10s to his name.
Other anglers to consider
Flight 1:
Joseph Webster – The veteran pro finished fourth at the Toyota Series event on Smith Lake a year ago, and he’s fishing well right now (currently sixth in the AOY standings). Webster should be comfortable slowing down and dragging for spawners.
Jack Daniel Williams – Williams has ample experience on clear-water reservoirs that should translate to Smith, as he showed with a Top-10 finish at a BFL at the fishery in 2022. He also had a solid, 26th-place showing at the Toyota Series event there last April.
Flight 2:
Laker Howell – Howell led last April’s Toyota Series event on Smith after Day 1 and ultimately finished seventh. Another Alabama native, Howell is always a threat in his home state, where he’s logged three of his four career MLF Top 10s.
Jacob Walker – Walker is coming off a strong showing at REDCREST. He’s only competed on Smith once with MLF, but given that he only lives about 90 minutes from the lake, he should be pretty familiar with what’s going on.
My picks
- Flight 1: Kyle Cortiana, Drew Gill, Austin Swindle, Joseph Webster, Jesse Wiggins
- Flight 2: Lee Black, Josh Butler, Dustin Smith, Jacob Walker, Jordan Wiggins