ABN newcomer takes advantage of experience on Eufaula
By Greg McCain

Grant McCraney, a newcomer to Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation (ABN) adult-division tournaments, knew he was on the fish to win Saturday on Lake Eufaula. He just did not anticipate how much the bite would change from one day to the next.

McCraney, a Faulkner University angler, turned a productive practice Friday into a win in the second ABN qualifier of 2026. The weight diminished considerably for him from practice to tournament hours, but his 18.82 total was just enough to beat out second-place finisher Danny Grantham (LA PO Boys), who had 18.73. Jeff Gillliam (W Ala Bass Fishermen) finished third with 16.70, including a 6.83 largemouth that was the Big Fish on the boater side, a catch that paid $500.

McCraney won $3500 for his efforts.

Among the co-anglers, Charles Rosato (Birmingham Bass Club) took advantage of a 7.03 largemouth, the Lake Counseling Co-angler Big Fish, that anchored a three-bass limit of 11.11 for the win among back-of-the-boat competitors. Sam Jackson (W Ala Bass Fishermen) ranked second with 10.41.

Rosato earned $1,500 for first place and $500 for the big fish.

(See photos from the weigh-in.)

McCraney fished ABN high school tournaments and continues to fish Bassmaster College Series events, spending volumes of time on Eufaula, although he lives minutes away from Lake Martin in Tallassee. His entry at Eufaula was his first in an ABN adult tournament.

“After the practice I had yesterday, I for sure thought it would take over 23 or 24 lbs. to win,” he said. “It was a great practice, and today those fish were just not there anymore. I went and fished new water that I didn’t touch yesterday.”

McCraney, who caught an 8-pounder Friday, said he was targeting 8-10 foot depths, “brushpiles, rockpiles, shell beds, anything in that type of area. Yesterday, they were all pre-spawn; today, all post-spawn. I caught skinny ones today.”

McCraney used his forward-facing technology to locate the fish, but was not necessarily watching them bite. He caught them on a Megabass jerkbait and credited Walter Craig’s The Sportsmen Headquarters in Montgomery for their help with his tackle and lure set-ups.

“I was using LiveScope to see fish in the brushpiles,” he said. “Then I threw out past it and worked the bait back, waiting on them to react.”

McCraney said the tournament timing fit his fishing style perfectly.

“Eufaula is by far my favorite lake,” he said. “Any time from February to June, I’ll be out here in fishing tournaments that are open to anyone. This is what I like to do.”

Rosato, fishing behind Lee Byrd, spent an unproductive morning on Eufaula, but the noon hour and beyond proved to be a key. Rosato had one small keeper in the boat when the big fish hit.

Rosato said that he and Byrd caught their fish flipping and punching shallow grass. He also said the 7.03 largemouth was not his biggest on Eufaula. He weighed in a bigger fish, well over 7 lbs, in an ABN tournament several years ago, only to see Byrd weigh an 8-pounder later in the same tournament for big-fish honors.

“The big fish actually bit twice; I guess it was the same fish,” Rosato said. “A fish hit and took it back into the grass bed, I fixed my bait, and pitched in there again. The big fish hit, and I caught it that time.

Rounding out the top 10 among boaters were Landon Christian (Wiregrass Bassmasters, 16.62); Francis Beard (Neely Henry Bassmasters, 16.60); James Hardy (Shotgun Sports Supply, 15.97); Billy Short (Gadsden Bassmasters, 14.88); Byrd (Birmingham Bass Club, 14.65); Tyler Malone (Wiregrass Bassmasters, 14.63); and Brent Shores (Wiregrass Bassmasters, 14.39)

Following Rosato and Jackon in the co-angler standings were Jimmy Odom (Wiregrass, 8.89); Clif Gallagher (Wiregrass, 8.88); Shannon Oliver (Belgreen Bass Club, 8.77); Chris Curvin (Neely Henry Bassmasters, 8.14); Bill Weathers (Wiregrass, 7.72); Aaron Kirk (W Ala Bass Fishermen, 6.56); Gene Townsend (Rumbling Waters Bass Anglers, 6.42); and Fisher Glasgow (Lake Tuscaloosa Bassmasters, 6.29)

In the team (total boat weight) division, Gilliam and Jackson easily combined for the win with a 27.11 total. Other top team finishers were Byrd-Rosato (25.76), Beard-Curvin (24.74), Grantham-Chad Macks (24.59), Shores-Gallagher (23.27), Austin Kirk-Aaron Kirk (20.56), Cherry-Hunter Travis (19.45, previously qualified), and James Hardy-Hayden Hardy (19.03).

Qualifying teams earn a spot in the state championship this fall. Top teams in that event then qualify for the B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship in early December.

Jackson was also the top registered angler in the Fishin’ 4 a Cure competition. ABN participants support the Fishin’ 4 a Cure charity, which funds research for childhood diseases at Children’s of Alabama.

After 2 of 5 events, Angler of the Year races are starting to shape up. Short leads the boater division, followed by Cherry, Byrd, and Donald Griffith (Wiregrass). Oliver tops the co-angler AOY race with Jeff Armstrong (Lake Tuscaloosa) and Jonathan Barnette (Carbon Hill Bass Club) next in the standings.

ABN president Eddie Plemons thanks all the sponsors who continue to support the ABN schedule. They include Academy Sports+Outdoors, Lake Counseling (ABN competitor William “Bill” Weathers), Airport Marine, Office Partners, Fish Life Fish Care Products, Impulse Lithium batteries, AmFirst BassCash, Halo Rods, Radicull Culling Devices, Davis Bait Co., George Paint and Body, BassCats Boats, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Mercury, Motor Guide, Lowrance, NetBait, Shell, Hammer Rods, Shelby County, Strike Zone Lures, Charlie’s BBQ, the Rod Glove, T-H Marine, Power-Pole, and Alabama Hosting.

The ABN season continues on April 18 with a stop at Lake Martin. The final 2026 qualifier is at Millers Ferry in Camden in May. The ABN State Championship will be held Oct. 29-30 at Lake Martin.
For more information about the ABN, including full tournament results, and to register for future tournaments, check out the organization’s website at https://albassnation.org/.

Greg McCain is a freelance writer from Russellville, AL, and a member of the Belgreen Bass Club. In addition to producing content for this website, his credits include articles in Georgia Outdoor News, the ACC Crappie Stix blog, the Cornfield Fishing Gear website, CrappieNOW online magazine, and Great Days Outdoors.