Gossett wins first ABN title on home lake

By Greg McCain

When Zeke Gossett saw Logan Martin Lake as one of the stops on the 2022 Alabama B.A.S.S. (ABN) schedule, he knew that it was a tournament that he would target.

Gossett, a former collegiate angler, guide, and tournament competitor on the Coosa River chain, fishes Logan Martin regularly, and the rare inclusion of the lake on the ABN slate provided him an opportunity to earn his first ABN win.

Mission accomplished!

When the scales closed Saturday (3.19.22) at the new Lincoln’s Landing facility on the upper end of Logan Martin, Gossett looked to have claimed a runaway victory. His 17.12 total easily topped second-place finisher Tim Hatcher, another Logan Martin veteran.

However, Gossett said the day proved to be a struggle despite the seemingly easy outcome. He didn’t catch a keeper through the first few hours of competition and still had only four fish in the livewell as the tournament neared its end. A key bite with about an hour remaining proved to be decisive.

Gossett caught most of his keepers on a bladed jig, and he finally filled his limit with his biggest fish of the day about 2:00 p.m. His fifth keeper weighed almost six pounds and sealed the win for Gossett.

“It feels great,” he said. “It feels good to win here. It’s my home body of water, and I guide here. I practiced hard for this event. I was actually a little worried, but it all came together.”

Despite his excitement about fishing the event, Gossett said the changing conditions had him concerned. Heavy current rolled through the river system after several rain systems moved through the region in the days leading up to the tournament.

“I was very excited (about fishing Logan Martin),” Gossett said. “I usually do very well in March. Through all the rain we had and changing conditions, I was a little worried about what was going to happen. The rain, maybe the full moon, had them messed up a little bit. I told someone I was worried about catching a limit even though I fish here a lot.”

Gossett, who qualified for the ABN state team for the first time, ran south to the Cropwell Creek area to find his fish.

“It started off real slow,” he said. “I didn’t catch a keeper until a little after nine. I finally got a good one in the boat and caught another good fish back-to-back. Then it was a while before I caught another keeper.”

Gossett (Shotgun Sports Supply) earned prize money in three categories. Along with being the first-place boater, he and his father, Curtis Gossett (Shotgun Sports Supply), won the team competition. Both of the Gossetts moved to the top of Angler of the Year standings in their respective categories after two ABN events.

Among other boaters, Hatcher (Wiregrass Bassmasters) brought 15.51 to the scales, finishing ahead of Josh Oliver (Shotgun Sports Suppy), who had 15.10 for third.

In the co-angler division, Cole Williams (Wiregrass Bassmasters) weighed in a heavy three-fish limit late and took home the title. He totaled 10.83 for the win. Richard White (Alexander City Bassmasters) led through most of the weigh-in. A 5.43 largemouth bolstered his 10.58 total.

Williams, fishing with boater Scott Russell (Wiregrass Bassmasters), boated three quality fish to beat the field of co-anglers. His best fish weighed over five pounds, but he also had two spotted bass chunks, one right at three pounds and another about 2 ¾.

“It was a fun day,” Williams said. “I had gotten away from fishing as a co-angler and had been fishing as a boater. Scott called and asked if I wanted to fish, and it worked out well.”

Williams said they “didn’t run far” to catch their fish. The mixed bag for Williams bit a shaky head paired with “dark plastic.”

Williams also makes his first state team appearance. His previous best finish in an ABN event was fourth.

Completing the top 10 among boaters were Don Cox (Belgreen Bass Club, 14.43); Jonathan Harris (Coosa Valley Bassmasters, 14.12); Kyle Dorsett (Coosa Valley Anglers, 12.56); Russell (11.68); Bo Quinnie (Wiregrass Bassmasters, 11.34); Lee Hanvey (Lee County Bass Club, 11.28); and William Elston Jr. (Marathon Bassmasters, 11.22).

Harris also caught the Academy Sports + Outdoors Big Fish with a 6.60 largemouth. He said the fish hit a “tiny little crankbait.”

Finishing after Williams and White among co-anglers were Darren Oliver (Shotgun Sports Supply, 9.10); Chase Dorsett (Wiregrass Bassmasters, 8.74); Donald Henderson (Monroe County Bass Anglers, 8.18); and William McRee (Birmingham Bass Club, 8.00).

Following the Gossetts in the team competition were Hatcher and Chase Dorsett, Josh Oliver and Darren Oliver, Russell and Williams, Harris and Joseph Batton Coosa Valley Bassmasters), Andrew Vitu (Alexander City Bassmasters) and White, Cox and Donnie Davis (Belgreen Bass Club), and Jeff Corley (Birmingham Bass Club) and McRee. All of these teams have qualified for the team component of the ABN State Championship to be held on Lake Eufaula this fall. Top finishers from there fish the B.A.S.S. Nation Team Championship in December.

Gossett’s winning total also earned him money from Fishin’ For A Cure. ABN competitors pay $25 per tournament or $100 for the year to participate in F4AC with the money going to support Children’s of Birmingham. Through the years, the ABN has contributed over $300,000 to help fight childhood diseases at Children’s hospital.

The final prize won at the Logan Martin event went to Ricky Dale Smith (Shotgun Sports Supply), who won the $100.00 drawing from Academy and a $100 check from the ABN. The drawing will be a regular feature of the ABN tournaments this year. Anglers submit their Academy receipts at weigh-in, and a winner will be drawn at each event.

ABN president Eddie Plemons would like to thank the staff at Lincoln’s Landing, including facility manager Les Robinson, and the city of Lincoln for hosting the tournament. Other ABN sponsors for 2022 include Fish Life Fish Care Products, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Airport Marine, Office Partners, Halo Rods, Radicull Culling Devices, Davis Bait Co., George Paint and Body, Triton Boats, Mercury, Motor Guide, Lowrance, NetBait, Shell, Hammer Rods, Shelby County, StrikeZone Lure Co., Charlie’s BBQ, the Rod Glove, T-H Marine, Power-Pole, and Alabama Hosting.

The 2022 ABN season continues next month with a stop on Lake Eufaula. The final qualifier will be held at Pickwick in May. The state championship returns to Eufaula in October.

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 recent credits include articles in Alabama Outdoor News, Georgia Outdoor News, ACC Crappie Stix blog, CrappieNOW online magazine, and Great Days Outdoors.

More photos on Flickr coming soon!