Newcomers dominate ABN qualifier on Martin
By Greg McCain

Two relative newcomers came away with the wins on Lake Martin Saturday (Feb. 8) in the first Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation (ABN) qualifying event of the year.

Stihl Smith, fishing his second ABN event, claimed the overall title, besting a large contingent of 118 boaters. In the co-angler division, Jonathan Watson took the top prize in his first ABN tournament and also caught the Academy Sports + Outdoors Big Fish, a 6.39 largemouth.

The event was held out of Wind Creek State Park. See more pictures from the weigh-in at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC26kg.

Winning on Martin for the second consecutive weekend, Smith (Alex City Bassmasters) beat out Robbie Pritchard (Lake Tuscaloosa Bassmasters) for first place. Smith, who won a BFL title the previous weekend, weighed a tournament-best 13.54 limit. Pritchard was just behind with 13.27. Jeff Kitchens (Wiregrass Bassmasters) finished third with 12.78.

“After last week, my hopes were high,” Smith said. “I didn’t know if my fish would stay where I left them, but I kind of had an idea of where they would go. So I had high expectations for today. I figured we could catch a few. I just didn’t know if the big ones would still be there.”

Smith, who fishes for Central Alabama Community College, said the numbers were good early with the bigger fish biting better later in the day when the sun came out. He said he caught most of his fish “around mid-lake.”

“It was really fun early,” he said. “We caught a lot of numbers but not many big ones. I was using LiveScope, hanging around and throwing at fish that I saw. As the sun came up, we went a little shallower and started fishing for cruisers. That was really it. We stayed around boat docks, laydowns, and stuff like that.”

A key for Smith was his bait of choice. He caught four of his five-fish limit on a jig, a different type of lure than the minnow imitators used by most LiveScopers.

“It’s definitely different than minnow LiveScope fishing, but there are some people out there doing it,” Smith said. “Ninety percent of (the bass) have seen a minnow by now. I throw it out there and let it sink down. If they chase it down, most of them bite it, sometimes on the fall.”

He paired the “light jig,” which is made locally, with a twin-tail trailer. Smith’s fifth keeper bit a jerkbait. His biggest fish was a 3.20 spotted bass.

“It was an awesome day,” he said, “on my bucket list really. Any win is good but especially a B.A.S.S. win.”

Like Smith, Watson made the most of his first opportunity at fishing an ABN tournament. Paired with Charles Nowling, also of the Birmingham Bass Club, Watson caught an early limit on a bladed jig, mainly fishing around shallow docks.

“We made a long run,” Watson said, “probably 35 minutes down past Kowaliga (Creek). We fished the same two spots all day except once to check a spot on the main river.”

Early in the afternoon, Nowling and Watson, both from Andalusia, returned to one of their creek spots, and the big fish hit. A good largemouth is usually a key to winning on Martin, but a fish over six lbs. is rare.

“As soon as I set the hook, I could tell she was a big one,” Watson said. “When a big fish on Martin is 3½ lbs., I knew this was a really good one.”

With two solid fish over two lbs. already in the livewell, the six-pounder boosted Watson to a decisive win. His three-fish limit weighed 10.57.

Rounding out the top 10 in the boater division were Joey Aderhold (11.82, Birmingham Bass Club); Carson Maddux (11.67, Wiregrass Bassmasters); Lucas Lindsey (11.51, Auburn Anglers); Grant Williamson (11.02, Wiregrass Bassmasters); Brandon Pritchard (10.94, Alex City Bassmasters); Jason Kilpatrick (10.74, Wiregrass Bassmasters); and Joe Lay (10.60, Lake Tuscaloosa Bassmasters).

Following Watson in the co-angler division were Wallace Williams (6.87, Birmingham Bass Club); Barrett Choquette (6.82, Headland Bass Team); Chad Macks (6.35, LA PO Boys); Jason Cherry (6.21, Lee County Bass Club); Jacob George (5.92, Birmingham Bass Club); Donny Davis (5.83, Belgreen Bass Club); Chris Marler (5.80, Shotgun Sports Supply); Will Delaney 5.79, Wiregrass Bassmasters); and Jimmy Inman (5.64, Wiregrass Bassmasters).

Watson finished off a trifecta by teaming with Nowling for the team title. The boater and co-angler in each boat are eligible to compete in the team competition, and top finishers in each ABN event earn spots in the team component of the state championship in the fall. The teams of Robbie Pritchard-Lynn Pritchard (18.09); Payton Goggins-Adam Ashworth (16.03); Hudson Choquette-Barrett Choquette (15.78); and Don Cox-Donny Davis (15.72) completed the top five.

Other winners at Martin included:

• Robbie Pritchard, AmFirst BassCash and Nitro Boat bonuses
• Wallace Williams, Airport Marine Fishin’ 4 a Cure bonus
• Thad Spates, Academy Sport + Outdoors receipt drawing

President Eddie Plemons thanks all the sponsors who support the ABN schedule. In addition to Academy and Airport Marine, they include Fish Life Fish Care Products, Impulse Lithium batteries, AmFirst BassCash, Office Partners, 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 March 22 on Lake Eufaula. Other qualifying stops include Neely Henry (April) and Wheeler (June). The season concludes with the two-day state championship on Eufaula in early November.

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.