2026 Military Team Bass Tournament – Weiss Lake, Alabama
American Bass Anglers will hold the 2026 Military Team Bass Tournament May 16-23 on Weiss Lake. Weiss Lake is a Coosa River impoundment known for largemouth bass and aggressive Coosa River spotted bass. The lake features shallow grass beds, stump flats, docks, points, creek channels, submerged roadbeds, humps, and river ledges. In May, bass stage near spawning areas on shallow points and flats. Common patterns include Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits, shallow crankbaits, jerkbaits in shad patterns, flipping jigs or creature baits under docks, and Carolina rigs on channel edges.
Schedule
- Off-limits period: Midnight May 10 to safe light May 16.
- Official practice: May 16-20 until 3:00 PM CST.
- On-site registration and mandatory briefing/fellowship dinner: 3:00-5:00 PM and 5:30 PM on Wednesday, May 20 at FEMA Building, 215 Industrial Blvd, Leesburg, AL 35983.
- Competition days: May 21, 22, 23. Launch at safe light from Leesburg Landing, 100 Riverside Street, Leesburg, AL 35983. Weigh-in 3:00 PM on days 1-2, 2:00 PM on day 3.
Eligibility Open to active-duty military, retirees, National Guard, Reserve, DOD civilians/contractors, and veterans with a DD214 or Military ID. Two-angler teams. Both members must be current ABA members ($50 per angler; exemptions apply).
Entry and Fees $150 per team. Register at americanbassanglers.com. Optional $10 per day Big Bass pot (100% payback).
- 15-inch minimum for largemouth bass, 12-inch minimum for spotted bass (tournament limits; Alabama has no general size limit on Weiss Lake for black bass). Full ABA rules on the website. An Alabama fishing license is required for all anglers age 16+. $100,000 boat liability insurance is mandatory. Boater safety certificate if required by law. See Complete Rules
Weiss Lake offers structure-focused fishing: largemouth in grass and shallow wood, spotted bass on rocks, points, and ledges. Fish relate to cover such as stumps, docks, grass, submerged roadbeds, and current breaks where channels meet flats. May fishing targets post-spawn and staging fish with moving baits shallow or rigs on drops. The lake supports consistent bags in tournaments; recent events show 20+ pound limits common.
Hosted by Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. Contact ABA at (256) 232-0406 or info@americanbassanglers.com for updates.
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