U.S. Anglers Choice

NW Alabama Team Trail

Press Release

By Tommy Milstead

May23, 2004 – The fourth qualifying tournament was held on Wheeler Lake out of Riverwalk Marina in Decatur, AL. Thirty seven teams entered the tournament. The weather was overcast and breezy at blast off, clearing skies and south winds brought on temperatures into the high 80's by afternoon.

1 st Place: John Harriel and Howard McCutchen brought in the heaviest stringer with 5 fish weighing 18.87 lbs, including a nice 5 lb smallmouth. Black Blue homemade jigs and watermelon seed lizards in 4 foot water along the bend of a creek channel is where the team from Scottsboro found their fish. John and Howard won $1490.

2 nd Place: Lavoyed Lemmond and Jimmy Brakefield weighed in 5 fish for 18.08 lbs. Heavy spinnerbaits (1 ½ oz.) around the grass flats helped them win $780.

3 rd Place: Zack Lemmond and Ron Abercrombie came up one fish short. The team had 4 fish that weighed 15.65 lbs. Jigs, spinnerbaits, and worms in and around shallow bushes helped them win $605.

Rounding out the top 5 were Linous Jolly and Shannon Briggs in 4 th place with 5 fish weighing 13.84, topped off by the Big Bass of 6.87 lbs. Jolly and Briggs won a total of $760. 5 th place went to Ellis Taylor and Stanley Taylor with 5 fish for 13.56 lbs.

Ellis and Stanley maintained their lead in the Anglers of the Year. They now lead Tony Hayes and Daniel Moody by nearly 30 points.

2004 Southeast Team Championship

Anglers Choice national sponsors include: Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Outboards, Motorguide Trolling Motors, Pure Fishing, Hamby's, Lowrance, Keep Alive and Sure Life Labs, Competitive Edge, Bass West, and Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits.

NW Alabama team trail sponsors are Gray's Tackle Shop, Jim Bishop Big Six Autos, LB Lures, Listerhill Credit Union, Carter Oil Company, Woody's Lodge, Dale's Restaurant, George's Steak Pit, Goose Pond Tackle & Grill, and Mango Tackle.