Photo by Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.
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DECATUR, Ala. — Fueled by optimism and driven by potentially career-changing rewards, anglers competing in the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops will, no doubt, do so with high hopes.
Ask Will Davis Jr. and he’ll point to a version of that premise as a key success component.
Competition days will be October 2-4 with daily takeoffs from Ingalls Harbor at 7 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day back at the harbor at 3 p.m.
As to Davis’ advice, the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Sylacauga, Ala., expects the heralded Decatur Flats to play the same prominent role they play in most major events on this Tennessee River reservoir. Stretching roughly from the Interstate 65 bridge downriver to the Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, this vast shallow-water swath presents a labyrinth of drains, ditches, shellbars and other current breaks, all sitting fairly close to the main-river channel.
The only downside is that this area’s reputation for productivity is no secret, so fishing pressure is assumed. As Davis explained, the requisite strategy goes right to the heart of the matter.
“October anywhere in the South can be very challenging,” Davis said. “The fish have been pressured all year, they get keyed in on little-bitty baitfish and they’re already educated.
“The key to that place is finding a special high spot, where they can catch them on a (topwater) early.”
Davis noted that the early morning hours typically find shad dimpling over various bottom rises where they’re easy targets for bass. Within a couple hours of daybreak, the baitfish will bunch up and hold closer to those high spots.
Davis suggests flipping these areas with a Texas-rigged black and blue beaver-style bait. Other options include jerkbaits, crankbaits, swim jigs, shaky heads and drop shots.
Proximity to the river channel enhances the Decatur Flats’ appeal, in terms of access and current washing. The latter, Davis notes, may not factor as prominently for this event.
“We haven’t had a lot of rain, so there’s not a lot of current,” he said. “The water is pretty clear (due to the lack of inflow), but it’s stained in some areas because there’s not a lot of grass on the Decatur Flats.
“The water temperature is 75 to 80 degrees, depending on where you’re at and how deep you are.”
That’s still pretty warm, but shortening daylight periods and longer nights signal a seasonal shifting. Winter’s leanness means minimal feeding, so the tournament will find most of the fish ready to eat. The smaller threadfin shad and tiny minnows fill a lot of bellies this time of year, but super-sized meals are also available.
“If you can find those gizzard-shad eaters, you can get right in a hurry,” Davis said. “The gizzards like to run more on points just like (blueback) herring lakes. They run in packs, but when a big gizzard branches off, they get eaten. I’d throw swimbaits like the Spro KGB for the gizzard eaters.”
About 60 river miles separate Guntersville and Wheeler dams, but Davis believes the winning fish will come from somewhere between the Decatur Flats and First Creek, downriver from Browns Ferry. This section includes the Elk River, Wheeler’s major tributary, where spinnerbaits and flipping efforts could produce kicker bites.
Beyond his predicted zone, Davis said the tournament could see intrepid types running up to the Guntersville Dam tailrace. At the top end of Wheeler Lake, this zone of turbulent water creates a prime feeding scenario for largemouth and smallmouth.
Addressing the risky proposition, Davis said: “It’s a long run and you might have a good day or two with topwaters and swimbaits, but I don’t think you can do it three days in a row.”
The Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series comprises three events — also including the series opener at Upstate New York’s Lake Champlain(Sept. 18-20) and the finale at Florida’s renowned Lake Okeechobee (Nov. 13-15). The field largely comprises top performers from the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, along with Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series anglers seeking to requalify.
After four events each, Opens Divisions 1 and 2 determined their Top 50 points finishers, who are competing alongside Elite Series pros and the Top 3 finishers from the 2024 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance. Divisional points are zeroed, and the Top 10 in the EQ points standings after the final event will receive invitations to fish the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
Along with a cash prize, each EQ winner receives an invitation to fish the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armor, March 13-15 at the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn. Notably, if an EQ winner is already qualified for the Classic through the Elite Series’ Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points standings, the Classic invitation will go to the highest-ranking Elite angler outside the cut.
The first EQ at Lake Champlain saw this exact occurrence, as first-year Elite Series pro Emil Wagner notched his first Bassmaster victory. This moved Elite veteran John Crews into the 2026 Classic field.
Given the seasonal scenario, Davis offered this prediction: “To make the (Day 3) cut, I think it’s going to take 16 pounds a day and probably a three-day total of 50 to 54 (pounds) to win. You can be consistent, but I think a guy is going to need two good ones — 4 1/2 to 5 pounds — a day.”
Coverage of the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops can be found on Bassmaster.com each day. Live coverage of Championship Saturday will be streamed on Bassmaster.com as well as the Roku Sports Channel from 7-10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. -2 p.m.
This event is being hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Title Sponsor: Nitro Boats
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Nitro Boats Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.