Kayak Fishing in Alabama with Tournament Angler Jason Smitherman

I got into kayak bass fishing about five years ago. I’ve been fishing the Kayak Bass Fishing Trail for three seasons now and I compete all over the United States. But I’m here to talk specifically about the Alabama lakes.

Most of the lakes I compete on around the U.S. are challenging, but I’d have to say that some of the most challenging are located right here in Alabama. An angler can run into grass and largemouth bass in Guntersville or deep ledges and smallmouth bass in Wheeler Lake. Fishing these waters around the state will definitely push an angler to become proficient in all aspects of bass fishing.

I’ve competed professionally on Lake Guntersville (one of my favorite places) in four events in the past three years, each during different times of the year. My toughest trial is getting through the grass. It requires finesse drop-shot fishing and learning how to rip through grass while still reeling ’em in. I’m no expert at finesse fishing, so every time I come to Guntersville, I’m packing lipless cranks, chatter baits and swim baits. But, of course, there is the top water action: I’ve brought in some giants on top water in Guntersville.

The second lake I’ve had the chance to fish on professionally is Wheeler Lake, a smallmouth angler’s paradise. I predominantly focus my fishing on largemouth, so this lake is a fun change of pace due to lots of deep water and plenty of acreage to cover, which isn’t the easiest out of a kayak. I bring a large supply of deep-diving cranks and Texas rigged-style baits to this lake and try to keep everything small in size.

Lake Jordan is another place where I’ve fished professionally during the Kayak Bass Fishing Tournament. It has just about every type of structure you can think of, from docks to laydowns and creeks to ledges. When I hit this lake for a tournament I bring it all. I do a lot of pre-fishing to try my best to get a game plan in place since there is so much to fish here.

I also fish the Kayak Bass Fishing month-long Alabama state challenge events throughout the season. Kayak anglers compete across the state, and I can tell you this: There are some big ol’ fish brought in every month. I spend a lot of time on lakes in my local area, including Lay Lake, Lake Martin, and the Alabama River. Fishing these locales helps me prepare for my trail events throughout the season.

Kayak bass fishing has exploded throughout the U.S. and even overseas. It’s a whole different ball game when it comes to reeling in a 5- to 10-pound bass from a kayak. In my opinion, it takes a good angler to compete professionally and do well. There’s so much more involved when it comes to preparing for one of these trail events, including where to launch and learning the lake before an event. I’m very proud to be a part of the Kayak Bass Fishing organization and I love every minute of fishing out of a kayak.