SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Call it bass fishing’s version of “curb appeal,” the condition of a lake’s grass plays a big role in determining its value and that’s precisely the formula awaiting anglers in the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville.
Competition days will be February 5-8 with daily takeoffs from Goose Pond Colony Resort at 7 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day at the same location at 3 p.m.
Speaking two weeks prior to the tournament, local guide and Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender pro Laker Howell said he’s optimistic about what the season-opener will offer. He couched that sentiment with a thought of how near-term weather patterns might affect the vast acreage of healthy eel grass carpeting much of Guntersville.
A major winter storm moved through the region in late January and brought significant temperature declines. The level of impact Guntersville sustains will play a big role in how the tournament unfolds.
“I think the No. 1 thing you’re gonna really have to pay attention to will be the effects of the cold front,” Howell said. “Normally, a cold front wouldn’t matter on Guntersville, but I’ll want to know what happens to the grass.
“The whole condition of the lake is phenomenal. I’ve been guiding just about every day since New Years and the clarity is flawless. I haven’t seen the grass fishing this fun in a long time.”
Submersed aquatic vegetation always factors into the late-winter picture, as fish start transitioning from deeper cold-season haunts to progressively shallower prespawn staging areas. Fitting the fish’s needs, grass offers concealment, feeding opportunities and some degree of heat retention.
If the Guntersville grass remains as healthy as it was before the recent weather event, Howell expects tremendous fishing action. Any declines won’t necessarily stymie that potential; it will simply limit some of the shallower grass opportunities.
“I really think the guys are gonna whack ’em,” Howell predicts. “The only thing that might hinder them a little bit is if that water temp gets below 44 degrees. The water had been around 52 before the front and it had been warming up, so if it tanks, it’s gonna get really weird on the lake.”
Referencing a similar scenario a dozen years ago, Howell said extreme temperatures would likely halt the seasonal progression and turn this into more of an offshore event. That would present a challenging scenario, as this tournament is one of four on the 2026 schedule that will not allow the use of forward facing sonar (often colloquially called ’Scope, for Garmin’s LiveScope).
“If it drops below 42, I think we would see conditions similar to the 2014 Classic on Guntersville when it got so cold,” Howell said. “A lot of the guys struggled just because of how cold the water was.
“Right now, all those big females are moving into the grass humps in 3-6 feet and it’s getting really easy to catch a big bag. If that water temp tanks, it could send those fish back out to the floating stage where they’re out there chasing bait balls. That would be harder with no ’Scope.”
An offshore event would likely see a mix of jerkbaits, swimbaits, jighead minnows and possibly some topwater action for isolated schooling opportunities. If the cold weather brings minimal impact and anglers find the grass game in full swing, the event will see a lot of lipless baits, bladed jigs and spinnerbaits.
Notably, Howell’s father, Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Randy Howell won the 2014 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville. During that late-February event, a significant warming trend ushered a group of fish onto the Spring Creek Bridge riprap, where Howell sacked up a Day 3 limit of 29-2 and made a big move from 11th place to win the sport’s most prestigious award.
The younger Howell said that, while a similar occurrence is not out of the question, he’s anticipating more of a winter grass event. It’s entirely possible, however, to find a couple of the Top 10 finishers doing, at least, some of their work around bridges.
As Howell points out, Guntersville’s entirety will be in play. Along with the grass, docks, riprap and bluffs could also produce. The one consistent requirement, though, will be intentionality.
“It’s pretty rare to see a guy do well off random fish on Guntersville,” Howell said. “The guy that does well will have to find a couple of zones with big fish.”
Sizing up the leaderboard potential, Howell said he’s looking for an average of at least 24 pounds a day to win. If the water temperature falls into the low 40s, he’d back that down to 22. In any scenario, he believes Guntersville will offer plenty of widely distributed opportunity.
“There are big fish top to bottom,” Howell said. “I guide from the north bridge to the dam and it doesn’t matter what zone you’re in if you’re in the right habitat. The lake is just so healthy.”
Live coverage of the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville will be available on Bassmaster.com and Roku Thursday and Friday beginning at 8 a.m. ET and running until 3 p.m. Coverage on Saturday will be available on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Championship Sunday coverage can be found on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with afternoon action to follow on Bassmaster.com.
This event is being hosted by Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
2026BassmasterEliteSeries Title Sponsor: Progressive
2026BassmasterEliteSeries Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026BassmasterEliteSeries Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Mountain Dew, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026BassmasterEliteSeries Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew’s, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama
