The 2026 tour season officially kicks off January 14th with the first Bass Pro Tour event at Lake Guntersville, and there couldn’t be a better place to start the year. Lake Guntersville is one of my all-time favorite fisheries, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a major tournament here this early in the season.
With winter conditions, cold water, clear visibility, and grass everywhere, this event is setting up to be a fascinating mix of technology-driven fishing and old-school power techniques. Let’s break down exactly what’s happening on Lake Guntersville and what anglers—and everyday fishermen—should be watching for.
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Why Lake Guntersville Is Fishing So Well Right Now
Lake Guntersville is currently on an excellent cycle. The bass population is healthy, the numbers are high, and tournament weights were strong throughout last season. The biggest reason for that success? Grass.
Unlike many reservoirs on the Tennessee River chain, Guntersville doesn’t experience dramatic water level fluctuations. That stability allows aquatic vegetation to thrive, creating year-round habitat for bass and forage.
Over the years, the lake’s grass composition has evolved:
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Early years: Milfoil
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Later additions: Hydrilla
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Recent seasons: Eel grass
Today, Guntersville features a diverse mix of all three. That vegetation provides:
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Excellent spawning habitat
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Cleaner water through natural filtration
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Strong populations of shad, bluegill, crappie, and bass
Simply put, the grass has made Guntersville one of the most fertile fisheries in the country.
Current Conditions: Cold, Clear, and Prime for Reaction Baits
Leading up to the tournament, winter conditions have been relatively mild:
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Water temperatures: Low 50s
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Water clarity: Exceptionally clear
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Weather: Minimal rain, limited cold muddy inflow
With grass still largely intact and not fully died back, the lake is clearer than usual for January. These conditions heavily influence bait selection and overall strategy.
Cold, clear water means bass:
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Group tightly
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Follow roaming schools of shad
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Feed aggressively during short windows—especially early in the day
Forward-Facing Sonar: A Game-Changer in the Bass Pro Tour Format
In the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, anglers are allowed to use forward-facing sonar (FFS) for one designated period each day.
Because of the cold morning temperatures—around 24°F at launch—many anglers will choose to use FFS during the first period, when bass are most active.
What anglers are looking for:
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Shad suspended high in the water column
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Wolf packs of bass shadowing bait balls
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Open water areas in creeks and river sections
This is where minnow-style baits will absolutely dominate.
Key Forward-Facing Sonar Baits at Lake Guntersville
When FFS is on, expect to see:
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Small and large minnow baits
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Lightweight jigheads
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Slow, controlled presentations
Bass are feeding on multiple forage sizes, including:
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Threadfin shad
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Larger shad
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Gizzard shad
A pinged minnow worked slowly through suspended bait schools will be one of the most productive techniques during that sonar period.
Life Without Sonar: Old-School Power Fishing Takes Over
Once forward-facing sonar is turned off, anglers must rely on location, timing, and reaction baits. With vast grass flats, riprap, bridges, and causeways, Guntersville sets up perfectly for power fishing—even in winter.
Challenges anglers face:
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Floating eel grass fouling moving baits
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Clear water making bass more selective
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Cold overnight temperatures slowing fish metabolism
Despite that, several bait categories will shine.
Winter Jerkbaits: A Clear-Water Weapon
A jerkbait will be one of the most important tools in this event.
Why jerkbaits work at Guntersville:
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Extremely effective in clear water
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Stay in the strike zone for long periods
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Cover grass edges, riprap, bridge pilings, and shallow bars
The classic start-and-stop retrieve is deadly in winter. Long pauses allow bass to commit, especially when water temperatures hover in the low 50s.
Lipless Crankbaits and Shallow Cranking Dominate
Lake Guntersville is legendary for its Red Eye Shad bite in winter and early pre-spawn.
Key factors:
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Vast shallow flats
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River bars where bass get extremely shallow
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Cold water reaction strikes
Expect to see:
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1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, 3/4 oz lipless crankbaits
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Flat-sided crankbaits like the Strike King Chick Magnet and Hardliner
In cold water, flat-sided baits outperform round-bodied cranks due to:
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Tighter vibration
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Subtle pressure waves
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Increased triggering strikes
Bladed Jigs: A Big Fish Producer in Grass
With both submerged and floating grass present, a bladed jig is unavoidable.
The Thunder Cricket will be a major player because:
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It clears grass exceptionally well
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Maintains depth control
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Produces quality bites
In formats where every fish counts, a single six-pound bass can outweigh multiple smaller fish—making big-bite lures critical.
Bass Pro Tour vs. Bassmaster Elite Series Strategy
The upcoming Bassmaster Elite Series event at Guntersville will look different:
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No forward-facing sonar allowed
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Five-fish limits instead of every-fish-counts
Expect anglers to:
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Upsize swimbaits
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Throw larger minnows
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Incorporate glide baits targeting gizzard shad
Different formats demand different strategies, even on the same body of water.
Understanding Location on Lake Guntersville
Guntersville offers multiple “lakes within a lake”:
Lower End
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Rocks
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Bluffs
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Bridges
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Grass flats
Mid-Lake
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River ledges
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Miles of healthy grass
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Consistent producer year after year
Upper End
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Shallow creeks
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Lily pads
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Less pressure
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Strong Elite Series potential
This diversity helps spread anglers out and keeps multiple patterns in play.
What Anglers Can Learn From This Event
With modern live coverage, fans can watch:
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How anglers work jerkbaits
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How long they pause
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How they rip lipless crankbaits from grass
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How bass react on the fall
One key takeaway: lipless crankbaits are all about the fall. Ripping the bait free and letting it shimmy back down triggers strikes more than simply reeling it in.
Final Thoughts: A Perfect Start to the Season
Lake Guntersville in January delivers:
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Clear water
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Healthy grass
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Big bass potential
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Multiple winning patterns
Whether you’re watching the Bass Pro Tour or planning your own spring fishing trips, the techniques used here—jerkbaits, lipless cranks, bladed jigs, and minnow baits—will translate anywhere bass relate to grass and baitfish in cold water.
This is going to be a fun event to watch—and an even better one to learn from.
