Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/510660
8 Shor e l i n e S | 2014 Vol :4 Flack said therehave been some major changes in the techniques needed to catch bass through the years at Smith Lake, and understanding those changes was the key to their win. "We put a big red circle on the date for this tournament," Flack said. "When we heard that the ABT championship was going to be on Smith Lake, we knew we'd have a chance." He said the top three teams in the tournament all fished the same area and used the same pattern. "Somebody put blueback herring in the lake five or six years ago, and that changed everything," he said. "This used to be a brush-pile lake, and we have put hundreds of those out. Now, you just pinpoint the blueback herring schools. It's an open-water fishery now. "We caught most of our fish on topwater with Zara Spooks and Sammys. You locate those schools of baitfish and throw a topwater lure over them, and they'll come up and get it. The spots were coming up out of 15 to 20 feet of water to hit. We saw every fish that we caught." Daniel said he and his partner were on pins and needles all season hoping to qualify for the championship because they knew that Smith Lake in October was their strength. "We were champing at the bit all year," Daniel said. "It worked out real well for us." The pair said they knew they had hit on the right game plan in the tournament when they caught 25 bass over the 13- to 15-inch slot limit on the first day. A total of 112 teams took part in the ABT state championship. The Above: Graphic courtesy of alaBama Bass tr ail — The Alabama Bass Trail includes seven Alabama Power lakes.