𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐃𝐀 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA) hosted a roundtable broadcast with Doug Amos on Thursday at the Hampton Inn in Wetumpka, discussing the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) Tournament set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Lake Jordan.

The bass tournament is the largest in the state, drawing 225 boaters and 450 anglers from all over the country to compete for a total purse of $64,500.

ABT Director Kay Donaldson said Elmore County continues to earn its place on the tournament schedule through strong community support.

“This is our 13th season,” said Donaldson. “When you have people that roll out the red carpet and truly value what you do, and then the welcoming we get from the people around the lake makes it easy to come back.”

Interest in the event reflects that reputation. Donaldson said the division sold out in less than seven minutes. Approximately 50 teams from nine different states will be participating in their first ABT tournament, and waiting lists remain strong, with 73 teams on the Northern Division list and 66 on the Southern Division list.

Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Trip Weldon said those numbers translate directly into local economic activity.

“All those guys have to stay somewhere, grab fuel, and something to eat,” said Weldon. “They are all over Elmore County from Wetumpka to Lake Jordan.”

Beyond the anglers themselves, many competitors travel with family members, co-anglers, and support crews, multiplying the impact throughout the weekend.

“In this area, we estimate that the economic impact will be somewhere between $500,000 and $650,000 over the three days that we track,” said Donaldson.

Amos credited that success to long-term partnerships and strategic investment from local leaders.

“You can’t really get to the level you want your event to be at without ECEDA and people like that around that are willing to invest,” said Amos. “They know that it’s great for their community and their counties, and that’s what it is all about.”​​​