DECATUR, Ala. — It was a big weekend in Decatur, Ala., as B.A.S.S. celebrated the sixth annual Skeeter Boats Bassmaster High School Combine and the first annual Alabama B.A.S.S. Fest. In addition to these events, Bassmaster youth anglers (16U) competed in the first annual 2026 Bassmaster Back to School Invitational on Wheeler Lake.
The anglers were faced with challenging conditions with high temperatures reaching the low 90s with very little wind. Despite the tough conditions, Parker Smith and Cooper Anderson of Scotts Hill Student Anglers took home the win with 14 pounds, 6 ounces.
With just two fish in the livewell at 10:30 AM, Smith and Anderson battled back in a big way to capture the win.
“At 10:30 our two fish in the box only went for about 4 pounds total, so we knew we had to change things up,” said Smith. “We kept our heads down because we knew our largemouth pattern was going to get better later in the day and thankfully it did.”
The duo from Tennessee kept it simple, fishing a variety of different depths with a one-two punch of a 5-inch Deps Sakamata Shad on a jighead and a 19 MM Urchin Style bait.
“We started out on some brushpiles in the 15- to 20-foot range, but as the day progressed, we figured out that the shallower brushpiles in the 6- to 9-foot range were holding the bigger fish,” Smith noted.
With their win, Smith and Anderson qualified to fish the 2027 Bassmaster High School Classic Exhibition in Greenville, S.C., which will be held in conjunction with the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
“It means a lot to get to qualify for this tournament,” said Anderson. “I got the opportunity to fish the event this year, and it was an awesome experience.”
For full coverage of all the events this weekend in Decatur, Ala., head to Bassmaster.com.
This event was hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism and the City of Decatur.