Lake Eufaula from the sky

To get the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series season kicked back off in style, Lake Eufaula, along the Alabama/Georgia border, will serve as the first stop following a two-month break during the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament will be June 10-13. Alabama native Matt Herren has a very long history with the lake, and he acted as our tour guide.

This gallery was shot in the early spring, so you’ll notice many of the trees are still bare, and the water seems extra muddy. Keep in mind, though, the Chattahoochee River impoundment is usually pretty muddy in general.

Here’s the view outside Lakepoint State Park near the northern end of the lake.

Here’s a look back into Cowikee Creek, beyond where the state park is located.

This is the opposite view moving back towards the main lake. Take a left, and you’re in the Chattahoochee River, take a right and it’s all Lake Eufaula for miles.

Interestingly, Lake Eufaula is actually a nickname that has stood the test of time, the lake’s actual name is Walter F. George Reservoir. Lake Eufaula falls off the tongue much better.

This is a view back into Cowikee Creek from the main lake.

This is a marsh along the main point. To the left is the main lake, to the right is Cowikee, but you can see how a marsh cleans water. Pretty neat view.

This is looking down the lake towards the Alabama town of Eufaula.

And that’s the river to the north.

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Eufaula has many different types of structure and is known as a tremendous ledge-fishing lake during late spring into the summer months, but there is also a ton of marshy grass and mats to fish. Bass love both locations during that time of year. The $100,000 question is, which will produce bigger bags during the event?

Moving south on the lake, here’s a view looking towards the town of Eufaula.

This is back up the lake from where we came.

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This is looking south towards the dam, which is way out there yet. But this is a familiar location to those who know the lake. Expect there to be lots of productive fishing along this riprap, especially in the mornings.

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Down the lake even farther is another creek on the Alabama side.

While the water still appears muddy, this is much better than it was up near the state park.

This view is from the Alabama side, that’s Georgia across the lake in the distance.

It was a wet spring in the Deep South, you can see residual puddling in the fields.

Lots of boat docks will be a player in this event, too.

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Points, secondary points, creek arms, more docks …

… Bridges, riprap, current breaks. This place is very diverse.

Down the lake even farther, the dam may be at the end of this view.

Here’s the dam, generating substantial water during this photo shoot.

Even at the southern end, the water is still pretty muddy. However, this is closer to normal.

An impressive view of the dam.

Down the Chattahoochee River. The next stop is Lake Seminole.

Moving around the lake some more, here’s a muddy creek arm. Even with the mud, it still looks juicy.

Bet there are some bigs that live back in there …

… For sure.

Another creek arm not too far from the dam. This view is looking up the lake towards the city of Eufaula.

You can see the dam in the background of this shot.

Here’s an interesting look at some likely productive water.

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Big points with scattered stumps, brush and rocks will play a role at this event. But the classic red clay banks make obvious the location of this big southern reservoir.

Another look at the dam from a different angle.

And finally, this is the famed Humminbird point. That is the Humminbird manufacturing facility, based out of Eufaula, Ala.