Before the tournament began, Wes Logan predicted it would take 55 pounds to win.
He was wrong. It took 57 pounds.
The Springville native landed 57 lbs. 9 oz. to land the blue trophy Monday at the 2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. He beat Paul Mueller, who was 1 lb. 6 oz. back in second place.
“I give it all I had,” Logan said at Monday’s weigh-in. “I’ve led some tournaments going to the last day but never been able to close it out. To do it here on this body of water as many hours I’ve spent here, it just makes this that more special, and to do it in front of all of these people it’s even more special. The good Lord blessed me.”
The tournament wrapped up Monday afternoon with weigh-in at the Gadsden City Boat Docks. The four-day tournament was originally scheduled to end Sunday but heavy rains last week forced tournament officials to delay the start of the tournament by one day.
“I had a great week,” Mueller said after his weigh-in. “Just to be able to do that under tough conditions I was happy with it.”
Mueller did catch the biggest fish of the tournament, hooking a 6 lb. 6 oz. bass Monday morning.
“That fish was a game changer,” Mueller said. “We had a mud puddle with moving water and look at the weights.”
Fan favorite and Guntersville native Gerald Swindle ended the tournament in third place, more than three pounds back from Logan. Swindle said despite coming up short he had fun.
“It’s been a great week,” Swindle said. “I enjoyed all of the changes in the water and I was blessed to get a few key bites. I got this place dialed in. It was really good to be in Gadsden.”
The tournament was the first Bassmaster Elite series tournament to ever be held on Neely Henry Lake and the second of three Elite events scheduled in Alabama during the 2021 season. Anglers in the Elite series will compete May 20-23 at Lake Guntersville for the 2021 Berkley Bassmaster Elite. To learn more, visit bassmaster.com.
Final Standings – 2021 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake
1. Wes Logan (Springville, AL) – 57 lbs. 9 oz.
2. Paul Mueller (Naugatuck, CT) – 56 lbs. 3 oz.
3. Gerald Swindle (Guntersville, AL) – 54 lbs. 2 oz.
4. Jason Christie (Park Hill, OK) – 52 lbs. 13 oz.
5. Matt Arey (Shelby, NC) – 52 lbs. 1 oz.
6. Bryan New (Belmont, NC) – 50 lbs. 2 oz.
7. Bob Downey (Hudson, WI) – 49 lbs. 10 oz.
8. Brock Mosley (Collinsville, MS) – 47 lbs. 7 oz.
9. Austin Felix (Eden Prairie, MN) – 46 lbs. 4 oz.
10. Todd Auten (Lake Wylie, SC) – 42 lbs. 11 oz.
(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)
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