March 2027 — Big Bass Splash Tournament & Spring Turkey Season Opens

Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash at Goose Pond Colony

The Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash returns to Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro in late March, drawing thousands of amateur anglers to Lake Guntersville for one of the largest amateur bass tournaments in the country. The event awards major cash prizes for the biggest bass weighed in during hourly weigh-in windows, giving every angler a shot at a payout regardless of when they catch their fish.

Unlike traditional bass tournaments where only the top five weights cash a check, the Big Bass Splash format rewards the single heaviest bass in each hourly period across multiple days of competition. This means a recreational angler with one big bite can win thousands of dollars. The format attracts anglers of all skill levels, from weekend warriors to serious club fishermen, and the atmosphere at Goose Pond Colony during weigh-in is electric.

Lake Guntersville's reputation as a trophy largemouth bass fishery makes it the ideal venue for the Big Bass Splash. The late March timing coincides with the pre-spawn period, when the biggest female bass on the lake are feeding aggressively before committing to spawning flats. Five-pound-plus fish are common during the event, and double-digit bass are caught every year.

Big Bass Splash Tournament Details

• Hosted at Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro, Alabama — full-service marina with launch ramps
• Open to all amateur anglers — no professional fishing license or tour membership required
• Major cash prizes awarded for heaviest bass in each hourly weigh-in window
• Multi-day format with daily and overall prize categories
• On-site vendor village, food trucks, and family entertainment at weigh-in area

Spring Turkey Season Opens March 25

Alabama's spring gobbler season opens March 25 in Marshall County, and the wooded ridges and creek bottoms surrounding Lake Guntersville hold strong populations of Eastern wild turkeys. The opening week of turkey season often coincides with peak gobbling activity, as toms are vocal and actively seeking hens on warm late-March mornings.

Public land options in the area include portions of the Guntersville Reservoir Wildlife Management Area and nearby national forest tracts. Private land hunting is available through local outfitters and landowner agreements. The combination of a morning turkey hunt followed by an afternoon of bass fishing on the lake makes Marshall County a unique destination for sportsmen in late March and April.

Guntersville Getaway provides a comfortable base camp for hunters and anglers alike. The full kitchen makes it easy to prepare early-morning breakfasts before heading to the woods, and the private dock is ready for an afternoon fishing session when the morning hunt wraps up.

Late Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing Intensifies

March is when Lake Guntersville bass fishing shifts from a patient winter grind to aggressive pre-spawn action. Water temperatures push from the mid-50s into the low 60s through the month, and largemouth bass respond by moving from deep staging areas onto secondary points and toward the spawning flats in creek arms and protected bays. Bass in the 4 to 12 foot range are feeding heavily, building energy reserves before the spawn.

The hydrilla beds that define Guntersville's fishery begin their spring growth cycle in March, and bass relate to the emerging grass edges as they move shallow. Creek channels that wind through grass flats act as migration routes — target the points and bends where channels intersect with newly growing vegetation for the most consistent action.

What's Producing in March

• Lipless crankbaits (1/2 oz, red or shad patterns) ripped through emerging hydrilla on grass flats
• Jerkbaits (suspending, 3-5 ft depth) twitched on secondary points and channel bends in 6 to 10 feet
• Chatterbaits (3/8 oz white or green pumpkin) retrieved through sparse grass on warming afternoons
• Swim jigs worked along grass edges and through pockets in the vegetation line
• Square-bill crankbaits bounced off stumps and laydowns in shallow creek arms during warm spells
• Spinnerbaits (1/2 oz) slow-rolled on overcast days near spawning flat transitions

Crappie Transitioning Toward Spawning Areas

Crappie on Lake Guntersville begin their pre-spawn migration in March, moving from deep winter channels toward shallower brush piles, stake beds, and creek arms in 6 to 15 feet of water. As water temperatures cross the mid-50s, crappie become increasingly aggressive and willing to chase minnow presentations. Spider rigging with multiple poles covering different depths is highly effective during the transition, and the bite quality improves steadily through the month.

Wildflowers and Redbuds Along the Shoreline

March transforms the Lake Guntersville shoreline as redbuds burst into pink and purple blooms along the ridges and creek arms. Dogwoods follow in late March with their white blossoms, and early wildflowers carpet the forest floor and road shoulders throughout Marshall County. The contrast of blooming trees against the dark water and limestone bluffs makes March one of the most scenic months on the lake.

From the Guntersville Getaway deck and patio, guests enjoy a front-row view of the spring transformation. The wooded shoreline across the cove turns from winter gray to splashes of pink and white, and migrating songbirds return to the lake adding their calls to the morning chorus of cardinals, wrens, and woodpeckers.

Spring Break Family Trips

March is a popular month for spring break family trips to Lake Guntersville. The warming weather opens up outdoor activities — fishing from the dock, kayaking in the cove, hiking at Lake Guntersville State Park, and exploring Cathedral Caverns. The full kitchen and spacious layout at Guntersville Getaway accommodate families comfortably, and the private boathouse gives kids a safe, supervised place to fish and play on the water.