Jackson's Noel captures fourth straight bass event

Brad Noel of Jackson won his fourth consecutive Bassbusters of Southeast Missouri Bass fishing tournament, capturing the event March 13 at Lake Wappappello.

Post-frontal conditions made fishing for these early pre-spawn bass challenging, but Noel had a solid finish in another tournament the day before.

Noel located bass in the upper end of the lake where it turns into a river run environment. The water was clear and cold at 47 degrees. Noel fished stumps located on the small flats along the old river channel adjacent to deeper water. The bass were holding on the stumps in less than 3 feet of water. His main tools for the weekend where a white Lil' Hustler spinnerbait which he slow rolled past the stumps. His follow-up bait was a white southern Pro Pitching Tube which he worked into the stump roots.

The weather was typical post-frontal with bluebird skies. The high was 45 degrees and slight winds blew from the north.