FIRST WEEK OF MADNESS OF MARCH 2026

It is all about location right now on Lake Guntersville.

If you are not in the right place, it can turn into a struggle bus effect in a hurry.

The fish are doing something we typically do not see this consistently around this time of year. We have experienced pieces of it over the years, but not with this kind of solid pattern.

We believe the moon played a major role in it. It was a very strong moon, and it clearly affected the way these fish fed. Around the full moon, we saw short feeding windows at times. Away from it, the numbers were incredible, including 100-plus bass days.

And mixed into those numbers are some really big ones.

Capt. Scott and Capt. Phillip have been the real all-stars this week. Both of these guys have had this bite dialed in to a T.

WHY GUNTERSVILLE STILL STANDS ALONE

Lake Guntersville has seen immense pressure over the last several weeks.

This lake has so much attention on it right now it feels national, if not worldwide. Tournament after tournament, heavy local pressure, traveling anglers, and a whole lot of eyes watching what this place is doing.

And through all of that, the fish keep showing up. They keep reminding everybody why this is still the best bass lake in the country.

The lake is healthy. The fish look healthy. The grass is still a major factor. We are seeing floating grass, which happens, but there is still plenty of vegetation throughout the system. When you find the right hydrilla, it is usually really good.

As much as loose eelgrass can be aggravating after it gets ripped loose off the bottom, it has also helped make this place the fish factory that it is. The combination of vegetation, bait, and big-fish habitat is still very much in play.

We have seen 2 national tournaments, a regional event, and local tournaments stacked right on top of this warm-up, and the weights keep proving the same thing over and over.

This lake is awesome.

But the scary part is this:

It still has not shown its best hand yet.

We are entering that 3 to 5 week window where personal bests and true double-digit bass can happen. We are in that zone right now.

If you have ever wanted a legitimate chance at doing it here, this is the short window that matters.

CAPT. SCOTT STAYED DIALED IN

Capt. Scott has been catching really well this week, both in numbers and in size.

He has been one of the guys most dialed in on this bite, and it has showed in a big way. Large numbers of bass, quality mixed in, and the kind of consistency that only happens when someone is making the right moves all day.

He also mixed in a great crappie trip, then turned right around and handled a tournament prep trip for us. No pictures were taken on that one, and we sure wish there had been, because it was the kind of trip that deserved them.

Scott has had a tremendous week on the water, and he has absolutely been one of the standouts of this first Madness of March stretch.

CAPT. PHILLIP DID WHAT CAPT. PHILLIP DOES

Capt. Phillip has had a tremendous week on Lake Guntersville.

He has been one of the top performers of the week, and the fish below tell the story better than anything else needs to.

AFTER THE WARM-UP

After a week of very warm temperatures, plus that strong moon, the deeper core temperature of the lake is slowly rising.

What we are seeing now is a trickle effect of bass entering pre-spawn, and that should only amplify as the days keep getting longer and the temperatures stay steady.

We also had some rain over the weekend, and looking ahead, we should see some stained and colored water in places. That can be a very good thing right now. The lake has been very clear in a lot of areas because of all the vegetation, and a little stain can go a long way this time of year.

If the weather guessers are right and more rain shows up through the week, that could continue helping certain stretches of the lake set up even better.

PRO TIP RIGHT NOW

Keep an open mind.

What was once good may not be good again 2 or 3 days later.

And what looked bad on one pass may be loaded the next time you check it.

There is a lot of movement going on right now. These fish are not sitting still. It could be weather. It could be fishing pressure. It could be seasonal progression. But one thing is certain — they are moving.

We have seen a lot of examples of checking something that was good just days before only to pull up and find a ghost town.

That is why you cannot get lazy right now. You cannot be afraid to pack up, make a move, and try something different.

You can be rewarded in a big way if you find where they have repositioned, or you can keep getting dealt the same hand if you stay locked into yesterday’s water.

WHAT WE EXPECT NEXT

The first week of Madness of March has already shown enough to know this deal is building.

The numbers have been there. The size has been there. The short feeding windows around the moon have shown themselves. And away from that, the lake has kicked out some truly impressive days.

Now the question becomes how fast the next wave keeps joining in.

If temperatures stay stable and conditions continue to line up, this should only keep amplifying from here.

We are in the zone right now.