Coming up in Walmart BFL Competition
OutdoorHub 07.12.12
WHAT:
The 2012 Walmart BFL season continues with three tournaments on Saturday, July 21. The LBL division holds its fourth tournament of the season on Kentucky/Barkley Lake, the Okie division continues on the Arkansas River and the Shenandoah division competes on the James River. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing in each event for top awards up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively.
WHEN:
Saturday, July 21, 2012
WHERE:
LBL Division
Kentucky/Barkley Lakes
Kentucky Dam Marina
446 Marina Drive
Gilbertsville, Ky.
NOTES:
The bass bite on Kentucky and Barkley lakes remains very good even though lake levels are down about 1½ feet below normal summer pool. Anglers in this event will be targeting the ledges near many bays and deep creeks. However, recent reports say some nice largemouth are being found shallow near docks and cover. Shaky heads, crankbaits, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs are all expected to be tools of the trade for anglers in this event. The winning angler can expect to bring around 19 to 20 pounds to the scales.
WHERE:
Okie Division
Arkansas River
Three Forks Harbor
201 Three Forks Road
Muskogee, Okla.
NOTES:
Bass fishing on the Arkansas River is being reported as good right now. The fish have moved a little deeper because of the extreme heat and sun during the past few weeks but lots of good stringers are still being reported. Anglers can look deep, but shallow-water tactics such as spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater baits should still emerge as the dominant pattern. Tournament anglers are expected to lock to different pools, as all are currently producing. Eighteen to 20 pounds is being predicted as the winning weight for this event.
WHERE:
Shenandoah Division
James River
Osborne Landing
9680 Osborne Turnpike
Richmond, Va.
NOTES:
The fishing on the James River right now, like the temperature, is hot. The bite is being reported as better in the early morning or later evening, but bass are being caught all day long. The tide will definitely play a factor in this event, and the angler that can key on the right spots at the right times will win this tournament. Soft plastics, crankbaits and buzzbaits will all produce for anglers in this tournament. The winning weight for this event is expected to near 15 to 16 pounds.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWOutdoors.
