Coming up in Walmart BFL Competition: Advisory for Wednesday, May 1, 2013
OutdoorHub 05.01.13
WHAT: The 2013 Walmart BFL season continues with five tournaments on Saturday, May 11. The Arkie division holds its third event of the season on Greers Ferry Lake, the Buckeye division opens on Indian Lake, the Cowboy division holds its final event of the season on Toledo Bend, the LBL division continues on Lake Barkley and the South Carolina division takes off from Clarks Hill Lake. 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, May 11, 2013
WHERE: Arkie Division
Greers Ferry Lake
Dam Site Marina
319 Heber Springs N. Road
Heber Springs, Ark.
NOTES: The bass fishing bite is being reported as good right now on Greers Ferry Lake, which is also known across the country as a premier walleye fishery. Water temperatures are in the mid 50- to mid 60-degree range and steadily climbing. Water levels, however, are said to be falling. Bass are being caught as deep as 20 feet, but the better bite is reported as being shallow. Shallow-water success can be found by anglers who opt for spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and soft plastics. Anglers choosing to fish deep should choose jigs, Carolina rigs and drop-shot techniques. The winning angler can expect to bring 12 to 14 pounds to the scales.
WHERE: Buckeye Division
Indian Lake
Indian Lake State Park – Moundwood
12774 State Route 235 N.
Lakeview, Ohio
NOTES: Located in western Ohio, Indian Lake features an abundant population of largemouth bass. The bass bite has been reported as tough, but should improve by tournament time as the pre-spawn bass start to move up. Popular baits thrown in this event by tournament anglers will be spinnerbaits, jigs and crankbaits. Historically, anglers in past FLW tournaments have also found success flipping creature-style baits and tubes on the north end of the lake. Ten to 13 pounds is expected to be the winning weight in this tournament.
WHERE: Cowboy Division
Toledo Bend
San Miguel Park
381 San Miguel Road
Zwolle, La.
NOTES: The fish are biting on Toledo Bend Reservoir, located on the western border of central Louisiana. Water clarity is being reported as stained on the north end, slightly stained in the mid-lake area and very clear on the south end of the lake. Temperatures are holding steady in the upper 60-degree range. The bass at Toledo Bend should be in mostly postspawn patterns by tournament time, and normal summer tactics will be the strategy employed by many tournament anglers. Baits expected to produce for anglers in this event include Carolina- and Texas-rigged soft plastics, topwater baits, Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. The winning angler is expected to bring a stringer of 18 to 23 pounds to the scales.
WHERE: LBL Division
Lake Barkley
Kuttawa Harbor Marina
1709 Lake Barkley Drive
Kuttawa, Ky.
NOTES: The famed bass-fishing waters of Lake Barkley has been tough as of late, due to the TVA pulling water from the lakes to bring water levels down. Water temperatures are in the mid-60s, and most of the bass are being found in a late pre-spawn to spawning pattern. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and umbrella rigs are all expected to be big producers for tournament anglers in this event. Popular areas that will be fished include staging areas in the backs of bays and creeks and the back-water areas near New Johnsonville. Eighteen to 22 pounds is expected to be the winning weight in this event.
WHERE: South Carolina Division
Clarks Hill Lake
Dorn Fishing Facility
Off Highway 378 W.
McCormick, S.C.
NOTES: The bite on Clarks Hill Lake is being reported as good to very good right now. According to recent angler reports most of the bass have spawned and moved to deeper water, but a few stragglers may still be found on the beds. Water levels in the lake are reported as down a little over 6 feet, with water temperatures in the mid- to upper-60s and water clarity said to be stained. Bass are being reported as schooling on the main-lake points targeting the herring spawn. Tournament anglers will have no problems finding 3-pounders, but the winning angler will be the individual who finds the kicker fish. Popular baits thrown in this event will be swimbaits, shallow crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and the winning angler can expect to bring 17 to 19 pounds to the scales.
