This Week in Walmart BFL Competition
OutdoorHub 02.08.12
The 2012 Walmart BFL season continues with three tournaments on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Bama division opens its season on Lake Guntersville, the Bulldog division opens on Lake Lanier and the Gator division continues on Lake Okeechobee. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers in each event will be competing for top awards up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively.
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012
WHERE:
Bama Division
Lake Guntersville
Waterfront Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond
417 Ed Hembree Drive
Scottsboro, Ala.
Hosted by Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce
NOTES: Lake Guntersville is hot and enjoying one of the best winter bass patterns in recent memory. Recent reports have multiple 2- to 4-pound bass being caught, with a few over 6 pounds. Water temperature is holding steady right around 50 degrees. The grass is thicker than normal due to the unseasonable weather. Rattlebaits, swimbaits, and the Alabama rig should all be popular baits thrown during the tournament. Rain is being forecast for the days leading up to the tournament, which may muddy up the water and change the strategy of some anglers.
WHERE:
Bulldog Division
Lake Lanier
Laurel Park
3100 Old Cleveland Highway
Gainesville, Ga.
NOTES:
Lake Lanier is seeing slightly above-average temperatures for this time of year. Upper 50-degree and lower 60-degree days have been the norm, with the water temperature hovering around 50 to 53 degrees. According to recent reports, Lanier water levels are down a little over 8 feet. The largemouth bite is picking up, and is expected to improve as the weather continues to warm. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and jigs are all expected to be productive for anglers. Cloudy, overcast weather could push the bass deeper than normal.
WHERE:
Gator Division
Lake Okeechobee
C. Scott Driver Park
10100 West Highway. 78
Okeechobee, Fla.
NOTES:
The phenomenal bite on Lake Okeechobee has continued, and anglers can expect to catch a lot of fish. The “Big O” bite has been hot for a year now, and anglers are excited at the possibility of breaking some records. Topwater, swimbaits and Senko worms are expected to be the bait of choice for many anglers. As always, versatility will be one of the keys to victory on Okeechobee. Everyone will be catching fish, but the angler that can find the sweet spots will win this tournament.
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. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. 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/FLWFishing.
