This trip to Toledo Bend has been something else. The weather is a little concerning. It was so bad yesterday morning that it kept me off the water for a couple of hours. That doesn’t happen with me all that often. It seems like you never know what’s going to come next.
While we’re on the subject, let’s not forget about all the people who have suffered injury or death, as well as those who lost their homes, in the storms. Their world turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Our problems on the water are nothing compared to what they’re facing.
As far as I can remember, the weather over these past few years has been as bad, or worse, than any I can think of as far as violent storms and tornadoes are concerned. It makes you wonder about things.
I think all the wild weather we’ve been having recently has had an effect on the fishing, too. This is a crazy bite around here. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. There are fish shallow, deep, prespawn, postspawn and on the beds. Basically you can catch them anywhere you want and with almost any lure. That’ll make for an interesting, and exciting, tournament.
Is there a pattern? Sure. The pattern is no pattern.
That’ll probably mean there’ll be a lot of fish caught. Guys will be able to go with their strengths and fish the way they are the most comfortable, at least for the first day or two. We should see some pretty good sacks on Thursday and Friday.
Winning will be another matter, however. It’ll take more than a favorite technique. The angler who wins this one might very well fish several different spots and catch them in several different stages.
At this point I’m thinking it’ll be possible to fish a cut or backwater area and take one or two off the beds. But then a fellow might head off to a point and catch a few postspawn bass. After that? He might head towards the first or second break away from the bedding areas for a couple of heavy prespawn keepers.
I had some bites yesterday. I feel good right now, but not too good. It’s fishing, you know.
Today I’m out in deep water looking for something that will help as the tournament moves from one day to the next and the fish are a little harder to find, and even harder to make bite. I don’t want to get caught in a changing weather pattern that moves the fish around or in a situation where pressure on my spots has a negative impact on my bite and takes me out of contention.
OK, I need to get back to my practice. I have a lot of work to do before Thursday morning. With that said, however, let’s make sure we keep all the people who have suffered loss at the hands of the weather in our thoughts and prayers. That’s very important.
Chris Lane’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook or visit his website, www.chrislanefishing.com.