Compare the scoreboard between yesterday and Day 2 and nearly one-half of the names are new. That is a prediction that is coming true at Lake Dardanelle. The reason?
“This lake, personality wise, has a mind all it’s own,” said Mark Davis, who is one of the new names in the Top 12. “It’s not known for being reliable or consistent.”
The Arkansan from nearby Mount Ida fished local tournaments here long before his B.A.S.S. career began in 1986. Then, and now, Dardanelle is at the bottom of his list of favored tournament sites.
“Dardanelle has always been my nemesis,” he admitted. “It’s a good lake but the fish are not virgins when it comes to seeing lures.”
Davis said the bass have a high IQ when it comes to fishing pressure. They are accustomed to seeing repetition in lures, tactics. Community holes are popular and so are tournaments.
“Back in the day it was typical for me to have a great practice and bad tournament,” he said. “Just like a lot of guys are finding out here, its good today and bad the next.”
Davis knows all too well. He hopes to erase some of the dislike for Dardanelle on Day 3.