It was 90 degrees with a heat index of 100 during the Day 1 weigh-in of the DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula. And the bass fishing was just as hot. Topped by Bill Lowen’s 23-pound, 4-ounce limit, 15 anglers broke the 20-pound mark. And 83 of the 86 competitors caught a five-bass limit.
Everyone agreed the fishing at Lake Eufaula would have been better in early April, when this tournament was originally scheduled. But it was awfully good in the second week of June. Lowen, as is his style, proved there were plenty of fish shallow.
“Most of my bites are coming in two to four feet,” Lowen said. “I’m catching them on a really big jig. After that post spawn, fish bite big baits.”
As is more typical for this lake when the water surface temperature gets into the 80s, there were lots of fish caught on brushpiles and ledges at depths up to 25 feet. The prevailing theory after practice was that, yes, there were still plenty of shallow bass, but a four-day tournament couldn’t be won shallow. Bill Lowen is going to test that theory.
“I’m going to keep that bait in my hand until they tell me different,” Lowen said.