The headline for this day happened long before the 6:15 a.m. start of Day 4.
At 2:30 a.m. the National Weather Service activated the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for Russellville and the surrounding area. The reason was a very slow moving low pressure system that delivered more than 2.5 inches of rain. That rain fell for nearly four hours. All of it will drain into Lake Dardanelle.
Before takeoff Dave Mercer interviewed Mark Davis about what was on his mind. Here’s what he said.
“The lock and dam upstream is releasing 23,000 cubic feet per second more than yesterday That’s not good.”
Yesterday Davis told me that his best bite, offshore, is best when the water release from Lock and Dam #9 is slowed down to allow water to be released from Lake Dardanelle. What that does is draw bass from shallower water and into bottom funnel contours where they stage in deeper water. They are easier to intercept. Until now, such a scenario was the essence of Davis’ offshore bite.
Davis is committed to the area for good reason. He believes the fish will be there, but unsure how the bite will be due to the overnight rainfall. He will know after making a 40-mile run.
“It’s not like you can go there and fish it awhile and then go somewhere else. You can’t leave and come back. You get your one shot during the day.”
Davis is counting on that shot.