This week is shaping up to be a dream competition for hardcore tournament fanatics. Changing water levels, changing water clarity. Both are getting most of the attention in the pre-tournament conversations I’ve had thus far with the anglers. What is getting little attention, and that could be the biggest influencer of the week, is water temperature.
While the water is going up and down the temperature is headed the same direction. Up.
“We’ve got some crazy stuff going on with the water, but what I’m looking at the most is the temperature,” said Josh Bertrand. “The bass want to spawn but it’s too soon.”
But and this is a big but, as the temperature rises the bass will move shallower. It’s that simple. The biological clocks of the bass are kicking them into migratory mode.
“They guy who wins this week will have dialed into specific areas where he can track the movements of the bass as they go shallower,” added Bertrand.
That won’t be easy to do and thus, the reason why the world’s best bass anglers will compete this week on a fishery that will continually deal them a challenging hand. Every day.
“A lot of guys will catch big bags one day and come up short the next,” said Jacob Wheeler. “It’s just fishing that way with the fish on the move into shallow water.”
Wheeler could be right on. The fish will be moving inshore but it remains to be seen just how quickly and far they will go. Again, based on the water level and temperature.
“The winner of this tournament will have mastered the ability to adapt to the daily changes in the water conditions, explained Brandon Palaniuk. “There is no stability in anything going on out on the water.”
And there is another wildcard to add to the challenges. A mixed bag fishery with the smallmouth dominated Tellico and the largemouth infused Loudoun.
“Either way you look at it the smallmouth and largemouth will play into the mix,” said Feider.
That is even with the longer length limit for smallmouth.
“A guy might dial into just enough of a consistent smallmouth bite to make it to Championship Sunday and then change up from there” added Feider.
Hmm. Fishing fans make note of that self-directed comment.