Several anglers mentioned the phrase “surviving until the weekend,” or some form of that, when describing their forecasts for this four-day tournament. It was in reference to how the fishing is expected to change and improve as the weather warms and the bass move to the banks to spawn.
“I think it’s going to be a matter of survival to the weekend,” said Lake Hartwell veteran angler Shane Lineberger. “Then it’s going to be a full-blown bed-fishing tournament.”
When asked at what depth the tournament will be won, there was a common answer as well: Five feet or less.
Patrick Walters noted that docks will play a big role here. And some of those docks are over 20 feet of water. “But the fish are staging about a foot under them,” he said, adding with a smile, “your bait doesn’t have to hit the bottom.”
As for guesses about the two-day top 35 cut weight, both Walters and Lineberger said the same thing: 13 to 13 1/2 pounds per day.