Today is a day of transition in a couple of regards. The given, of course, is the cut from 50 to the Top 12 boats.
The other less predictable given is the state of the bass fishing on Toledo Bend. Before the tournament we heard talk of numerous 25-pound-plus sacks crossing the weigh-in scales. Few have and those were not filled with fat females caught off the spawning beds.
Sight fishing it out. Fishing transitional areas is in. Toledo Bend is the definitive lake for textbook transition areas, wheither the bass are coming or going from the spawning areas. Creek channels meandering for miles are bordered by shallow flats, the shoreline and natural habitat. All of it provides staging areas for prespawn and postspawn bass.
After the shad spawn subsides the top anglers are fishing those transition areas, searching for migrating schools of bass. Most are prespawn and somewhat lethargic, creating a need for reaction baits to stimulate the bite. We are seeing that in play with Jacob Wheeler. He stays on the move hitting key transition areas.
Others are staying put, waiting on the come. Either way, there is one other transition that might happen. That is the final wave of prespawn fishing setting up on the beds. If that happens the pre-tournament prediction might come true.