The hydrology outlook chart from the National Weather Service illustrates the state of the water level this week on the Mississippi River at La Crosse. Today the stage is at 9 feet, is expected to rise about 1 foot per day, and peak on Championship Sunday at 12 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet.
Everyone I spoke with this morning while taping BASSCams spoke of how each day will be a new one, from start to finish.
“We prepared for this to happen so it should just be all about making adjustments as the water comes up,” said Brandon Palaniuk.
“Practice really didn’t do us any good because of the water changing every day,” added Randall Tharp. “I like these kinds of tournaments because they keep the playing field leveled.
Bobby Lane, who is skilled at fishing in shallow water, likes what’s to come, although he predicted the fish will become scattered as the water rises.
“When the sun comes back out over the weekend it’ll tighten them up, make them easier to pinpoint,” he explained.
Palaniuk added that avoiding the blowout factor from too much current coming into an area will be important.
“The current is already really ripping and guys will need to avoid letting that ruin an area in play earlier in the week,” he added.
But unlike many rivers on the rise, this one, at least here, is less affected by muddy water.