James Watson’s forecast after one day at Grand Lake was pessimistic. “It might be the best day we get,” said Watson after an overall less than expected performance by the 55-man field.
Of the weather forecast for today of sunshine and temperatures in the 70s, Watson said, “It’s not going to hurt, but it’s not going to magically push hundreds and hundreds of bass on the bank like we want it to.”
Watson, who is from Nixa, Mo., and knows Grand Lake well, stayed in the hunt with 13-10 that put him in 15th place.
“If I’m lucky, I’m getting five or six bites a day,” he said. “I’ve stayed shallow all week. The lake’s just not ready. It’s too early.”
But, as Watson noted, there would have probably been multiple 20-pounds-plus bags on Day 1 if not for that combo of muddy and cold water.
“All that mud isn’t helping at all,” Watson said. “It took away the jerkbait element. You’d see huge sacks weighed-in if the jerkbait was in play.”
A suspending jerkbait has long been a staple of late winter bass fishing, especially in Ozark Highland lakes, where the water is usually extremely clear. The old rule of thumb has always been to cast it out, crank it down near some submerged structure, like a cedar tree, twitch it a time or two, then let it sit long enough to eat a package of peanut butter crackers. But if a bass can’t see that subtle presentation, it’s not going to bite it.
Maybe that will change, as Grand Lake is gradually clearing. But probably not nearly fast enough to make a jerkbait the factor it would normally be here in early March.