While the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee has been a challenge for many anglers, the opportunities this fishery presents has both anglers and bass fishing fans on edge of their seat. The fish of a lifetime could always be around the corner but there’s a catch—you have to find the right corner. Yamaha Outboards pro Patrick Walters is aware of this and is committed to keeping a solid mindset going into the second day of the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament.
“Florida fisheries are so different than anywhere else, especially this time of year,” Walters said. “You’re not chasing bottom contours as you would throughout the rest of the country. Personally speaking, I’ve been looking for clean water and following the wind. Florida fishing is all about the wind to me and in my experience, if I can find clean water, I feel like I’m going to find the fish. This is a tough derby but I still have plenty of confidence.”
Another wrench in his plan has been the fluctuating water levels. Whether the water rises or drops, it drastically affects largemouth bass behavior. If the water is high, they tend to get into super-thick vegetation and as the water drops, they’ll often hang out on the outside edges and relate to small points and other irregularities. In this week’s case, the water has been dropping, and Walters is having to adjust his strategy accordingly.
“The water has been dropping like crazy throughout the week and it has made things a challenge,” Walters said. “I’m not worried about what baits they’ll bite or what type of presentations I need to make, to be totally honest. What I’m most concerned about is landing on them and figuring out where they are. This is why I’m so glad to have a Yamaha VMAX SHO 250 behind me, because I’m getting on pad in just over a foot of water. The low water isn’t hurting my ability to run around whatsoever. When it’s time to run to another spot to keep looking, I’m able to safely and efficiently navigate the fishery.”
As the New Moon approaches this week, anglers expect a steady wave of new spawners to appear in the shallows. There is potential for some monster limits of largemouth throughout the weekend and Walters isn’t shy to say he’s running around like a madman, constantly looking for new water.
“Swimming a jig, flipping and frogging are all going to be big players this weekend and I’m absolutely pumped up for it,” Walters said. “But I can’t overstate the importance of mobility and discovering new water. Like I said, it’s not about ‘what’ they’ll bite for me; it’s all about ‘where’ they’ll bite.”
Walters knows it’s going to take some mega weights to make his second consecutive Championship Sunday, but he’s up for the challenge. A solid first day has him in an excellent spot to make a major move up the leaderboard.
“We’re just going to go out there and maintain a positive attitude and be patient,” said the Yamaha pro. “It’s no hill for a climber and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the event. It’s all a matter of me landing on them and executing.”
As the warm sun rises on Okeechobee, a tangible sense of excitement begins to set in. You can catch nothing or experience the biggest limit of your life—that’s the beauty, and the beast, of Florida fishing. It’d be a tough lake for a gambling man because it can truly go either way at the drop of a hat.
But in the Land of Giants, anything and everything is possible.
