The Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops has begun.
In other words, a fourth day of practice for Darold Gleason and a large portion of the 132 angler field.
In a late summer showdown in north-central Arkansas, one that will be fished without forward-facing sonar, catching 12-pounds will feel like carrying gold back to weigh-in if Day 1 was anything like the first three days of practice.
It’s dry and the water is gin clear, a very stark difference from the Division II Open held last April when rising, dirty water impacted the first day and historic flooding cancelled the last two tournament days.
This event at Norfork Lake will also be a much different start to the EQ’s than the 2025 Opener. During that Lake Champlain event, it was not hard to catch a limit. It wasn’t even that challenging to catch 19 pounds. Catching 5 and 6 pound smallmouth instead of 4-pounders proved to be the difference.
This week, a 4-pound largemouth will feel like landing a 10-pounder anywhere else. Catching 15 pounds will feel like landing the “Dirty 30”.
It’s not that Norfork doesn’t have big bass. Wyatt Burkhalter spent a week here before the off-limits period and saw potential for 20-pound stringers.
He saw those bass using FFS, however. That will not be in play this week, and Burkhalter believes the chances of getting to that mark are minuscule.
“Most of those bass will be impossible to catch,” the 2026 Grand Lake Open champion said. “It is going to be an absolute grind. The overall vibe from anglers I’ve talked to is, ‘I hope I catch a limit.’”
2026 Division I points champion Cody Stahl has seen one 4-pounder this week, a bass he was able to shake off. Outside of that, he hasn’t even heard of another angler landing a bass larger than 3 1/2 pounds.
While clouds limited the bite the final day of practice for Burkhalter, the early morning window top water bite window will be an important part of the game plan for Stahl and others.
From there, it will be about hitting as many good areas as humanly possible in order to find a bass that is willing to bite.
“As soon as one boat leaves, another one comes back through there,” Stahl said. “I think (getting in a good) rotation is going to be a big thing.”
There will be plenty of (very expensive) gas used in this tournament, but picking apart tiny areas will be key.
With the water as clear as it is, there will be opportunities to sight fish for cruisers up shallow. Generally, shallow water is where Gleason believes it will be won, but there are also bass on offshore rock, brush and structure all the way out to 40 feet of water.
Stahl has spent the majority of his tournament in less than 10 feet of water, but there is one offshore area he feels could produce a key bite or two.
No one pattern is going to shine it seems, which will keep things intriguing until the very end.
“This is absolutely going to be a junk fishing tournament,” Burkhalter said. “I’d be shocked if whoever wins is doing just one thing.”
