There’s no question that the weather and water conditions play a huge role in how a particular bass tournament unfolds. In fact, it’s likely the biggest factor to impact how well or how poorly each competitor performs on a given body of water.
Interestingly, many of the top bass anglers in the world almost prefer tougher to ideal conditions. Most would say it levels the playing field, or confuses some anglers to the point of mentally checking out before the derby even begins.
I doubt there’s a single angler at the 2019 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods that will check out of this event. It is the greatest bass tournament on earth, after all, and every one of them are here to win.
Coming into this week’s world championship, continued torrential rains drenched the region forcing excessive runoff into the upper Tennessee River system blowing out much of the fishable Classic waters. Fortunately, the rain has subsided and most of the fishery offers water that isn’t pea soup or chocolate milk.
During tours on the final practice day, Bassmaster photographers and writers saw the best and the worst of conditions. All would agree the fishery is in fine shape considering the previous precipitation that has inundated the area in recent weeks.
What’s cool about seeing this year’s Classic unfold is fans will get to witness how the best in the business deal with tough conditions — and they will catch them, guaranteed.
Watch and learn.
The main river system is pretty muddy still, and that’s not likely to change by the time the first flight leaves the docks in downtown Knoxville. As you move into backwaters and up most creeks, the water begins to clear up, and it offers 3 to 4 feet of visibility in many places. However, there are occasional creeks that are thick with mud, but by the time that water reaches the main lake, Tellico for example, the stain dissipates and the water clears up.
Current will be a factor, regardless of water conditions. This is a river system, but that excessive runoff mentioned above is still flowing into the fishery, clear or muddy, it is generating through all the locks and dams associated with this region. The current will specifically position the fish for effecting ambush and feeding habits, and the angler who adapts to that specific condition will have a shot at the title.
Water temps in Tellico Reservoir ranged from 45 to 55 degrees. The higher temps were found in dark or stained waters near the backs of creeks and farther away from the dam, and naturally lower in the main lake or river. The water being generated by Chilhowe Dam along the Little Tennessee River is pulling very cold water into Tellico, which is ultimately keeping the temps low in that region of the fishery.
The weather for the three official competition days start out with a frontal system and a chance of rain. That gives way to cold air temperatures and high skies, which will make the fishing more difficult. But don’t worry; there will be plenty of big fish brought to the scales.
Finally, what kind of fish can we expect to be weighed in? There will be smallmouth, there will be largemouth — likely to dominate the type that are weighed in — and spotted bass, too. But during the rules meeting, a few anglers reported catching meanmouth bass, which is a hybrid between smallmouth and spots. Rare but possible.
Based on local reports for this time of year, it may take a daily average of 18 to 19 pounds to win. And there will likely be a few bags exceeding the coveted 20-pound mark. However, look for an average five-bass limit to weigh 9 to 10 pounds.
Regardless of the conditions and species of bass, a new world champion will be crowned Sunday evening, and the bass-fishing world will be on fire.