When the Wal-Mart FLW Tour opens its 2004 season Jan. 21-24 on Lake Okeechobee, the 400 anglers who will cast for a share of the $500,000 purse are likely to witness an Okeechobee they haven’t seen in quite a while.

That’s the word from local fishing guide and pre-tournament favorite Scott Martin of Clewiston, Fla.

“The water is going to be higher than it has been in the last couple of years, and that could change things up a bit,” Martin said. “The fish are still going to be relating heavily to the grass. I look for flipping and pitching with plastics to be the dominant pattern for the bigger fish.”

While many of the traditional areas such as South Bay and North Shore will be holding fish, Martin said Moonshine Bay as well as many of the isolated backwater marshes should be holding the clear water that lunkers will be looking for.

“The rim canal could also play a big factor in this year’s tournament,” Martin said. “There’s hydrilla in the canal for the first time, and it definitely could be a sleeper spot worth checking out.”

In addition to flipping and pitching with June bug soft plastics, Martin predicts that chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps and white/gold spinner baits will produce plenty of keepers.

“There also could be some big bass caught on top-waters early in the day if the weather is right,” he said. “The bite will be slow if we get some cold fronts and the water gets cold, but the fish will be pretty active if the weather turns out warm.”

Links:

Pro field

Co-angler field

Tournament details

Pre-tournament press release