Pundits’ Picks: Beaver Lake

We’ll make this short but sweet because I’m bitter. (Plus, I want to go outside and play on this beautiful Friday spring afternoon).

The pros edged out the writers at Old Hickory, 773.7 to 753.7. Kudos to them, but curses to my fellow writers, who had to cull one of our own per the elimination-style rules. Alas, my brethren felt it necessary to impeach the mayor of Punditville, so they kicked me out. Here’s how the culling vote went (three writers voted):

Jeff Schroeder: 2

Patrick Baker: 1

So that’s why I’m bitter. I’ve been banished to Loserland. To carry a team for so long only to be stabbed in the back like that … All I can say is, et tu, Morty?

Oh well, rules are rules. Congratulations are in order to Randy Blaukat for winning the pro side for the second tournament in a row and – ahem – to Gary Mortenson for winning the writer side.

The FLW season is at the halfway point, and that means only half of the original 10 pundits are left. We’ll be picking off pundits one-by-one from here on out until we reach a grand champion after Birmingham.

Tournament site

The next challenge, Beaver Lake, is obviously familiar territory. The FLW Tour has been coming here for the Wal-Mart Open since 1998, so there’s a lot of history from which to draw conclusions. Eventual Angler of the Year Dan Morehead won last year’s event with a dominating final-round performance by working magic with a jerkbait and jighead worm along the shallow rocky bottom of the clear Ozark impoundment. While “Beaver Lake” and “spawning bass” have generally become synonymous for the April FLW event – not to mention the name of sight-fishing shaman “Clark Wendlandt” – this year’s event is being held earlier in the season than ever before. They’re saying it’s a prespawn pattern this year, so, barring an extreme heat wave, look for slightly deeper fishing patterns to prevail, like the one that worked for Rick Clunn in 2000.

Hot picks

Out of five remaining pundits, it’s no surprise that Mr. Beaver Lake, Clark Wendlandt, captured the most picks with four. Jim Eakins garnered three picks, while his kin, Troy Eakins, earned two. Also picking up two votes apiece were Jackie Davis, David Dudley and AOY leader Dean Rojas.

Good luck, fellow Fishing Challengers, and good luck to everybody in the Ozarks.

– Jeff Schroeder

__________________________

Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop No. 4

Wal-Mart Open

Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark.

March 31-April 3

Pros’ picks

Randy Blaukat

FLW pro, Lamar, Mo.

Previous tournament score (Old Hickory Lake): 810

1) Troy Eakins.

2) Jim Eakins.

3) Jackie Davis.

4) Wesley Strader.

5) Randy Blaukat.

Clark Wendlandt

FLW pro, Cedar Park, Texas

Previous tournament score: 792

1) Carl Svebek. Carl has been fishing very well lately. He has two top-10 finishes at Beaver Lake and he considers it his home lake. He also did well last year when the fish were still in the prespawn mode.

2) Troy Eakins. Made his name on the Ozark lakes with a little jig.

3) Jim Eakins. Made the top 10 at Beaver last year. He will have another good tournament this week.

4) Jackie Davis. Another clear-water jig expert. Barely missed the top 10 at Old Hickory. I look for another high finish.

5) Clark Wendlandt. I just had one of my worst tournaments ever at Old Hickory. The best way to forget about a bad event is to do well in the next tournament. I also love Beaver Lake.

Mark Zona

EverStart pro, Sturgis, Mich.

Previous tournament score: 719

1) Jim Moynagh. This fellow northerner walks quietly and keeps to himself, but this may be the lake where he goes postal.

2) Clark Wendlandt. When Clark and I roomed together in college, he painted a map of Beaver Lake on our wall so he could study it 24 hours a day. His madness has paid off.

3) Aaron Martens. Always spotted bass. ALWAYS.

4) Jim Eakins. Catches fish every time he fishes here. This time will be no different.

5) Rob Kilby. Anyone who wants to win this tournament will have to get past this man. If cold temperatures stick around, local knowledge will play.

Writers’ picks

Gary Mortenson

Editor, FLWOutdoors.com

Previous tournament score: 805

1) Dan Morehead. Despite his slow start this year, Morehead deserves a spot on this list simply based on the merits of his track record at Beaver Lake. After all, Morehead won the event in 2003, turned in two top-30 appearances in 2001 and 2002 and finished fourth in 2000.

2) Clark Wendlandt. Quite simply, when it comes to Beaver Lake, Wendlandt is the man. He finished in first place in `99 and 2001, fourth place in 2002 and 10th place in 2000. And he’s done reasonably well every other year at the Wal-Mart Open. If Vegas was in the fishing business, Wendlandt would be a 5/2 favorite to win it all.

3) David Walker. Like Morehead and Wendlandt, Walker excels on Beaver Lake. In fact, from 1998-2002, Walker finished no worse than 40th place, turning in a few top-10 and top-20 appearances in the process. Walker’s remarkably consistent Beaver Lake performances over the years make him worthy of the list.

4) David Dudley. Although Dudley hasn’t exactly torn up Beaver Lake over the years, the Manteo Machine is always a threat to win any title on the FLW Tour. If you don’t believe that, just ask his tax attorney. Although this is essentially a gut pick, I feel pretty good anytime Dudley is on my list.

5) Dean Rojas. Other than one minor stumble on day two of Old Hickory, Rojas has owned the tour this year. And with the Angler of the Year title within his grasp, my bet is that Rojas will turn it up another notch come the Wal-Mart Open.

Patrick Baker

Editor, FLWOutdoors.com

Previous tournament score: 748

1) Tracy Adams. He’s proven his mettle on Beaver Lake before, and Adams is hot overall on tour this year. That’s a deadly combination.

2) Clark Wendlandt. Almost officially dubbed “Mr. Beaver Lake,” Wendlandt’s also a consistent powerhouse on tour year after year.

3) Mark Pack. Fourth at Beaver in 2001, sixth in 2002 and 23rd overall in points this year, Pack will be on the attack.

4) Dean Rojas. He’s on top of the 2004 points standings and has top-fived at Beaver before. Rojas is a strong pick.

5) David Dudley. Dudley is always a great pick. I should’ve stuck with him for Old Hickory. I won’t make that mistake this time out.

Links:

Losers’ Picks

Play the FLW Outdoors Fishing Challenge