Destination: Mississippi River

EverStart Series Northern Division, June 9-12

More than one bass tournament has been won on a snap decision, but the EverStart Series Northern Division event set for June 9-12 on the Mississippi River in Welch, Minn., very well could be decided by the angler who thinks the longest and the hardest before placing that final fish in the livewell.

State law prohibits culling on the popular Minnesota/Wisconsin fishery. Once a bass goes in the livewell, it is there for keeps.

“That no-cull rule can make things tricky,” said Kellogg’s pro Dave Lefebre, winner of the 2002 EverStart Series event on the Mississippi River. “It makes it really hard to predict the weights. You can either gamble or play it safe. Either way, it could cost you.”

Lefebre played it relatively safe the last time he visited the Mississippi. He spent the majority of the tournament targeting the river’s plentiful smallmouth population, but the Erie, Pa., pro does not expect bronzebacks to dominate the top sacks this year.

“It’s mainly a smallmouth fishery, but I’m betting that the heavier largemouths are going to come more into play this year,” Lefebre said. “My guess is that somebody is going to gamble and make it work.”

Lefebre predicts that anglers will be targeting spawning bass around shallow weedbeds, rock and wood, but he does not expect sight-fishing to be a major factor.

Anglers can expect to catch bass on an assortment of lures, but Lefebre has the most faith in a 5/32-ounce jig tipped with a small soft-plastic trailer. He likes to swim the lure in water up to 2 feet deep.

Lefebre’s Call: 15 to 20 pounds to make the top 20; 24 pounds to win it.