FLW preview: In the line of sight
Wal-Mart Open, Beaver Lake, April 13-16
Every year a lot of Wal-Mart FLW Tour pros lick their chops when the Beaver Lake tournament rolls around, particularly the sight-fishermen. This year is no exception. With the spawn already started in the gin-clear waters of the Ozark impoundment, this tournament could see excited pros jumping all over the beds in their hunt for the Wal-Mart Open’s $200,000 top prize.
“More fish are moving up every day,” Satsuma, Ala., pro Jason Kilpatrick said Monday. Kilpatrick finished seventh at last year’s Wal-Mart Open and finished third at last month’s event at the Ouachita River. “But they’re spooky, and I think some guys are getting false impressions from the crappie beds. We might go up in there and see a bunch of shiny spots, but the few fish that are up, they slide off bed as soon as the boat moves in.”
That said, Kilpatrick doesn’t necessarily think that bed-fishing will be dominant.
“By tournament time, they’re probably going to hit the bank really hard,” he said, “but there might not be enough to make you really want to sight-fish. I think the tournament can be won on sight fish, but guys that have won here in the past weren’t primarily sight-fishermen.”
Area anglers have said that a cooler winter this year has pushed back the spawning schedule, compared to last year. However, last year’s Open – and the jig bite that won it – was also held two weeks earlier in the season. Then, the spawn played a smaller role in the outcome.
“This year the water’s 3 or 4 degrees warmer and the fish are further along. They’re shallower,” Kilpatrick said. “But the winter’s been a little different, so the fish are set up differently. It’s almost like we stayed another week over from last year and fished another tournament here the following week.”
As always, jigs and finesse worms will play key roles at Beaver. Kilpatrick added that crankbaits and jerkbaits have been working, as well, when the wind kicks up and blows out the sight-fishing. Strong storms have blown through the area over the weekend, but the forecast says the week is shaping up to be relatively pleasant with partly cloudy skies by tournament time.
“If it gets slick and calm, obviously (Clark) Wendlandt is one to watch, no matter what,” Kilpatrick said, referring to the two-time Open winner and renowned sight-fisherman. “And I think we’ll see, if a lot of fish come up on bed, the West Coast guys do some damage, guys like Art Berry or Luke Clausen. Those guys are really comfortable with a hard bite and smooth, clean water.”
With three bass species to work with in Beaver Lake – largemouth, smallmouth and spotted – anglers have a history of bringing in a variety of fish in their stringers. Largemouths and spots play the dominant role, however, and should be the keys to success.
“Last year I caught a lot more blacks (largemouths) than spots, but that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening this year.” Kilpatrick said. “Still, every year someone in practice comes in with stories about a big stringer of smallies.”
Lake facts and history
With 449 miles of shoreline, Beaver Lake was formed in 1960 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed Beaver Dam on the White River in a joint effort to control flooding and harness a source of hydroelectric power. An extremely clear lake, Beaver Lake intermingles with a variety of major water sources including the Indian, North Clifty, Clifty, Prairie and War Eagle creeks. Overall, Beaver Lake meanders more than 70 miles through the Ozark Mountains, covering more than 28,000 acres. Beaver Lake also has an average depth of 60 feet and a maximum depth of 204 feet – near Beaver Dam.
Power bass
To up the ante even more at this year’s Wal-Mart Open, Tyson Foods Inc. is tagging six “Power Bass” and releasing them into Beaver Lake before the competition. One of the six fish will be worth $200,000 to any pro or co-angler who catches it during the four-day contest, which matches the purse of the pro winner of the Wal-Mart Open. The remaining five fish are each worth $5,000. If a tagged fish is caught, no one will know its worth until the weigh-in at the end of each day. The tagging of the fish is painless and the tag will dissolve and fall off in about 30 days.
Catch the action
The full field competes in the two-day opening round for one of 10 slots in Friday’s competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for day three, and co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in. The 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.
Anglers take off each morning from Prairie Creek Marina at 7 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2110 W. Walnut in Rogers beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
The community is encouraged to attend the Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy. The Fun Zone will open Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.
Immediately following the weigh-in Friday, fans are invited to a free concert featuring country-music recording artist Craig Morgan. Morgan’s current single, “That’s What I Love About Sundays,” hit No. 1 on the country radio charts in recent weeks.
Coverage of the Wal-Mart Open will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” TV program. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
You can also catch all the weigh-in action at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live. The first weigh-in will be broadcast Wednesday, April 13, at 3 p.m. Central time and will continue throughout all four days’ weigh-ins.
Previous FLW Beaver Lake winners
2004 – Tim Klinger, Henderson, Nev.
2003 – Dan Morehead, Paducah, Ky.
2002 – Andre Moore, Scottsdale, Ariz.
2001 – Clark Wendlandt, Cedar Park, Texas
2000 – Rick Clunn, Ava, Mo.
1999 – Clark Wendlandt, Cedar Park, Texas
1998 – Gerald Swindle, Hayden, Ala.