Destination: Lake Okeechobee

Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Jan. 18-21

Boca Raton, Fla., bass pro Mike Surman didn’t mince words when asked to provide a forecast for the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s 2006 season opener Jan. 18-21 on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee.

“I really feel like it is going to be a difficult tournament,” Surman said. “The lake is going to fish considerably different than we have grown accustomed to over the years.”

The reason? Actually, there are two: high water and wind – the same reasons given by Melvin for the Stren Series event.

Surman said the water level at Okeechobee remained above normal for most of 2005. The high water coupled with strong winds generated by tropical storms and hurricanes that brushed against the Florida coast line just months ago have done serious damage to grass beds that filter sediment to promote the clear water bass prefer when spawning.

“The high water slowed the growth of the grass and the wind has torn up what vegetation was there,” Surman said. “About 90 percent of the grass that was in the Monkey Box last year is gone. The lake was pretty dirty in fall, and it is going to get even worse as the cold fronts start pushing through. If the lake stays high, clean water is going to be even harder to come by than it was last year. That is probably going to force the field to spread out more and try some different things.”

Not surprisingly, Surman is predicting that weights will be down from previous Okeechobee events. He is also betting the top slots will be claimed by the pros who figure out ways to catch bass in stained water using moving baits such as spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps and topwaters.

Anglers will be allowed to lock through to some of the canals, which should spread the field out and offer more clear, productive water.

Surman’s call: 18 to 24 pounds to make the top 10, depending on weather conditions; 24 pounds to win it.