Smallmouths likely key to Cumberland victory

Twenty-pound sacks of smallies not out of question

SOMERSET, Ky. – As day two of the Wal-Mart FLW Series got under way Thursday morning, the words “big smallmouths” were a big part of the fishing conversation around General Burnside State Park on Lake Cumberland.

After Wednesday’s weigh-in, it became obvious that 18-inch-plus smallmouths are playing a lead role at the series event. Nine of the top 10 pros had two or more keeper smallmouths in their bags yesterday.

While catching just one 18-inch smallmouth in a day’s time might seem to be a daunting task, several pros are claiming that catching a keeper smallmouth right now is actually easier than catching a keeper largemouth, which must measure 15 inches.

“I’d agree,” said Jay Yelas, currently in ninth. “Of course, spotted bass are the easiest keepers to target here, but beyond that, I think a keeper smallmouth is much easier to come by on this lake than a keeper black. I caught some really nice smallies in practice, and if the weather gets right for a jerkbait or topwater, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a 20-pound bag of smallmouths come to the scales.”

With cloudier, stormier weather on tap for today, the smallmouth bite might heat up, turning this event into an all out smallmouth slugfest.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:41

Temperature at takeoff: 55 degrees

Water temperature: mid-60s

Expected high temperature: 75 degrees

Wind: WSW at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: mostly Cloudy with chance of thunderstorms

The day-two weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. Eastern at General Burnside State Park on Lake Cumberland. For those who can’t watch the action in person, FLWOutdoors.com provides FLW Live, a real-time viewing application that is the next best thing to being there.