Mud madness

‘Orange water’ from bank to bank challenges FLW Series pros in Alabama

EUFAULA, Ala. – “I’m telling you, the mud is so thick you could chew it … It looks like you took a chocolate milkshake and mixed it with an orange soda … I’m pretty sure you could plow it … Well, from bank to bank, it’s about the color of Koby Kreiger’s Iams boat …”

That’s what 7 inches of rain sounds like after it has flushed its way down the Chattahoochee River into a swollen Lake Eufaula to greet 150 of the nation’s best bass pros for the Walmart FLW Series this week. Indeed, differing descriptions of the “orange water” are not hard to find among the BP Eastern Division field.

Conditions at Lake Eufaula were at a premium during practice over the weekend until an estimated 6 to 7 inches of rain fell over Alabama and Georgia on Friday and Saturday, turning the Chattahoochee River into a rolling reddish-orange mess.

And if you need more of a description, just check with any one of the 150 pros at the FLW Series day-one takeoff Wednesday morning.

“I’m talking orange from bank to bank,” said Iams pro Koby Kreiger, who has logged seven FLW Outdoors top-10s on Eufaula, including two Stren Series victories by sight-fishing. “It’s zero visibility everywhere. There is one little backwater pond down by the dam that has some clarity to it, but it’s had about 70 boats a day in it this week.

“I’ve been coming down here a long time, and I’ve never really seen it like this,” he added. “Needless to say, I won’t be sight-fishing this week.”

Another thing that has baffled the pros is Eufaula’s water level, which has yo-yoed up and down the last several days.

“It came up about 2 or 3 feet from Saturday to Sunday, and then they sucked it right back down by Sunday night,” Kreiger said. “That’s pretty impressive when they can pull a lake this size down that fast.”

Kreiger noted that the dramatic water fluctuations probably have more impact on the bass than the water color does.

“I know it’s muddy, but they get used to it pretty quick,” he said. “What we’re all waiting for is for the lake to stabilize water level-wise – that’s when the fish will settle down and start eating again.”

But getting the water to stabilize could be tricky, as rain continues to pour into the Chattahoochee River valley today and tonight, keeping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers busy at the helm, managing all the dams up and down the river system.

Eufaula, however, is a great fishery, and these top anglers will figure out how to deal with the muddy water.

“Oh, this mud doesn’t bother them,” noted Tums pro David Fritts, who has a Lake Eufaula win on the

Walmart FLW Tour to his credit. “I’ve seen High Rock Lake get this muddy before. It affects the fish for a day or two, but once the water starts to settle out a little bit, they go back to biting.”

Many pros look to combat the muddy conditions with bright, gaudy lures like spinnerbaits and ChatterBaits in whites, chartreuses, oranges and yellows.

“My strategy is to fish the browner-looking water rather than the orange water,” said National Guard pro Michael Murphy, who showed off a multicolored spinnerbait meant to garner attention in dark water. “At first all the water looks orange, but after a while you’ll start to notice small zones of brown or darker-colored water filtering out from that grass.”

“These fish are still going to bite,” Kreiger agreed. “You just have to slow down and be much more thorough. They can’t see near as well, and a lure has to go right by their nose to get a bite.”

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Lakepoint Resort State Park located at 104 Lakepoint Drive in Eufaula at 7 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m.

Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 1252 S. Eufaula Ave. in Eufaula beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.



The entire field competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. Co-angler winners are determined on day three based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

Wednesday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:29 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees

Expected high temperature: 72 degrees

Water temperature: 62-68 degrees

Wind: ESE at 10 to 15 mph

Day’s outlook: rain and thunderstorms all day