Beating the bushes or shadowing the shad

Two predominant patterns take shape on Beaver Lake

ROGERS, Ark. – When Beaver Lake began to flood its original shoreline two weeks ago, it threw FLW Tour pros a curve ball for their practice rounds of the 2009 Walmart Open.

Many pros were scratching their heads as to how 8 feet of new water would affect their quarry. But after the country’s best bass pros surveyed Beaver Lake during the opening two days of the Walmart Open, some answers are starting to surface.

As the top 10 readied their gear this morning for the day three takeoff, it became apparent that two predominant patterns are lighting the way for leaders in Northwest Arkansas.

One is a flipping pattern. In that camp sits the top three pros: Brent Ehrler, Jason Christie and Glenn Browne. In one form or another, these three pros are essentially pitching and flipping soft creature baits, tubes or jigs to flooded bushes, logs and floating debris in the backs of pockets.

On the other hand, fourth and fifth place pros Clark Wendlandt and Mark Rose are fishing a shad-spawn pattern on flat, rocky banks. This pattern involves winding more horizontal lures such as spinnerbaits, crankbaits or topwaters over flat places where shad are spawning. At times, hordes of bigger bass will move up and munch on the shad. If you are in the middle of the feeding frenzy, you can get well in hurry, just like Wendlandt did yesterday to the tune of 15 pounds, 6 ounces.

In all likelihood, one of these two patterns will go the distance for a $200,000 win over the next two days, but knowing which one will prevail is a difficult guess.

Both Rose and Wendlandt feel that their shad pattern is “coming their way,” that is to say it has just started and will continue to get stronger over the next two days.

The pattern takes place on very specific areas; the only problem is the shad-spawn bite is either feast or famine.

“I might pull up there and catch another 15 pounds in five minutes or I might not get a bite,” said Wendlandt.

“Same thing goes for me,” Rose agreed.

Interestingly, the two pros are fishing the same pattern in two different areas, but the strength of their bite has flip-flopped.

On day one, Rose got well in a hurry when his fish bit quickly while Wendlandt’s best place hardly produced any quality bass at all. But on day two, Wendlandt’s fish were on fire and Rose’s bass took the day off.

“That’s the nature of the shad-spawn pattern,” Rose said. “It’s a lot like schooling fish: they’re either munching or they’re not – there’s very little in between.”

Meanwhile the bush flippers are dealing with more of a scattered, sporadic bite.

“I wish I had a place where I could say, `I’m going to get bit here,'” Ehrler said before takeoff this morning. “But it’s simply not that easy. I have no idea where my next bite is coming from. Sometimes I pitch in the perfect bush and my expectations are super high and I don’t get a bite. Then a little while later, I’ll just be fishing along not really thinking that much about it and a 3-pounder will bite me out of nowhere. So it’s really indefinable as to what’s going to happen.”

“One thing nice about it,” added Glenn Browne about his bush-flipping pattern. “I only need two rods on the deck, which makes things rather simple.”

Ultimately, the weather just might be the deciding factor in this flipping versus shad spawn shooting match. Yesterday the sun beamed brightly all day, probably helping position the fish for the bush beaters. Today, clouds and drizzle are on tap for much of the day, which might extend the low-light conditions for the shad shadowers.

Fun Zone and weigh-in details

Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins of the Walmart Open will be held at the John Q. Hammons Center located at 3303 Pinnacle Hills Pkwy. in Rogers beginning at 4 p.m.

In conjunction with the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the John Q. Hammons Center from noon to 4 p.m. each day.

The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their Fantasy Fishing team anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator.

Children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone on Sunday will receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. One lucky member of the audience will even win a new Ranger boat during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in Sunday, May 17. Admission is free, and you must be present to win.

The total purse for the Walmart Open event at Beaver Lake is more than $1.1 million, including $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division.

Saturday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:09 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 61 degrees

Expected high temperature: 63 degrees

Water temperature: 62-67 degrees

Wind: NNE 15 to 25 MPH

Day’s outlook: 30% chance of rain