The big Wheeler keeps on turning

Stren Series Southeast stop No. 3 gets under way at Wheeler

DECATUR, Ala. – Open up your tackle box, pick out just about any lure, and chances are you can catch bass on it right now on Wheeler Lake.

As the third stop of the Stren Series Southeast event began this morning out of Ingalls Harbor, everything from deep-diving crankbaits, topwaters, jigs and spinnerbaits were set out neatly on pros’ boat decks.

Normally most of the field would make a beeline straight to the Decatur Flats area of Wheeler and spend the day fishing vegetation. But the lush grass is gone, and as a result, the fish are scattered everywhere from shallow flats to deep ledges.

“Everything is pretty much fair game,” noted Iams pro Koby Kreiger, who had a topwater and deep-diving plugs that will reach 20-foot depths out on the deck. “There are fish from the banks all the way out to the deep ledges, so I’m kind of prepared for it all. Normally I like to fish shallow, but I’m going to try a little cranking as well. If I catch 11 or 12 pounds, I’ll be tickled to death.”

Wheeler is chock full of keeper-size bass, so small limits will not be a problem. Bigger bass in the 3- to 5-pound range, however, are a different story. Not only have the bigger fish been hard to come by during practice, but they’re so scattered that a kicker could come from 15 inches of water just as well as 15 feet of water.

What many pros are thankful for going into day one is the forecast. The last few days have been scorchers in northern Alabama with no breeze and temperatures in the low 90s. Today heavy clouds and thundershowers are on tap for most of the day, providing a much needed cooldown, which should help the shallow-water anglers.

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Ingalls Harbor located at 802 Wilson St. N.W. in Decatur, Ala., at 6:30 each morning. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will be held at Ingalls Harbor beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 2800 Spring Ave. S.W. in Decatur beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The Wheeler Lake Stren Series tournament is hosted by the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.

Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $7,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in the contingency program.

Co-anglers will cast for a top award of a 177TR Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and trailer. If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $2,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in the contingency program.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:36 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 70 degrees

Expected high temperature: 77 degrees

Water temperature: 78-82 degrees

Wind: N at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: rain all day and thunderstorms