Foggy start

Lake of the Ozarks serves up challenges for AFS Central anglers

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – When anglers launched for day one of the American Fishing Series Central Division tournament on Lake of the Ozarks, the picture was unclear – literally and figuratively.

A dense fog hanging over the lake delayed the 7 a.m. scheduled launch. A light breeze barely moved the American flag mounted on the checkout boat, so it was up to the sun to gain enough altitude to burn off the thick stuff. Tournament officials started releasing boats at 9:15.

As if losing two hours of fishing time wasn’t challenging enough, Lake of the Ozarks is in a rather fickle mood. Fluctuations in water temperature and meteorological factors will present a potentially perplexing puzzle.

“The water has dropped three degrees in the last (week) since it started to warm up,” said local pro Mike “Cowboy” Foree. “The temperature had gotten up to about 44 degrees, but I’m fishing 39- to 40-degree water right now.”

The other variable is sunshine. After dreary days of constant clouds during practice, anglers have two days of mostly sunny skies in the forecast. Depending on how quickly today’s fog burns off, brighter skies could play a role in fish positioning. In simplest terms, fish will roam more in dim conditions, while the light penetration of sunny days will find them hugging cover.

Amid the uncertainty of shifting conditions, one thing remains constant – food equals fish. As Foree noted: “The fish are following the shad. If you find big balls of shad close to the bank, you can catch fish out of them.”

Glancing around boat decks this morning, just about everyone had at least a couple of jerkbaits rigged and ready. Foree said he’s working his Megabass jerkbaits around open banks and between docks.

Zack Bull, who finished second at the 2009 Stren Series (now American Fishing Series) event on Lake of the Ozarks, relied mostly on a jig for the October bite. Early spring tells a different tale, and Bull said his jig will likely sit this one out.

“I have three jerkbaits tied on, and that’s what I have confidence in,” he said. “It’s been so cold all winter; the fish are just now starting to come up. They’re still lethargic – they want something sitting – so if you get that jerkbait down there and let it sit for a few seconds, they’ll come up out of the brush or whatever they’re sitting on to grab it. Every bite I’ve had (in practice), the bait’s been sitting.”

Crankbaits will likely produce as well, and the favorite for Lake of the Ozarks is the Storm Wiggle Wart. That’s what Duke Jenkel intends to throw, and fire-tiger is his color. Targeting the backs of creeks, Jenkel would normally crank a brown crawdad bait, but with muddy creek water the common scenario this week, he thinks a brighter bait will trigger more strikes.

“This time of year, the jerkbait pattern is probably the pattern that will win the tournament, but I haven’t been able to formulate a jerkbait pattern, and most of my bites have come from shallow cranking and jigs,” Jenkel said. “I don’t anticipate throwing a jerkbait at all today. I’ll be throwing the Wiggle Wart and dragging a Lunker Lure jig. I’ve been able to get six to seven bites a day doing that, and a couple of them have been decent ones.”

Greg West, one of the area’s top sticks, will take a different approach. He’ll spend most of his time working a 3/8-ounce Chompers Standup Jig with a skirted twin-tail grub in green-pumpkin color.

Anglers will likely catch fish shallow and deep. Foree said his jerkbait attracted big-time attention in a wide range of habitat: “I caught a 6-pounder the day before yesterday. I threw into a foot and a half of water, and he just annihilated it. Yesterday I caught a 5 1/2-pounder, and he was in 15 feet of water.”

Temperatures are forecast to plunge approximately 20 degrees Friday night. Saturday will likely start with air temperatures in the upper 20s, with a daytime high in the mid-40s. Cloudy skies will return, and rain is possible. The good news is that everyone will have two good days to make the cut for Saturday’s finale. Also, those who compete on Saturday will find conditions similar to what they fished in practice.

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Grand Glaize Recreation Area PB No. 2 boat launch located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach, Mo., at 7 each morning. Weigh-ins will be held at Grand Glaize Recreation Area beginning at 3 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The Lake of the Ozarks Stren Series tournament is being hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association.

Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $10,000. If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:37 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 37 degrees

Expected high temperature: 61 degrees

Water temperature: 39-42 degrees

Wind: W at 5-10 mph

Humidity: 63 percent

Day’s outlook: mostly sunny