FLW Tour Recap: Grand Lake
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes team pro Dave Lefebre provides an inside look at the latest FLW Tour event in Grove, Okla.
(Editor’s note: Veteran bass pro Dave Lefebre has agreed to take time to share his insights into each FLW Tour event of the 2013 season. After every event, Lefebre will give his thoughts on tournament strategy, winning techniques and other behind-the-scenes stories/information that is compelling to our readers. The following blog represents his fifth installment of the season. Lefebre ultimately finished the Grand Lake event in 73rd place with a two-day total of 27 pounds, 14 ounces.)
Despite the best weather and water conditions I could have ever dream up, I had another bomb in an FLW Tour major. Grand Lake was really high and muddy from recent severe storms in the Tulsa area, but the fishing was still quite good. The muddy conditions took a lot of water out of play, but overall, I thought the lake still fished pretty big actually. The facilities and people around Grove, Okla., are top notch and I can’t help but wonder why we’ve never fished Grand before? I can’t imagine a more perfect setup for a big tournament … I’m guessing we’ll be back someday soon; and even though I did terribly, I’d love another shot at it.
My family and I stayed at Four Seasons RV Resort in Grove positioned on the bank of the Elk River. We had a nice cabin along side Blake Nick and his family. Jay Yelas, Luke Clausen, Bryan Thrift, Scott Canterbury, Barry Wilson and Andy Morgan stayed there as well. I’d like to thank Sharon and Bill for their hospitality throughout the week and for going out of their way to make Anne and the kids feel at home – they had a blast swimming and sliding on the water slide!
Alton Lackie and his wife Janice stayed with us this week so Alton was once again my practice companion for the week. We spent a couple afternoon hours of our second practice day in the Elk River by our cabin, which happens to be where the winner, Jason Christie, was fishing along with Andy Morgan and Barry Wilson. I caught a 3-pounder on a swimbait by the bridge right away and then another pair of 3-pounders flipping willow trees further back in the creek.
But then I made a stupid rookie mistake. A fellow competitor pulled up to us and said he’d been in there all day and only caught five fish and that they were all 3-pounders or less. He informed me that creek wasn’t the place to be if I wanted to make the cut. So that, along with our strong practice day in Honey Creek on day one, made me leave the Elk River and go elsewhere to try to expand on the area around Honey Creek. That’s just one of a bunch of influences that can mess you up if you let it – it makes me sick that I can be so stupid sometimes.
I did have the bites to make a $10,000 check nevertheless, but my bad luck continues. I lost a 5 1/2-pounder and one close to 4 pounds one day one; and then one 4-pounder on day two which got off right at the edge of the net. I finished 73rd and fell to 42nd in the AOY standings with only one event remaining next month on Lake Chickamauga, Tenn.
I caught at least 30 keepers per day and am just blown away that I didn’t catch at least 16 pounds a day with ease. I started each morning with a ChatterBait in flooded grass-like stuff and then ran around the rest of the day flipping isolated willow trees that I thought would get overlooked by most anglers. If I would have caught everything that bit, things would have been great, but that never happens. After seeing the weights I know I completely missed the boat somehow. It was a lot easier than what I was making it.
Because of the high and muddy water, bunches of fish were in super shallow water. Guys caught them cranking rock in 2-5 feet of water. Square-billed crankbaits, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits caught a pile of fish; frogs worked for a couple friends I spoke to, but flipping bushes with a jig or Texas rig was the main deal.
A few guys fished deep, but for the most part, the fish were not set up right offshore. The shallow fish ruled. I can’t speak for the other guys, but it seemed like the fish either bit on the initial fall or you had to really soak the bait, fishing it extremely slowly.
It also was important to cover every single inch of the cover. I would flip into a bush and then flip 6 inches to the right and get a bite – it was strange. Dark colors like black neon or black-and-blue were the deal for everyone I know who finished high in the standings. All the major creeks played and points were definitely the deal no matter what section of the creek you were fishing. The best crankbait and spinnerbait colors were chartreuse and the bait needed to have good vibration … the more the better.
I still love Grand Lake and really hope it becomes a regular FLW Tour stop. It’s unbelievable that I’ve been doing this for 11 years and never had the opportunity to fish Grand Lake. I promise I’ll be back. Congrats to Jason Christie on his third major win this season already … wow!
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