The Year of Skinny Water
Why 2017 could be the best season yet for shallow-water specialists
In today’s modern age of bass fishing everything is high tech, from the boats to the tackle and, of course, the electronics. There’s no question that technology has made life easier for both FLW Tour pros and casual anglers.
Technology has also aided the migration of bass fishing from the banks to the depths in recent times. Yet, despite the new focus on offshore fishing, several Tour pros, including Andy Morgan and John Cox, regularly shy away from idling for mega-schools or drop-shotting deep water. They tend to rely on a simplistic, back-to-the-basics approach of putting the trolling motor down and beating the bank.
The last several seasons on the FLW Tour have treated Morgan (three-time AOY) and Cox (reigning Forrest Wood Cup champ) well. Part of their shallow success is due to reduced pressure on the banks, but also the Tour has tended to visit more prime shallow fisheries during the early part of the year in recent seasons.
This year, we can expect more of the same. The 2017 Tour dodges the Tennessee River and most other traditional deep-water fisheries where offshore specialists rule, and the timing of events and locations on the schedule appear to line up in favor of those who like to pound the bank and kick up mud versus spending countless hours idling with their graphs.
The lakes
A quick glance at the list of lakes on the 2017 Tour schedule reveals that shallow water will be a major factor all season. The Harris Chain, Mississippi River, Potomac River and Guntersville should offer a solid shallow bite, considering the timing and the fact that a couple of those fisheries offer very little deep fishable water anyway. Even Beaver Lake in April could be predominately a shallow bite, judging by the patterns we’ve seen from it over the last few seasons. And Lake Cumberland has a lot of new flooded woody cover on its banks now that it has filled back up after an extended drawdown.
At Harris, the Mighty Miss, Potomac and G-ville, the common factor that leads to a good shallow bite is grass. More than half the season will go down on grass-filled fisheries, compared to the last few years when only one or two events were dominated by grass-fishing tactics.
Another thing to consider is that several of the lakes are relatively new destinations for the Tour, including Lake Cumberland and Lake Travis, which haven’t hosted Tour events for at least a decade. There will be anglers who have little to no experience on these waters. When situations like that arise, running and gunning along the bank can pay off big time and allow anglers to expand on a pattern throughout the course of an event.
The question marks
Not every tournament will be a strictly shallow endeavor, and the two that could potentially throw a wrench in the plan of the bank beaters are Lake Travis and Lake Cumberland. Both events will likely be prespawn battles, so there are certainly fish to be caught shallow. Yet both lakes feature prime structure to fish offshore too.
Little is known about them by the pros on Tour, but the early reports say that both lakes should offer anglers chances at fishing their strengths. Guys who favor fishing deep and using their electronics might be able to stumble upon some schools of fish still lingering out in wintering areas.
Cumberland is a great smallmouth fishery and will likely present the best chance on this year’s schedule at catching fish deep if the weather cooperates. Smallmouths are big fans of deep, clear water. Then again, the previously mentioned flipping bite could win it if the Tour arrives during a warming trend.
Lake Travis, which is also now full of shoreline cover, could hold some deeper opportunities. The last Tour event that took place there back in 2007 was won fishing contour breaks with a drop-shot, and similar patterns won’t be overlooked this time around.
Even Beaver Lake and Lake Guntersville could offer productive deep-water options. But due to timing of the events, shallow-water specialists won’t be left out to dry on these fisheries and have good odds to win.
Reaping the benefits
On paper, this season should no doubt favor shallow-water anglers. Andy Morgan, John Cox, Bryan Thrift, Scott Canterbury, Clark Wendlandt, Jay Yelas, Wesley Strader and, of course, the one and only Jimmy Houston should be licking their chops.
Fantasy Fishing players also shouldn’t overlook Brandon Cobb, Tracy Adams, Zack Birge, Jeff Sprague, Bryan Schmitt, Cody Bird and Todd Auten. Even Michael Neal, a bona fide ledge-fishing expert, has established himself in the shallow-water game.
The list goes on and on, but the point is that this season will offer opportunities for the guys who love to fish shallow to make an Angler of the Year run or win tournaments.
Shallow-water tournaments offer some of the most exciting action you can get in tournament fishing. From stunning on-the-water photos to awesome GoPro videos of chunky bass getting flipped in the boat, this season is sure to produce some great memories and plenty of opportunities for pros to get back to the way they grew up fishing – trolling motor down, a few rods on the deck and miles of shoreline to cover.
It’s back to the basics for bass fishing on Tour in 2017.