Destination: Lake Erie

EverStart Series Northern Division, Aug. 20-23

EverStart Series pros competing in the Northern Division tournament on Lake Erie will find the fishing a little different than it was one month earlier during the Detroit River event. Even though just one month has passed, the fish will most likely no longer be scattered in summertime patterns, according to Banana Boat pro Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich. “The fish will be feeding up for the fall and will be found in groups,” he said.

Vida advises anglers who catch a few nice bass in practice to return to the same location during the event, as chances are there will be a lot more where those came from.

“The tournament will probably be won at Pelee Island,” Vida said. However, there are many other locations where large numbers of smallmouths will be grouped during their feeding frenzy in preparation for colder weather.

North, South and Middle Bass Islands will be very productive areas in late August, as well as Kellys Island and the Ruggles Beach area. Vida also said it could be well worth the trip to the scattered reefs near Vermillion, Ohio. The reefs begin about 15 miles from the takeoff point at the Dempsey state access area and extend another 15 miles. This is a lot of area to cover, but huge smallmouths will be found in bunches at certain areas of the reefs.

Tubes in greens and browns cast to humps will be the big producers, but don’t be afraid to try watermelon-pattern tubes if the weather has been unusually cool. Other good choices include a jig, spoon or a Carolina rig fished at depths of 16 to 22 feet.

Vida predicts that it will take a two-day total of 32 pounds to make the first cut, 14 to 15 pounds to make the top 10 and around 20 pounds to win. “Early-season cool fronts could possibly pose problems, but they usually aren’t a factor until sometime in September.”

Links:

Pro field
Co-angler field
Tournament details and payouts
Pre-tournament press release