Pro Picks: Beaver Lake

Tournament site

Beaver Lake. This deep, clear, scenic impoundment in the Arkansas Ozarks has been the site of the annual Wal-Mart Open for eight years straight. It’s familiar territory for pretty much every angler on tour, so the “local” advantage has very little play at this event. Jigs and finesse baits often play a key role in capturing the tournament’s $200,000 top prize, as we saw with Las Vegas’ Tim Klinger’s win last year. The question this year, as in years past, is whether this will be a sight-fishing event. Some pros have their sights set exclusively on spawning-bass bonanza, while others aren’t so sure about that yet, saying it still might be a little cold for a huge migration toward the bank come tournament time. Another angle will be the spotted-bass factor, which plays a huge role at Beaver. Whatever the case, as with Okeechobee, fantasy-fishing fans have a wealth of history at their disposal to make their picks at Beaver Lake, and there definitely are patterns of success exhibited by certain pros at this lake. To wit: see Clark Wendlandt.

Hot picks

Despite having his worst season on record, the pros think Clark Wendlandt will snap out of it at Beaver Lake, the site of two of his FLW wins. The top vote-getter, he earned four picks from six pros – including himself, which is telling. Riding the wave of his BASS Angler of the Year title, not to mention a solid track record at Beaver Lake, Aaron Martens came in second with three picks. Luke Clausen, Jason Kilpatrick, Dave Lefebre and Ray Scheide also deserve honorable mention with two picks apiece.

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Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop No. 4

Wal-Mart Open

Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark.

April 13-16

Randy Blaukat FLW pro Lamar, Mo. Record: 2-1 Points: 2,048	VS.	Clark Wendlandt FLW pro Cedar Park, Texas Record: 1-2 Points: 2,020
1) RANDY BLAUKAT .History has proven that picking yourself will backfire, but in this case I have no choice. Since I’m off to my worst start in my FLW career, I have no other option than to place high or win here. Plus, this is the first FLW event this season where I will have had more than three practice days. Also, most pros think this will be a spawning event, but it won’t. I live 70 miles from the lake, and it has been way too cold here, which I really like. 2) LUKE CLAUSEN .Luke has been one of the hottest pros on both tours this season and has a lot of experience on Beaver-type lakes. Winning the championship last season has eliminated the biggest distraction for him – as well as the other 95 percent of pros on tour – which is the financial one. I think he will be a real contender here. 3) JASON KILPATRICK .I can relate to Jason because we have similar fishing styles, and, like myself, he tends to be really hot or really cold. Anglers like him are threats to win any event when they are on a roll, and his finish at the Ouachita give him some good momentum. He also has a proven track record on prespawn Beaver Lake bass. 4) DANNY CORREIA .Danny has quietly racked up a top-40 and top-30 in the first two FLW events, and he has great momentum leading into this event. He is from the clear-water, smallmouth lakes of the Northeast and understands the science of clear-water, prespawn bass very well. I look for Danny to come through for me here like Namiki did at Ouachita. 5) AARON MARTENS .Aaron is the Stephen Hawking of clear-water, spotted-bass fishing. No one on tour can match his understanding of this area. Aaron has been fishing great all season long and continues to be one of the most underrated super-pros in the world of pro angling. Like a lot of other two-tour pros, the only thing that is holding him back from dominating the FLW Tour in a major way is the short practices due to coming directly from other events.		1) DAVE LEFEBRE .I have picked him first in every event and he continues to do well. Angler of the Year is still within his reach. Last year he bombed at this tournament, but he will redeem himself this time. 2) JASON KILPATRICK .He now has momentum after his great finish in Louisiana. He also finished in the top 10 here last year. 3) RAY SCHEIDE .A great fisherman with a great future. Look for him to do well here. 4) MARK PACK .Always does well here. 5) CLARK WENDLANDT .My favorite lake, but can I get out of my slump?

Carl Svebek FLW pro Siloam Springs, Ark. Record: 2-1 Points: 1,967	VS.	David Dudley FLW pro Lynchburg, Va. Record: 1-2 Points: 1,999
1) CLARK WENDLANDT .I have stuck with him throughout the season, and he has to come through soon. Beaver is his hot spot, so look for Clean to sweep this one. 2) CODY BIRD .Cody another one who has always had good luck on Beaver. He’s a good fisherman who looks to be in the running on the final two days. 3) TOM MANN JR .A spotted-bass master, will be in contention at this one. Tom has always been one to catch them well at Beaver. 4) CHRIS MCCALL .My shot in the dark, but Chris has been close at Beaver several times. My short little friend should be pumped up at this one and could be a threat. 5) JIM TUTT .This is my first time picking Jim, but I feel he is due a good finish. He has caught them several times on Beaver and I know he will be ready for a good finish at this one.		1) KOBY KREIGER .Known for the polarized retinas that he paid $5,000 to have built into his eyeballs, he will see his way to victory. 2) ANTHONY GAGLIARDI .He is probably one of the best sight-fishermen in the country. Eat lots of carrots before you go, Tony. They help the vision, you know. 3) JACOB POWROZNIK .I have said it before: This man is a force to be reckoned with now and will be for years to come. 4) JOEL RICHARDSON .He usually does well here. This is just a hunch, but this man fishes with so much confidence that I think he really believes he can catch one on every cast. 5) DAVID DUDLEY .Can’t leave myself out when it comes to sight-fishing. I just enjoy it too much.

Dave Lefebre FLW pro Erie, Pa. Record: 2-1 Points: 1,945	VS.	Mark Zona EverStart pro Sturgis, Mich. Record: 1-2 Points: 2,228
1) AARON MARTENS .The spot king has got to be fired up over his recent BASS AOY. I’m happy for him, and I think he’s going to show up at Beaver just to relax and go fishing after a hectic week and a half. I think that will make him extremely dangerous on Beaver’s prespawning, fat, old spots and he’ll relax right into the top 10. 2) RAY SCHEIDE .Ray is a good friend and a super fisherman, plus he knows how to whack `em at the Beav. He’s been struggling a bit this year, but will turn it around during the second half of the season. He’s got a revolutionary new-age fishing line that will give him an edge over the competition in the clear water; I’ve seen it. It all begins for Ray in Rogers. 3) DION HIBDON .Dion is one of nicest people that I’ve ever met in my life, so I hope he does well. He started the year out really badly and has turned it around just like everyone knew he would. He usually spanks something at Beaver Lake, so expect Dion to “git `er dun!” Spank! Spank! Spank! 4) DAVE LEFEBRE .I said I wasn’t going to pick myself here, but I think I just did. I feel really good about this tournament. Beaver has been the worst tour stop for me the last two seasons (120th and 167th place), but this year I will not listen to the river whispering my name. I have a one-track mind this time and it feels really good (not to mention, I’ll be using the same line as Ray). 5) CLARK WENDLANDT .Gut pick. Has everyone picked Clark in this one? If they haven’t, they’re clinically insane. I pity the poor fish in this lake. Yikes! I did not pick sight-fishermen in my previous picks because I don’t think that’s going to be the main deal the first two days, but Clark proved he can catch them either way last year. If he makes the cut and the weather continues to warm, he’ll be tough to beat.		1) CLARK WENDLANDT .I’m struggling with the slump as much as Clark is, but at Beaver it – the slump – will end. I hope. 2) AARON MARTENS .Dude, he’s, like, totally fishing, like, out of his mind. He must be, like, stoked since winning AOY last week. 3) JIM MOYNAGH .Does great on Beaver. He’ll catch them, spawning or not. 4) CHIP HARRISON .The big guy is fishing pretty well this year and might make a big push before it’s all said and done. 5) LUKE CLAUSEN .Cooled off a little in the last few weeks, but he should get right back into form chasing spots around all week.

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