Winds of change
Afternoon blow could stir things up at Lake Mead
HENDERSON, Nev. – The calm, idyllic surface of Lake Mead seen by Stren Series anglers Wednesday could become a distant memory by Thursday afternoon as day two of Western Division competition unfolds.
It’s hard enough to catch a good, quality limit of bass at Lake Mead in the wintertime, but throw a little breeze into the mix and that task starts to look very interesting, indeed. The forecast is calling for a major front – which, by Las Vegas standards, usually means a whole lot of wind – to move through the area later this afternoon. Gusts up to 30 mph are predicted by 3 p.m., and that will certainly stir things up for anyone running around the generally unprotected desert confines of Lake Mead in a 20-foot, flat-bottomed bass boat.
That’s not to mention that it might mess up the fishing, as well. Many top pros are using light-line, finesse-bait presentations, often in deeper water, to coax to the finicky few fish to bite. As the wind picks up, expect anglers to increase their tackle size, not to mention drain their trolling motor batteries, in order to keep their bait in front of the bass. The drop-shots and light jigs we saw the first day might give way to more heavy jigs and reaction baits today.
“That’s what that is on this lake: a good start,” said pro Jim Lyon, referring to the 8-pound, 11-ounce limit he caught on day one to place eighth. “Now the wind’s going to blow, so we’re going to have to change everything.”
Add to that the tendency toward a prevailing afternoon bite here this week, which is the same time the winds should pick up. A number of anglers said they’ve been catching fish as the water warms up later in the day. Now with a front moving through at the same time the fish are supposed to start biting, it could get dicey for those who don’t adapt.
Day-two weigh-in festivities begin at 3 p.m. Pacific time at Callville Bay Marina on the north shore of Lake Mead.