Smallmouths loom large

Wal-Mart FLW Series returns after four-month hiatus

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The weather looks perfect for a long run south down Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga, N.Y., but don’t bet on it. While those 4-pound largemouths make headlines in June and July, they are a completely different animal in September.

Although it is known mostly for its tremendous smallmouth bass fishing, largemouths have been the key to winning recent tournaments on Lake Champlain. In 2006, BP pro Tracy Adams won the FLW Tour event by running 70 miles south and fishing grass mats. Denny Brauer also won the 2006 BASS Elite Series event by fishing largemouths as did Timmy Horton this season.

But according to several pros, the largemouth bite is off. Green bass aficionados Dion Hibdon and Tommy Biffle are rumored to be staying on the north end of the lake, a real surprise considering today’s calm conditions.

The smallmouth bite at the third BP Eastern Division event isn’t strong either, but most pros believe they can entice five bites by targeting brown fish.

That’s the plan for Pepcid Complete pro Jason Knapp. The Uniontown, Pa., native won back-to-back tournaments on Lake Champlain in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, he won the FLW Tour event as a co-angler. In 2005, he won the Stren Series event as a professional. At that tournament, Knapp fished for smallmouths early in the morning and then focused his attention on kicker largemouths the rest of the day. He has a different strategy for this tournament.

“I’m fishing for smallmouths with a reaction bait,” he said. “Although the fish aren’t really ganged up, I’ve caught a few 5-pounders in practice. My goal for today is 16 pounds.”

Chevy pro Kim Stricker has a similar approach in mind. He plans to throw a jerkbait and a topwater bait shallow in search of smallies.

“I’m a smallaholic, I always fish smallmouths if I can,” said Stricker. “Overall, the weights will be there, but not as many fish are being caught. I’ve never heard people ask what the minimum size limit is up here. I really think the fish are between their summer and fall patterns.”

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Dock Street Landing located at 2 Dock St. in Plattsburgh at 6:30 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 25 Consumer Square in Plattsburgh beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Wal-Mart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include the Fujifilm trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.

The entire field competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. Co-angler winners are determined on day three based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

In FLW Series competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The total purse for the Lake Champlain tournament is $1 million, including $10,000 through 50th place and $2,000 through 75th place in the Pro Division. Ultimately, all anglers in the tournament will also be competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the BP East-National Guard West Fishoff and a shot at advancing to the $2 million, 2008 Forrest Wood Cup, where the winning pro will earn as much as $1 million – the sport’s biggest award.

On the Web

For those unable to attend in person, FLWOutdoors.com brings all the action to your computer screen via FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.

Wednesday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:20 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 54 degrees

Expected high temperature: 72 degrees

Water temperature: 68-70 degrees

Wind: NE at 5 mph

Maximum humidity: 49 percent

Day’s outlook: sunny