Quality control
Anglers need the big bites for Toledo Bend finale
MANY, La. – In a fishery known for quality and quantity, it’s all about getting the big bites. Lake Charles, La., pro Bart Blakelock has done that for two days and if he can remain consistent, he’ll be in good shape to win the final FLW American Fishing Series Texas Division event on Toledo Bend.
One of the first to weigh on day one, Blakelock brought in the event’s third heaviest bag – a limit of 23 pounds – and ended in second place. He improved his weight and position the next day by sacking up 25-2 and overtaking the lead with 48-2.
Working main lake ridges in 20-25 feet, Blakelock has been fishing a mix of deep diving crankbaits,
Texas-rigged worms and football jigs. Yesterday, he had most of his weight by 8 a.m. Today, the top-10 boats launched 30 minutes earlier than the previous two days, so Blakelock and his competitors will have a wider window of opportunity.
The top pro stuck with his day one game plan yesterday, but slower afternoon bite has him pondering possible adjustments for the final round. “We’ll see how it goes. I just have to keep my composure. I just hope to get five bites.
“I really relied on this one area (on day two). There was a bunch of 3- and 4-pounders there (on day one), but yesterday, I just couldn’t get them to bite. Unless I can get a good limit early, I’m probably going to be running to eight or nine different spots.”
In second place with 43-13, Jeremy Guidry of Opelousas, La. has caught his fish by slow dragging a football jig and a Carolina rig. He, too, is concerned about squeezing out another big limit.
“I stayed on my spot a long time yesterday and hit it pretty hard,” he said. “I don’t know if I can catch them again tomorrow. I think there’s enough fish there to do well. I just don’t know if they’ll bite.”
Guidry said he’s banking on one key spot, but he’s prepared to run and gun, if need be. “I only have one spot where I’ve caught any quality. I have some other places where I think I can catch a limit, but I haven’t caught any quality in any of those other places.”
While most found the fish more active in the early morning hours, local pro Wayne Ebarb got his better bites during the afternoon heat. “The way the fish positioned on the deep structure, they seemed to bite better up in the day.”
Ebarb fished about 20 different spots on day two and he plans on hitting most of them again today. He
said he feels good about the potential of sacking up a competitive limit somewhere along the milk run.
“I think I can catch 13-18 pounds, but you never know,” he said. “I may catch five little swimmers or I may not catch anything.”
George Jeane Jr. of Evans Louisiana starts the day in fourth place with 40-11. Jeane dominated day one with his 30-pound, 5-ounce stringer. He stumbled on day two with a small limit weighing10-6, but his first day’s effort kept him near the top. Jeane won the 2009 event (formerly Stren Series) on Toledo Bend.
Leading the co-angler division, Jeff Sprague of Forney, Texas carries a 2-pound, 6-ounce lead into the final day.
Logistics
Anglers will weigh-in at Cypress Bend Park located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive, Many, La. Weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $10,000. If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000.
The Toledo Bend American Fishing Series tournament is being hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourism Commission & Sabine River Authority.
Saturday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:09 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 74 degrees
Expected high temperature: 97 degrees
Water temperature: 85 degrees
Wind: S 5 mph
Humidity: 55 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny