Eufaul-low

Third event of EverStart Series Southeast Division features low water

EUFAULA, Ala. – Given all catastrophic weather, heavy rains and flooding throughout the southeast recently, it does not seem possible that Alabama’s Lake Eufaula could be low, but the 45,000-acre impoundment is a foot or two short of what EverStart Series anglers were hoping for this week.

Due to Eufaula’s massive shallow flats, water level is critical here, especially in the spring when bass like to get shallow and anglers like to fish emergent grass beds in one to two feet of water with heavy artillery.

Now much of that shallow grass is nearly dry and anglers will have to explore other options as the lower water has ushered many bass into post-spawn patterns out off the bank.

This is music to the ears of offshore structure specialists like well-known crankbait king David Fritts, a former FLW Tour winner on Lake Eufaula, who has shown up at the EverStart Series this week because he undoubtedly smells a little crankbait blood in the air.

And Fritts is not the only former Lake Eufaula winner in the roster. This event is chock full of Lake Eufaula notables including Koby Kreiger, Ryan Ingram, JT Kenney, Bobby Padgett, Kim Carver, Rodger Beaver and, of course, Alan Hults, who won the FLW Series here last year.

Some are looking to stay close, others are looking to run far up – or even down – the rivers as the dock talk this morning had some pros contemplating locking down into the Chattahoochee River below Eufaula and possibly even to Lake Seminole.

Pro Derek Hicks of Rocky Face, Ga., who finished 8th in the FLW Series on Eufaula last year, said he is considering a lengthy run far up the Chattahoochee River.

“Last year I only had three rods on my deck for this tournament,” Hicks said before takeoff this morning. “Now I’ve got eight rods out – not good – that’s too many rods for a lake like this. But when that water is low, you have to have some other options.”

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula, Ala., at 6 each morning. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Lakepoint State Park beginning at 3 p.m. daily.

Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart located at 1252 S. Eufaula Ave. at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Pros will fish for a top award of $35,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger 177TR with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

Thursday’s conditions

Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees

Expected high temperature: 78 degrees

Water temperature: 80 degrees

Wind: NW at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: clearing and cooler