Scrambling for Bass in the All-American

Action is scattered from the bushes to the depths

Predictably, some fish seemed to be in a postspawn funk Thursday morning as the FLW Bass Fishing League All-American Championship got underway at Lake Barkley. What fish that were caught came on a variety of presentations, including giant worms and flipping jigs, square-bill and deep-diving crankbaits, and even topwater frogs. Results were also mixed, as some anglers reported one or two keepers in their livewells, while others such as Jeremy Lawyer of Missouri had small limits by midmorning. Still others struggled just to catch a keeper. Lawyer said he had about 15 pounds, but “needed a 4-pounder to do any good.”

Hosted by Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism, the three-day event pits the top BFL anglers and seven The Bass Federation qualifiers in a three-day test where the winner takes home more than $100,000 in prize money as well as a berth in the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup.

This morning, the 49 boats carrying the contestants scattered in all directions, with about a dozen heading up the Little River arm of the lake near the Lake Barkley State Resort Park Marina (where daily takeoffs are being staged starting at 7 a.m.) while the rest headed out into the main lake. Many of the latter turned south and ran toward the riverine end of the lake toward Tennessee. In the main lake, current is minimal, but anglers are hopeful it will increase this afternoon and improve the fishing.

Generally, the air temperature is about the same as the water temperature – in the low 80s. The stiff northwest wind that blew earlier in the week has abated, and the lake is fairly calm, with water color ranging from summer green to stained in the back of feeder creeks.

Today’s weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at the marina.