The weather turned hotter on Lake Barkley on the second morning of the 2016 FLW Bass Fishing League All-American, but unfortunately for many of the 98 anglers in the event, which is hosted by Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism, the fishing couldn’t match it.
Typical of the slow fishing the contestants experienced, tournament leader Jeremy Lawyer didn’t have his first keeper until 10 o’clock. Like many others, the Missouri pro expected fishing to improve over Wednesday’s first round, but a lack of current apparently stifled the morning bite. The current and fishing conditions could change for the better by this afternoon, however, as that was case Thursday afternoon.
Lawyer is one of several tournament leaders spotted fishing offshore, though the ledge strategy isn’t being universally applied. Shallow-water specialists such as Mark Tucker and John Vanore, currently in third place, caught fish early in the morning by flipping jigs or soft plastics to bank cover.
Tucker had three fish early, and broke off a 6-pound-class fish at the boat as his co-angler, Gerald Williams of Scottsville, Ky., was preparing to net it.
“What was worse, after she broke off she came up right beside the boat and shook her head. If I’d had the net in my hands I think I could have netted her,” says the Missouri veteran.
Vanore, of Mullica Hill, N.J., had three keepers by 9 a.m. His gambit involves flipping to wood cover and chunk rock along shady banks, especially where a creek channel swings in close to the shore. His co-angler, Lucas Devere of Berea, Ky., broke off two fish early.
“Barkley is about 10 days behind this year because of cooler weather we had earlier this spring,” opines Barkley regular Harold Knight of Knight & Hale Game Calls. “It’s fixing to break loose, but it’s definitely running behind Kentucky Lake as far as the ledges starting to fill up with fish.”
Hopefully for some, that might happen this afternoon or tomorrow. The top 10 advance to Saturday’s final round. This afternoon’s weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at Lake Barkley State Resort Park Marina.