$1.26 million in prize money up for grabs at Beaver Lake event
It’s that time of the year again. For anglers and bass-fishing fans alike, the month of April can only mean one thing on the FLW Tour: the Wal-Mart Open at Beaver Lake. It’s a lake the field knows well, having visited there every year but once since the inception of the FLW Tour in 1996. The Wal-Mart Open, aptly named as the Wal-Mart headquarters resides in Bentonville, Ark., is also one of the most lucrative tournaments of the year. Instead of the $100,000 top prize allocated for most regular-season tournaments, the Wal-Mart Open serves up a whopping $200,000 first-place award for the eventual winner of the Pro Division and $40,000 for the winner of the Co-angler Division.
However, unlike previous years, Beaver Lake probably won’t be a haven for the tour’s vaunted sight-fishing specialists. With cooler water temperatures abound – coupled with the fact that the tour is hitting Beaver Lake approximately two weeks earlier than usual – anglers will likely have to exhaust their full arsenal of techniques to have a successful four-day tournament.
“Put it this way,” said FLW Tour pro David Dudley. “The fish won’t be on the beds. This won’t be a sight-fishing tournament.”
Sight-fishing guru Clark Wendlandt, possibly the most dominant angler on Beaver Lake over the past five years, agrees.
“I’m 95 percent certain that the tournament will not be won fishing on the beds,” he said. “There’s just not a whole lot of spawning bass right now.”
“In my opinion, the people who find the staging fish are going to do the best,” said FLW pro Mark Pack. “Right now the water temperature on the main lake is about 51 to 52 degrees and 55 to 56 degrees in the creeks. So, for the most part, the fish will not be spawning.”
Lake facts/history
With 449 miles of shoreline, Beaver Lake was formed in 1960 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed Beaver dam on the White River in a joint effort to control flooding and harness a source of hydroelectric power. An extremely clear lake, Beaver Lake intermingles with a variety of major water sources including the Indian, North Clifty, Clifty, Prairie and War Eagle creeks. Overall, Beaver Lake meanders more than 70 miles through the Ozark Mountains, covering more than 28,000 acres. Beaver Lake also has an average depth of 60 feet and a maximum depth of 204 feet – near Beaver Dam.
Grab bag of species equals success
Unlike many lakes that the FLW Tour visits during the course of the year, anglers will have their pick of the litter regarding various bass species to target. In addition to largemouth bass – which usually accounts for the winning stringer at most lakes – anglers will vie for healthy populations of spotted and smallmouth bass as well.
“The spotted bass are huge right now and full of eggs,” said Pack. “Normally, you can’t win a tournament with spotted bass, but this year you just might.”
Wendlandt also believes an angler will have to successfully plan for multiple species in order to make a run at the title.
“I doubt anyone will be able to win this tournament by catching all of the same species,” he said. “And I really think that’s going to level the playing field this year. Personally, I’m going to try to pattern both largemouth and spots. I definitely think you’re going to see some anglers catch some good sacks of spotted bass.”
Jerkbaits, crankbaits and Carolina rigs favored
With sight-fishing techniques all but marginalized due to the early spring conditions, anglers will have to turn their attention elsewhere. But where? A quick, unscientific survey revealed that many anglers believe that the jerkbait will reign supreme this week at Beaver Lake. However, bass-fishing fans can expect to see plenty of drop-shot, Carolina-rig and crankbait techniques as well.
“It’s probably going to be a jerkbait tournament,” said Dudley. “But I think you’ll also see a lot of crankbaits and shaky heads – a lead jig head with a finesse worm. There will be some fish caught on spinner baits too. And anytime you have spotted bass, you’re going to see a lot of drop-shotting.”
“My guess is that there are going to be three or four ways people are going to fish,” said Wendlandt. “Some anglers will try to throw small jigs in deep water. Others will try a jerkbait deep, which is a good prespawn technique. And then there will be the people who try to fish deep bars with a drop-shot or Carolina rig.”
Weather, water levels, other intangibles keep everyone guessing
With the water down approximately 10 feet from last year’s Wal-Mart Open levels, anglers should have an easier time judging available cover – a fact that should serve to level the playing field even more than usual.
“The water level is down and it’s going to be a lot easier to read the water this year,” said Dudley. “Visually speaking, you will be able to pattern the fish a lot easier.”
However, while low water levels should assist the anglers in finding fish, the cold weather could put a crimp in the action and negate the advantages of easily read cover.
“From what I can tell, the conditions during the tournament are going to be a little tougher than they are now,” said Pack. “Another cold front is moving in and we’re supposedly going to get down in the 20s during Wednesday’s takeoff. And that could change a lot of things.”
Fish on
While many variables will undoubtedly come into play this week, one thing is certain: With more than $1.25 million on the line, the action will be intense.
“We’ve just caught 31 fish in about three hours, so the fishing is pretty good,” said Dudley, reporting back from Beaver Lake on April 3. “Normally, it takes about 21 pounds to make the (two-day) cut. But this year, I think it’s going to take a lot more. I think when all is said and done, the real Beaver Lake is going to show itself this year. Just you wait.”