Going back in time

Lake Eufaula FLW Series event goes ‘old school’

EUFAULA, Ala. – Alabama’s Lake Eufaula is a veritable chapter in the history books of competitive bass fishing. When Ray Scott was forging new ground in tournament fishing with his BASS brainchild in the 60’s and 70’s, Lake Eufaula was one of the frequented destinations for bass anglers in tournaments.

Perusing through BASS tournament standings on Lake Eufaula from those good old days you will find names of legends and pioneers of the sport, including Forrest Wood, Bobby Murray, Roland Martin and Bill Dance.

On the banks of Lake Eufaula sprang up fishing industry giants such as Mann’s Jelly Worms and Humminbird electronics.

The sport has come a long, long way since then, but at the day four takeoff of the Walmart FLW Series event on Eufaula this morning, some of that nostalgia hung in the nippy morning mist.

For starters, the top 10 includes two icons of professional fishing, Guido Hibdon and Tom Mann, Jr., who have been fishing tournaments on Eufaula since the 1980’s.

Also, Lake Eufaula was looking more like her old self this week, high and muddy, which brought out another classic: big, ugly spinnerbaits.

Back in the day, Lake Eufaula’s normally stained water was a spinnerbait wonderland. But over the last five to six years, Eufaula’s clearer waters have caused a lot of bass to take up permanent residence offshore.

That’s why this week’s muddy water on Eufaula has been kind of a blast from the past.

“The whole southeast has been in a prolonged drought the last five years, especially right here on the Chattahoochee River chain,” said Tomm Mann, Jr., this morning. “All of these lakes down through Georgia and Alabama have been low and clear for the most part. So this is quite change and it has definitely brought a spinnerbait back into play.”

Indeed spinnerbaits, especially big 1/2- and ¾-ounce models with big blades and gaudy old school skirts, have been top producers in Eufaula’s muddy waters this week.

Tournament leader Glenn Browne is throwing 1/2-ounce Hildebrandt Okeechobee Specials on 15-pound Trilene fluorocarbon.

Mann, who is in third, is using a ¾-ounce Mann’s Classic Spinnerbait and a 1/2-ounce Terminator, both with bright chartreuse skirts.

J.T. Kenney’s spinnerbaits, however, get the official award for ugliest spinnerbaits. His spinners featured bright yellow and orange blades.



The only one who did not say much about spinnerbaits was Hibdon, who was quietly amused by the “ugly spinnerbait show.”

Rumor is Hibdon’s got a little something figured out with shallow crankbaits, but we will find out more about that this afternoon.

The day four weigh-in of the FLW Series will be held at the Eufaula Walmart beginning at 4 p.m.