The 2015 Rayovac FLW Series Texas Division kicks off tomorrow in Del Rio on Lake Amistad in an event presented by Frabill and hosted by the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce.
The legendary south Texas border reservoir is challenging the field in practice this week, but recent tournament results suggest that some of the lake’s trophy-sized hawg largemouths might end up taking a ride to weigh-in when the best bass fishermen in Texas hit the water.
A one-day team-format Bass Champs event on Amistad on Jan. 24 took almost 26 pounds to win, with the top three teams bringing in individual big bass that weighed 8.47, 8.52 and 10.62 pounds, respectively.
Del Rio pro and tournament bass fishing legend Denny Brauer, who wasn’t in that tournament, was on the lake the same day and reports catching a giant that weighed more than 12 pounds – the biggest he’s caught from Amistad in quite some time.
Brauer seemed optimistic that the vagabond giants, whose propensity to suspend in the midst of an extreme low-water period on Amistad has challenged anglers in recent seasons, might finally start returning to areas where anglers can figure out how to catch them.
That’s not to say that Amistad is going to churn out dozens of 20-plus-pound limits as it did in his heyday. In fact, early estimates put a winning three-day total at only about 40 pounds. However, that’s a conservative estimate considering that those 8- to 10-pound-class fish are starting to show up.
The struggle for finding big fish aside, anglers are also faced with tracking down bass in what little natural cover remains in the lake. Hydrilla beds are still present, and throwing Rat-L-Traps in the grass could definitely be a factor. It’s a classic Texas prespawn pattern that several anglers in the field this week have perfected over the years, including Chris McCall, the winner of the 2014 Texas Division tournament on Sam Rayburn last January. He and others should be able to sniff out a Trap bite if there is one.
Otherwise, expect most of the field to spend its time out in deep water.
“Jerkbaits and natural-colored football-head jigs will definitely come into play,” says Texan Clark Rheem. “Also, with Lake Amistad being a clear, open body of water, umbrella rigs will be a heavy favorite among the competitors.”
For more about the bite on Lake Amistad this week, check back this evening for pre-tournament videos with several Texas Division contenders. Then tune in to FLW Live at 3:30 p.m. CT on Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, to watch the field weigh its fish.
Tournament Details:
Takeoff Time: 7:30 a.m. CT
Takeoff Location:
Diablo East Boat Ramp
Highway 90 West HCR 3
Del Rio, Texas
Weigh-in Time:
Days 1 and 2: 3:30 p.m.
Day 3: 4 p.m.
Weigh-in Location:
Days 1 and 2:
Diablo East Boat Ramp
Highway 90 West HCR 3
Del Rio, Texas
Day 3:
Del Rio Walmart
2410 Dodson Ave.
Del Rio, Texas
For complete details and updated information visit the Rayovac FLW Series tournament page. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Rayovac FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.