MLF Format is a New and Exciting Change for Veteran Walker
TULSA, Okla. – With
Among those is David Walker.
The Tennessee pro came to the MLF Bass Pro Tour after more than 20 years competing with both FLW and B.A.S.S. And while Walker knew how the MLF format worked, he admits that he wasn’t completely prepared when the tour kicked off in Kissimmee, Florida last month.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Walker reflected. “I knew the format from watching the shows, but it’s really hard to manage a day of fishing until you experience it first hand.”
Walker finished in 27th place in his group, missing the cut in Stage One. But it’s a long season, and he knew he could make up some ground in the point standings during Stage Two at Lake Conroe, a place he had fished before.
When he arrived in Conroe, Texas for his practice rounds, Walker already had an idea of how to attack the lake. He used a combination of a Live Target Signature Series Tennessee Craw Crankbait and a Signature Series Z-Man Finesse Jig during his first couple of days that proved to be a winning pattern.
While he was confident in his bait choices, Walker knew it wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t get to the spot he wanted to fish, on the wood-infested upper end of Conroe.
“I knew from experience that those creeks on the north end of the lake were going to be a factor,” Walker explained. “I knew there were only five or so of them. I thought that a lot of people were going to want to fight for those creeks but luckily it didn’t turn out that way.”
He finished the Elimination Round in 10th place in Group B, enough to move him on to the Knockout Round. With the water temperature starting to warm up, Walker knew he needed to change his gameplan if he wanted to keep pace with the rest of the field. He switched his main bait to a Z-man ChatterBait, but still remained on the north end of the lake.
His decision proved fruitful as he reeled in 11 bass for 27 pounds, 10 ounces, including a 6-3 that secured a top-10 spot and a place in the Championship Round.
With ChatterBait still in hand, Walker came up just short on Championship Sunday, finishing in 5th place but with enough points to qualify for 2020 Challenge Cup.
While he learns how to fish in the MLF format on the fly, Walker is having fun with this new challenge.
“I really look forward to fishing each stage and I’m really enjoying it,” Walker said. “New things can be scary but this tour isn’t because I enjoy it so much. I enjoy pushing myself and going up against the caliber of guys we have on tour.”
The MLF Bass Pro Tour continues with Stage Three from Raleigh, North Carolina