MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Locals take pride when their home waters get showcased at big events. Unfortunately for Rodney Copeland and those who frequent the Arkansas River, the fishery didn’t put its best foot forward when the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats came to town in mid-June.
A few weeks removed from the torrential rains that hit the area prior to that event, Copeland is hoping the fishery gets to show off a bit for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Okie Division, which will visit July 11.
What to expect
Anyone who followed the Toyota Series derby witnessed a true grinder of an event thanks to surging water levels, which brought heavy current and a ton of muddy water with them.
Copeland managed to grind out the victory in that event, but he said it by no means showcased the potential of the fishery.
“I was interviewed before the Toyota and said we’d see some 20-pound bags and a number of 17- to 18-pound bags,” Copeland said. “But at that point, I didn’t figure in the rainfall we were going to get or how tough it would make the fishing.
“It still blows my mind, because the river had been fishing so good in the weeks up to that event.”
Instead of putting on a show, it became a slowdown, as the river gave up only 20 limits on Day 1 and 18 on Day 2. Fortunately, Copeland is expecting much better this event, provided more precipitation stays away.
“The flow is still a lot right now, but if we don’t get a lot of precipitation, that flow is going to slow down, and a lot of areas are going to clean up,” Copeland said.
With several rivers in play near takeoff plus a lock down to Kerr Reservoir as a great option, the biggest key may be finding that clean water. But rest assured, anyone who does so should be in great shape – though Copeland doesn’t feel one clean-water area will be enough to win.
“I think pros are going to have to move around a lot in this event,” he said.
Baits to bring
Look back at the Top 10 Baits gallery from the Toyota Series and you’ll notice a pattern pretty quick: The Arkansas River is a power fisherman’s paradise.
Swim jigs are must-haves any time an angler launches on the river. Frogs are equally deadly. Throw in flipping baits, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, and you’ve got most of the power-fishing staples covered.
Basically, a pro can probably leave the spinning rods at home for this one.
What will it take?
The Toyota Series event only saw two bags crack the 16-pound mark across three days. If the flow and water color don’t change much from then (they’ve remained pretty steady as of this writing), Copeland feels this event will see 16 to 17 pounds take the win.
That said, a favorable forecast and less precipitation could allow the river settle down. And if it does, look out.
“If we get a few days of the right conditions, pros are really going to catch them like they have all year,” Copeland said. “Then, it’ll take around 19 to 20 pounds to win.”