SANDUSKY, Ohio – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Buckeye Division will visit the mighty Lake Erie on Aug 2. This marks the fourth event of the season and the first time visiting the lake this year.
As the fourth event in the division, all anglers will receive an Abu Garcia gift pack valued at $230 for boaters and $180 for co-anglers – a value that exceeds the entry fee. It’s like Fishing 4 FREE! Plus, participants will receive a code for 25% off an order at AbuGarcia.com. Sign up today at MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270) 252-1000 to take advantage of this incredible offer. Anglers will receive their gift box at the event.
This year, BFL anglers benefit from an expanded slate of Regionals, which minimizes travel costs and provides more opportunities to qualify for the $120,000 BFL All-American while fishing familiar, closer-to-home waters. Click here to find out more.
What to expect
Pinckney, Michigan’s Michael Sitko won a BFL here last year in early August, his seventh Major League Fishing win on Erie or the Detroit River, and while he won’t be fishing this year, he expects good fishing overall.
“The potential for big weights is still there, but Lake Erie has been stingy lately, and there’s a massive number of drum in the system, more than I can ever remember,” he said. “The drum eat the same thing as the bass and they’re in certain places for a reason, but it’s made things a little more challenging. The other thing I’ve noticed is you can’t catch three or four bass off of one spot right now; it’s more like catching one and moving on.”
The other factor this year is the warmer water temperatures, which could come down if the wind forecasts hold.
“It’s been one of the warmest on record for water temperatures, which has been weird because we had a cooler spring,” he said. “Right now, the wind forecast is calling for an east wind, which could help some areas and bring some fresh and cooler water temperatures into places.”
While Sitko sees things as slightly different this year, he expects some traditional areas to produce.
“It’s probably going to go down on the east side of Pelee Island, which is usually the player here,” he said. “The key there will be to find some clean rock that is not overpopulated by the drum. If you are fishing a stretch and it doesn’t seem right, you have to be willing to pull the plug and try something different, either deeper water or a different technique.”
Baits to bring
Great Lakes smallmouth fishing can be pretty simple, and Sitko agrees, stating that a drop-shot rig and tube will be musts. The other will be a jighead minnow, with an outside shot that a crankbait could be a factor in shallow water.
What will it take?
While Sitko says things are a tad tougher this year, 22 to 23 pounds should still be needed to win this event. Weights in the upper teens should cash checks.