MT. JOLIET, Tenn. — Options can be a blessing and a curse. Anglers fishing the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Music City Division event on Old Hickory Lake this Saturday might be about to find that out.
With multiple patterns and sections of the lake capable of producing a winning bag, competitors are going to have to figure out how to parse down the menu to not go home hungry.
What to expect
Anyone following recent tournament results on Old Hickory is probably going to think the lake is the same as it’s been the last few years, with the weights relatively unchanged. But how anglers get there has looked a lot different lately according to local Josh Womack.
“I’d say overall numbers seem to be down,” Womack said. “We’ve lost a lot of grass in the fishery the last few years, and it’s hurting the population. Anyone who doesn’t fish here a lot may not know that, though, because tournament weights haven’t changed much.”
That’s a good thing for this tournament. Being a three-fish-limit event, an angler only needs three solid bites to have a chance at the win.
Where and how to get those bites will be the winning question.
Between the time of year and smaller population of fish, Womack said the bass are not grouped up near as much as he typically sees come early summer. Instead, they’re spread out throughout the fishery.
“This tournament, the fish will be everywhere,” Womack said. “So, a pro will be able to fish however they like to fish and catch fish. Which is great. But it will also be hard, because no one will know which pattern will be the right one.”
Usually, fishing offshore down the lake is the winner, and Womack said forward-facing sonar will be a huge asset for those employing that approach – not necessarily to see fish, but for lining up on structure, as the lake is pretty dirty.
However, running up the river to flip laydowns and brush is also a player for many anglers this time of year. With this being a three-fish derby, it might be less daunting to get three big flipping bites than five.
Then there’s the wild card of running water willows, which Womack said is known as a sneaky winning pattern this time of year – as long as not too many boats are doing it and those who do are willing to run around a lot.
All of that to say, choosing the right approach will likely be the toughest decision anglers face.
Baits to bring
Needless to say, the best baits will be heavily dependent on which pattern a pro picks.
Offshore, Womack said it will be hard to beat deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Up the river, bring your favorite flipping baits and get to work. And in the water willows, a swim jig and frog will be a deadly one-two punch.
What will it take?
Even when it had more grass, Old Hickory rarely produced giants. And with less of the green stuff, Womack said 5-pounders are a rare commodity. Instead, any bites above 3 1/2 pounds will be huge for anglers’ chances to get in the 10- to 11-pound range and contend for the win.