GALLATIN, Tenn. — It’s been a wet, cool few weeks in Tennessee. While that might mean it doesn’t yet feel like summer for residents of the Volunteer State, it should make the bass bite even better when the Music City Division of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine visits Old Hickory Lake on June 28.
Daniel Johnson, who has three MLF wins on the lake and has fished it his whole life, expects a “better than average June tournament” with both shallow and offshore patterns having the potential to win.
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What to expect
The recent rains should mean plenty of current is flowing through the Cumberland River impoundment, which Johnson said will bode well for both the shallow and offshore bites.
“A lot of times, if we’ve had a dry June, the flow can be really slowed,” he explained. “But we’ve had so much rain, we’ll definitely get current, and that’s going to help things for everybody.”
If anglers choose to fish shallow, expect docks – both marinas and residential boat docks – to be a major player. There’s also some natural wood and bank grass like water willow that could hold fish, Johnson said.
As of now, there are still shad spawning around all that shallow cover each morning. If that remains the case on tournament day (and Johnson thinks it will), it could provide an opportunity for anglers to fill their livewells in a hurry.
“You’ve still got a shad spawn going on, just because we’ve had so much rain, we haven’t had any hot weather,” Johnson said. “That’ll still be really good.”
Those who choose to fish away from the bank can target hard spots and other offshore structure that creates current breaks. He gives both patterns an equal chance to account for the win.
“I think it’s a matter of that day,” he said. “Whether you’re fishing shallow or deep, it’s just getting in the right rotation and hitting stuff at the right time.”
Baits to bring
For anglers targeting shallow cover, expect flipping baits (jigs, Texas rigs), squarebills, swim jigs and topwaters to see plenty of action. Offshore, Johnson said anglers will likely employ a mixture of reaction baits, such as deep-diving crankbaits, with slower presentations like football jigs and drop-shots.
What will it take?
Over the past few years, the winning weights for June BFLs on Old Hickory have ranged from a little less than 15 pounds to more than 20. Given the conditions, Johnson expects to see the higher end of that range at this event. He thinks somewhere between 17 and 19 pounds will get the job done.
Sign up to Fish 4 Free!
This marks the fourth event of the season for the Music City Division, which is notable because every Phoenix Bass Fishing League angler fishing the fourth event in each division this season 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. Click here to sign up for the Abu Garcia Fishing 4 Free promotion, or call 270-252-1000 to take advantage of this offer. Anglers will receive their gift pack at the event.