The 2012 Walmart BFL season continues with five tournaments on Saturday, April 14. The Arkie division continues its season on DeGray Lake, the Bama division continues on Lake Martin, the Hoosier division opens up on Lake Monroe, the Mountain division continues on Lake Cumberland and the South Carolina division continues on Santee Cooper. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing in each event for top awards up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively.
When: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Where: Arkie Division
DeGray Lake
Iron Mountain Lodge & Marina
134 Iron Mountain Marina Drive
Arkadelphia, Ark.
To sign up and fish this event, click here.
Notes: Bass fishing is being reported as very good right now on DeGray Lake, where the water temperature is hovering right around 70 degrees. The fish are being located off of shallow points and structure in the lake coves and major creeks. Crankbaits, jigs and soft plastics will be popular baits thrown during the tournament. Sight fishing could play a role in this tournament as well, as the bass will be in multiple patterns.
Where: Bama Division
Lake Martin
Wind Creek State Park
4325 Alabama Highway 128
Alexander City, Ala.
Hosted by the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce
To sign up and fish this event, click here.
Notes: The clear water of Lake Martin often can frustrate even the most experienced angler, but the largemouth bite is being reported as above average right now. Anglers are reporting success in the northern region of the lake, near the Coley Creek and Elkahatchee Creek areas. Anglers should target the ledges and drop-offs in the creeks and main lake. Finesse fishing will be a factor due to the water clarity, so fish slow and light. Soft plastics, crankbaits and topwater lures will all be used by anglers in this tournament.
Where: Hoosier Division
Lake Monroe
Cutright Ramp
4850 South State Road 446
Bloomington, Ind.
To sign up and fish this event, click here.
Notes: Lake level on Monroe is way up – almost 20 feet – and water temperature is in the mid 60-degree range. The bass are in a normal spring pattern and will be in the pre-spawn to spawn mode. Normal spring tactics including spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and jigs will be used. Bass are being found off of the deep points and breaks, with anglers also catching fish near the weed lines. It is not uncommon to find 6-pound largemouth bass in Monroe, and anglers can expect the winning bag to be near 25 pounds.
Where: Mountain Division
Lake Cumberland
Conley Bottom Resort
Route 5, Box 5360
Monticello, Ky.
To sign up and fish this event, click here.
Notes: Fishing on Lake Cumberland has been excellent and the bass are being reported in multiple patterns due to the mild winter. Surface water temperature is being reported as 68-degrees, and the lake level is up around 13-feet above normal level. Bass are being found from 4 to 12 feet of water, and anglers are finding success in the many creeks and coves of Cumberland. Topwater, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs will all be tools of the trade used in this tournament. Don’t be surprised to see the Alabama rig become a factor as well. This tournament can be won using a variety of techniques due to the varying patterns, so angler versatility will be the key to victory.
Where: South Carolina Division
Santee Cooper
John C Land III Landing
County Road 514-260
Summerton, S.C.
Hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce
To sign up and fish this event, click here.
Notes: Bass fishing is being reported as good on Santee Cooper. The strong sight-fishing bite that had been consistent for the past few weeks has now slowed as the bass are now entering the post-spawn phase and returning to deeper water. Water temperature is in the mid to upper 60-degree range, and water level is down about 1 foot. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics should be popular amongst tournament anglers. As the water continues to warm, the baitfish will become much more active and the largemouth will continue to become more aggressive.
Walmart BFL overview
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
About FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.