Backs to the wall

Anglers prepared to give it their all during crucial day of FLW competition on Lake Martin

ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. – With sunny conditions, gorgeous blue skies and a light wind serving as a backdrop for today’s competition, FLW anglers were geared up for a quality day of fishing as they departed the Wind Creek State Park marina shortly after 8 a.m. As they headed out onto the open waters of Lake Martin, anglers appeared to be filled with a sense of optimism now that lingering signs of the cold front, which had dominated the weather patterns from the opening of the tournament, had all but disappeared.

“At this time of year the fishing usually picks up when a cold front moves out and warm weather moves in,” said second-place pro qualifier Aaron Martens of Castaic, Calif. “I think the fish are going to be coming up into shallower water and that should make for a good day of fishing. This could be the best day of the tournament so far.”

Martens said that with the preponderance of spotted bass in the lake – estimates suggest that over 70 percent of the bass population in Lake Martin is comprised of the smaller spotted bass variety – anglers would be wise to formulate a diversification fishing strategy before heading out onto the water.

“My goal is to try and catch at least five largemouth bass and 30 spotted bass today in order to get a good limit,” said Martens. “Because there are so many spotted bass out there, you really have to weed through them to find the bigger fish. It’s also going to be important to catch some largemouths because they generally tend to run a little bit bigger.”

Day-one pro leader Ricky Shumpert of Lexington, S.C., said that the spotted bass should be the most active fish in the water today.

“Spots should be biting a lot better in the warmer weather,” he said. “The largemouths really didn’t bite at all yesterday, so hopefully they’ll be biting a little bit better today. But then again, you never know. That’s why they call it `fishing’ instead of `catching.'”

Today’s weigh-in begins at 5 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located on Highway 280 West in Alexander City. A Family Fun Zone featuring fishing seminars, free product samples, interactive displays and children’s games will open in the Wal-Mart parking lot starting at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

Vital statistics

Sunrise: 5:43 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 55 degrees
Expected high temperature: 73 degrees
Water temperature: 55 degrees
Wind: From the Northeast at 6 mph
Relative humidity: 47 percent
Day’s outlook: Partly sunny

For a look at all of the day’s photos, click here.