Full field of 260 boats takes on Guntersville for Central Division opener

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – There aren’t many lakes where you feel the weight of bass fishing history like Lake Guntersville. Diving over the causeways and bridges, with the bluffs high on the east side of the lake, every ramp is full, and it feels like someone is setting the hook on a big one every moment. Over Spring Creek, there’s the bridge that saw Randy Howell win a Classic. In front of Seibold, there’s a ledge that started Nick LeBrun’s back-to-back run in 2022. When you drive over North Sauty, you’re driving over a bridge responsible for uncountable numbers of 30-pound limits. So, it’s no wonder the Big G is so beloved by anglers, and it’s a no-brainer when it comes to the start of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division season.

Choo Choo results set the stage

Hanging over the start of the Toyota Series event are the results from Saturday’s Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine event, which was won by Charlie Murphy with 31 pounds, 6 ounces. Guntersville has been kicking out very impressive weights all fall and winter – with lots of eelgrass and a booming population of bass, the fishing has been excellent. It’s been particularly good for anglers skilled with forward-facing sonar, which Murphy credited in his win.

In the event, a number of other anglers notable for their skills with forward-facing sonar did well – on paper, it looks like we’re headed for another ‘Scope shootout.

Current conditions could hamper the ‘Scopers

At the end of the day, it would surprise nobody if the winner watched all their fish bite on live sonar. But, the Tennessee River isn’t making it easy – recent rains have the current rolling, at 99,000 cfs on Day 1, and that has changed the complexion of the lake.

After starting his practice hunting around with forward-facing sonar, largely unsuccessfully, Justin Atkins pivoted to grass. It’s a decision he hopes will pay off with the new conditions.

“It didn’t seem like they were everywhere like years past, but when you got in a zone you could get some bites,” said Atkins of the extensive grass beds. “I fished some new areas and didn’t get any bites, and I started running some historically good places that I’ve caught some before and I got some bites. So, I just quit running those.

“Here’s the deal with the whole ‘Scoping thing, I saw a lot of people sitting way out (near the main channel),” he said. “They’re running twice as much current, or more; I feel like that’s going to change a lot of that. I still think it’s probably going to get won by somebody that figures out a way to find some, but I also feel like the tournament is about to change.”

Matt O’Connell finished ninth in the BFL with 23 pounds, and he’s seen the change firsthand.

“The current definitely has turned on compared to what it was the last few days,” O’Connell said. “Yesterday it was pulling pretty good, and today it was about the same, pulling pretty heavy. I guess with all that rain, it brought some stain down, so now the main river seems to have a pretty heavy stain to it all the way down to the dam. That’s changed, and a few creeks have stained up as well.

“The main river all week has stayed in the upper 40s, it might have touched 50, but this little bit of a cold front and current seems to have dropped it back down,” he said. “You get into the creeks, and it warms up a bit – the backs of the creeks, some of them are as high as the mid-50s. Most of the creeks are 50 to 51, a little bit warmer than the main channel right now.”

With an influx of colder, dirtier water, there’s a chance that the anglers relying on forward-facing sonar will get a little more compacted or simply need to adjust to more difficult conditions.

“What I realized today is the dirty water tends to make everything swim again,” O’Connell said. “Instead of being able to target specific fish, you’ve got a lot of junk swimming around. But, realistically, what I’ve noticed with LiveScope is that dirtier water makes it easier to get them to bite, if you can actually target them. If you’ve got a little area you think they’re still holding, it could work in your favor, versus having the crystal clear water where they get a really good look at everything.”

Weights are still predicted to be good

Despite the new set of conditions, nobody thinks there are really any techniques that are off-limits. All the traditional Guntersville things should work, and the new school ought to shine as well.

“I think it’s going to take 75 pounds,” Atkins said. “Fifth place in the BFL was almost 25 pounds or something to that effect. That won’t lead Day 1, but for three days that will get it done. I would say 75, but I won’t be surprised if it is more or less.”

O’Connell is of about the same opinion.

“I would think with the change in conditions it will knock it a little lower than it would have been,” he said. “This stained water will have some fish pushed off, or moving, and the cold front, plus the stained water, it makes it tough when everything changes right before the tournament. My assumption is it will take mid-70s to win; somebody will probably have around a 30-pound bag, and then two bags in the 20s.”

Bass should be caught plenty of ways

Conditions aside, it sounds like you can get a check fishing your strengths. Though, a lot of the smart money is still on someone in their 20s winning with a spinning rod.

“I think you’re going to have a couple guys, and they’ll probly be around a bridge, who are going to catch them with a jighead minnow or a glide,” said Atkins. “That’s always a dominant forward-facing sonar lineup, and this time of year, both those baits are prime.”

Still, Atkins has a lot of experience on the Tennessee River (and a lot of success) and thinks the gamut of techniques will play.

“I don’t think you’re going to have but like three guys out of the Top 10 that are going to be doing that. Your others are going to be throwing a Rat-L-Trap or crankbait, and then you’ll have one wild card throwing a jig. Andy Morgan (logged a Top 10) here in my rookie year, and he fished solely flipping a jig the whole time. I think somebody will do something different like that and have it all to themselves, and it will turn into a Top 10. But, if the water hadn’t started running, I’d have said about seven ‘Scopers and three grass fishermen.”

O’Connell is likely to be in the ‘Scoping bucket, but he also thinks there’s opportunity for some variety.

“In the BFL, I caught a lot of my weight on the CAST Echo, their Damiki-style, hover rig-style bait,” he said. “It’s a little bit smaller than a lot of baits guys are using here, so when I had the clear water to work with, it let me get some bites other people weren’t.

“With the stained water, I have a feeling some guys will be able to catch them with a ChatterBait and a (lipless),” O’Connell said. “The conditions are setting up for it. And, I think your typical Alabama rig, hollow-body swimbait and other typical Guntersville prespawn stuff will play.”

No matter what they’re eating, there’s a chance we’re headed for some huge wights this week. Back in 2015, five pros crossed the 70-pound mark in a mid-March FLW Series event on the lake. Those sort of weights might be a little much to ask for, but it took more than 25 pounds a day to win last year, and all indications are that this year is going to be one to remember on G-ville.