ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. – Timing is everything. Just ask any angler on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Timing may be one of the most critical factors in the coming FLW Tour tournament on Lake Martin.
For instance, three weeks ago, the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League held a divisional qualifying bass tournament on Lake Martin. And almost every angler in the field caught fish.
It was soon after the FLW Tour professionals left the Pascagoula River in Biloxi, Miss., where very few anglers caught fish. Three weeks ago, anglers getting ready for the tournament were excited about the welcome change when fish would actually be easy to catch. Fast-forward to this week and the same excitement has been watered down in more ways than one.
“Three weeks ago, we had a week of extremely warm weather,” said Tom Mann Jr. of Lanier, Ga. “The lake was low and clear. The water temperature shot up, and the day of the tournament it was cloudy and rainy and every fish on the lake hit the bank.
“It was perfect, and catching fish was easy.” The easy fish, though, have filtered away. Since that time a series of cold fronts and heavy thunderstorms have hit the Lake Martin area. The two together have dropped the water temperature back down to the lower 50s, the lake level has shot up by four to five feet, and the new rush of water has turned much of the clear water to a cold, red, muddy mess.
“Most of the guys are struggling,” Mann said.
But once again, timing is everything. Mann, a top touring professional known for his expertise in catching spotted bass, is biding his time. Mann’s expertise comes in handy on lakes like Martin and Lanier, where spotted bass are a major part of the fish population.
While he hopes things won’t change in the coming days, believing tougher conditions will enhance his chances, Mann said the anglers on Lake Martin this week are sitting on a powder keg that’s getting ready to blow.
“Basically the fuse has been lit, and any day now, things are going to start happening,” Mann said. Mann’s confidence is bolstered by his knowledge of how the lake works and the history behind it.
The lake was built in the 1920s, flooding a large, flat area with very little structural variation, Before the lake was flooded, the standing timber was burned, taking away stumps and other fish-holding cover normally found in a large impoundment. To make matters worse, since the 1920s, most of the bottom has silted in, covering gravel bars and other similar fish-holding cover.
“There’s just not a lot out there to hold a fish,” Mann said. Because of that, anglers are having a tough time pinpointing fish, and it could stay that way until a portion of the fish begin to move shallower. Currently, with cold water temperatures, but warming, the majority of fish are spending their time suspended in the main body of the lake, some moving up, but most waiting for the right time to hit the bank in classic pre-spawn conditions.
“When they get there, they will be everywhere,” Mann said. “All it will take is a few clear, warm days and then it’ll be unbelievable.” Mann’s expectations are that the movement could come as early as Wednesday, the start of the tournament. Weather forecasts call for mild temperatures that could follow Mann’s predictions to a tee.
“I really think every day the fishing will get better and better, and by the time this is over, we’ll see a higher catch rate for limits,” Mann said. “At least, we’ll see it become easier for limits to be caught.” Regardless of what happens, Mann expects average10-pound stringers to make it to the final-day five-man field. With a few one-day stringers moving toward and above the 15-pound mark.
Heavy weights or not, most of these anglers are just hoping that the timing will finally be on their side.
“It’ll be nice just being able to catch a lot of fish,” Mann said. The tournament starts at daylight on Wednesday with 175 professional and 175 amateur anglers fishing for two days in hopes of making a 10-man cut. On Friday, the field of 10 professionals and 10 amateurs compete, with the top angler winning $15,000. The top five professionals advance for the final round on Saturday and compete for the $100,000 top prize.
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