Destination: Lake Lanier

Wal-Mart FLW Series, March 8-11

Buckhead, Ga., Snickers pro Pat Fisher is expecting big things from Georgia’s Lake Lanier in the all-new Wal-Mart FLW Series’ inaugural event.

“It should be a good tournament with plenty of weight caught,” Fisher said. “The lake has some big largemouths and the spotted bass fishery has exploded over the last three years. It wouldn’t surprise me to see some 7- to 8-pound spots brought to the weigh-in.”

Anglers can expect to find prespawn bass holding in staging areas at a variety of depths. Spotted bass are likely to be relating to brush piles, rocky points and boat docks in water as deep as 25 feet on the south end of the lake, whereas largemouths will be holding around stump flats and laydowns in 8 to 10 feet of water up the Chattahoochee and Chestatee rivers. Top spot baits are jerkbaits and finesse worms. Largemouths like jigs and medium-diving cranks.

Fisher’s call: 38-39 pounds to make the top 10; 55 pounds to win.