Seeing Spots: Pros Scout Alabama’s Smith Lake for Bassmaster Southern Open
Category: press release
May 3rd, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified May 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Bassmaster Southern Open pro Adam Brown of Attalla, Ala., knew he had to be a quick study to learn Smith Lake for the May 13-15 event out of Jasper, Ala.
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| Chris Lane leads the points race in the Southern Open Division. (Photo BASS) |
“Shallow water is definitely my strength, so I had avoided Smith like the plague,” he said. “It’s real deep, real clear, and a lot different than other lakes in Alabama. I’ve only been on Smith a few times in my life, even though the lake is only about an hour and a half from where I live.”
Deep it is. At Smith Dam, the Warrior River impoundment measures 264 feet. There are a few shallow backwater areas, but most anglers take their bass off the lake’s rocky underwater points and quick-dropping bluff walls.
And clear it is. Last weekend when he was scouting, visibility was around 5 to 8 feet in the main lake. That actually constitutes stained water for Smith, he said. Muddy runoff from recent hard rains has cut into the clarity.
The lake holds largemouths, but spotted bass have ruled for many years – 32 years, to be official in the count. The state’s official spotted-bass record of 8 pounds, 15 ounces, came from Smith Lake in March 1978.
Brown said most of the spots he saw appear to be in the post-spawn stage.
“I think the tournament is at the right time for this lake. Spots are moving off the beds. The shad are starting to spawn, so it should be a good topwater bite. I believe this tournament will be won on a Spook, a Sammy – something on top,” he said, referring to a Heddon Zara Spook and Lucky Craft Sammy topwater lures.
About 13 to 15 pounds on each of the three competition days should be enough to take the winner’s trophy, he estimated.
Brown would like to be among the anglers bringing in the heaviest bags. He has his eye on snaring one of the 2011 Bassmaster Classic berths that will be awarded at season’s end to the top two Southern Open anglers in the points standings. The top seven anglers will be invited to join the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series.
“The Classic is everybody’s goal, I think from the moment you pick up a rod,” he said. “And I’d like a chance to fish the Elites.”
Brown, now 36, said he’s been tournament fishing since he was 15. Until this year, the demands of his custom countertop business had restricted him to one-day events in the Bassmaster Weekend Series and a few other circuits.
“I decided this year that it was time to step it up,” he said. His first pro-level BASS event was the 2010 Southern Open season opener on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, a lake on which he’d never before competed. He finished 9th, thus securing 9th place in the division’s standings.
The Okeechobee victor, thus leader of the points race going into the Smith Lake event, is Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala.
After Okeechobee, the points race instantly became intriguing when Lane’s brother and fellow Elite pro, Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., scored second place. He’s just 10 ticks behind his older brother.
The siblings not only keep the rivalry friendly, they help each other when they can. All the same, Chris Lane took time to make two recent scouting trips to Smith to prep for the Open.
“Smith is a lot different than the Tennessee River lakes in Alabama,” said Chris, a Florida native who now lives on one – Lake Guntersville, which also happens to be the site of this week’s Elite event, the May 6-9 Synergy Southern Challenge. “Smith Lake has little or no grass; it is very, very deep; and the water’s really clear. It has a lot of fish in it, and a lot of big spots – 4- to 4 1/2-pounders.”
To fish the clear water effectively, he said most anglers will reduce line size, and use a less visible line, such as a fluorocarbon. Anglers will tend to scale back on lure colors, picking, say, a natural finish instead of a knock-their-eyes-out chartreuse.
He estimated a pro will need 12 to 13 pounds a day to be on top.
“I think a jerkbait will work well, I think a trolling a Carolina rig or football jig off the points will play a big role too,” Lane said.
Besides the Lane brothers, several other Elite pros are signed up for the Southern Open tournament. One is Florida’s Terry Scroggins, who won a 2010 Bassmaster Classic berth as the 2009 Southern Open points winner. Scroggins now is tied for third place in points with Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala.
While pros will compete for the first prize of approximately $45,000, co-anglers will be fishing for a top prize of a boat/motor rig valued at $34,000. The full field will compete Thursday and Friday. The top 30 in each division will advance to the third and final day.
Fishing fans are invited to watch how it all comes down. Free and open to the public are the daily launches and weigh-ins at Smith Lake Dam, 640 Powerhouse Road, Jasper, AL 35504. Boats are scheduled to take off at 5:45 a.m. CT; weigh-ins will begin at 2 p.m. CT.
Bassmaster.com will provide daily coverage with results, standings, analysis, and extensive photo galleries.
The host organization and local sponsor is the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, http://www.walkerchamber.us.
Bassmaster Open Official Sponsors: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Skeeter Boats and Yamaha
Bassmaster Supporting Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota and Triton Boats
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and its expansive tournament structure while championing efforts to connect directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
As the flagship offering of ESPN Outdoors, the Bassmaster brand and its considerable multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer; comprehensive Web properties in Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com, ESPNOutdoors.com and ESPN3.com, and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
BASS oversees the prestigious Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, BASS Federation Nation and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
BASS offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN POINTS STANDINGS
2010 Bassmaster Southern Open Tour 1 – Okeechobee, FL
After Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee, Fla. Ending 01-16-2010, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Chris Lane Ala. 305
2 Bobby Lane Fla. 295
3 Randall Tharp Ala. 290
3 Terry Scroggins Fla. 290
5 J T Kenney Fla. 281
6 Larry Cahan Fla. 280
7 Kyle Fox Fla. 272
8 Russ Lane Ala. 268
9 Adam Brown Ala. 264
10 Greg Vinson Ala. 260
11 Mark Shepard Fla. 257
12 Jason Knapp Pa. 254
13 Ott Defoe Tenn. 251
14 Derek Remitz Ala. 248
15 Andy Montgomery S.C. 245
16 Davy Hite S.C. 243
17 David Kilgore Ala. 241
18 Rich Patterson Fla. 239
19 Brad Staley N.C. 237
20 Shinichi Fukae Texas 235
21 Aaron Martens Ala. 233
22 Luke Gritter Mich. 231
23 Jimmie Murphy Fla. 229
24 Trevor Fitzgerald Fla. 227
25 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 225
26 Ben Todd Fla. 223
27 Terry Segraves Fla. 221
28 Alan Rae S.C. 219
29 Andy Chappell Ala. 217
30 Steve Fairtrace Fla. 215
31 Ron Klys Fla. 213
32 Scott Martin Fla. 211
33 Matt Peters Ga. 209
34 Justin Schwier Fla. 207
35 Chris Payne Ala. 205
36 Michael Bennett Fla. 203
37 Keith Pace Ark. 201
38 Darrell Davis Fla. 199
39 Bink Desaro Idaho 197
40 Eric Nethery Ga. 195
41 Jason Williamson S.C. 193
42 Jimmy Mason Ala. 191
43 Patrick Pierce Fla. 189
44 Tom Hamlin Ga. 187
45 Bryan Watts Fla. 185
46 Stephen Johnston Texas 183
47 Justin Hamner Ala. 181
48 Sean Skey S.C. 179
49 Jimmy Mize Ark. 177
50 Josh Guess Fla. 175
51 Ben Quisno Ohio 173
52 Brandon Coulter Tenn. 171
53 James Anderson Fla. 169
54 Kyle Walling Ky. 167
55 Tony Chachere La. 165
56 Mark Stewart Ala. 163
57 George Crain Ala. 161
58 Harry Moore Ala. 159
59 Bernie Schultz Fla. 157
60 Greg Pugh Ala. 155
61 Jonathon Vandam Mich. 153
62 Sandy Melvin Fla. 151
63 Koby Kreiger Fla. 149
64 David Cooke N.C. 147
65 Clark Smith Ala. 145
66 Scott Kerslake N.C. 143
67 John Brazzell Fla. 141
68 Allan Glasgow Ala. 139
69 Steve Daniel Fla. 137
70 Derek Allen La. 135
71 Arnie Lane Fla. 133
72 Gary Clouse Tenn. 131
73 Joe Clements Fla. 129
74 Jim Turner Ind. 127
75 Scott Canterbury Ala. 125
76 Foster Bradley Ala. 123
77 David Kelly S.C. 121
78 Lon Fleming S.C. 119
79 Byron Haseotes Mass. 117
80 Luke Clausen Ga. 115
81 Keith Poche Ala. 113
82 James Tunder Ohio 111
83 Ben Carroll Fla. 109
84 JT Palmore Va. 107
85 David Walker Tenn. 105
86 Tom Spangler Tenn. 103
87 Fred Chivington Fla. 101
88 Tom Frink Calif. 99
89 J Todd Tucker Ga. 97
90 Allen Duke Fla. 95
91 Derek Jones Ill. 93
92 Jim Hardy Ala. 91
93 Todd Auten S.C. 89
94 David Burch Fla. 87
95 Ron Wolfarth N.C. 85
96 Curtis Lewis Fla. 83
97 Mark McCaig Ala. 81
98 Luke Estel Ill. 79
99 Chad Prough Fla. 77
100 Jason Lieblong Ark. 76
101 Scott Mcgehee Miss. 75
102 Jeff Campbell Ohio 74
103 Frank Jordan JR Ga. 73
104 John Johnson S.C. 72
105 Tyrone Cypress Fla. 71
106 Dane Odom S.C. 70
107 Cecil Douberly Fla. 69
108 Tony Sapp Ga. 68
109 Kyle Kempkers Mich. 67
110 Robbie Latuso La. 66
111 Bradley Enfinger Ga. 65
112 Brian Rufty Ky. 64
113 Raymond Trudeau Fla. 63
114 Bobby Purvis S.C. 62
115 Robert Miley Fla. 61
116 Landon Lomax Ala. 60
117 Robert Comalander Ala. 59
118 Marcos Malucelli S.C. 58
119 Larry Rollings S.C. 57
120 Chris Barnett Tenn. 56
121 Bob Eagleston Fla. 55
122 Hojin Chang Fla. 54
123 Jeremy Prouty Fla. 53
124 Blake Foret La. 52
125 Rex Chambers Ala. 51
126 Frank Ippoliti Pa. 50
126 Wayne Clifton S.C. 50
128 Jelani Hennessey Va. 48
129 John Emery Tenn. 47
130 Dwayne Reine S.C. 46
131 Billy Mcdonald Ind. 45
132 Steven Wisdom Ala. 44
133 Brett Mitchell S.C. 43
134 Craig Taylor Fla. 42
135 Wil Hardy Ga. 41
136 Charlie Hill Ky. 40
137 Tim Ezell Fla. 39
138 Shawn Strader Tenn. 38
139 Ray Brazier Tenn. 37
139 Paul Kimball Conn. 37
141 Charlie Hartley Ohio 35
142 Chris Neely Fla. 34
143 Cliff Prince Fla. 33
144 Heath Smith Ala. 32
145 Brent Crow Ala. 31
145 Bruce Bingenheimer N.Y. 31
147 Jeffrey Prisza Mich. 29
148 Danny White Ga. 28
149 Mark Peiser Ind. 27
149 Michael Willis Ga. 27
151 Ronnie Getz Ind. 25
152 Jimmy Hayes N.C. 24
152 Michael Prindle Ga. 24
154 Wade Leblanc La. 22
154 Paul Pagnato Va. 22
154 Charles Graybeal Tenn. 22
157 Jerry Gore Fla. 19
158 Kevin Pulsifer Ala. 18
158 Loran Cogburn Fla. 18
158 Felton Jackson N.C. 18
161 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 15
161 Jeremy York Ga. 15
163 Jeff Cloud Texas 13
164 Brian Hatfield Ky. 12
164 Harry Potts Ala. 12
164 Wayne Prater Tenn. 12
167 Jeff Stoner Pa. 0
167 James Butler Tenn. 0
167 Teb Jones Miss. 0
167 Michael Reid Ga. 0
167 Brad Pegram N.C. 0
167 Horace Hubbard Ga. 0
167 Matt Hupp Texas 0
167 Lindsey Page Fla. 0
167 Nate Wellman Mich. 0
167 Jeff Shelton Ala. 0
167 Stanley Gunter S.C. 0
167 Sammy Burks Mo. 0
167 Garry Rogers N.C. 0
167 Nick Mumbower Ind. 0
167 Jack Mumbower Ind. 0
167 Carroll Blevins Ga. 0
167 Greg Watts Fla. 0
167 Chris Anderson S.C. 0
167 Trevor Knight Del. 0
167 John Cromwell Tenn. 0
167 Tony Haymon Fla. 0
167 Johnny Patterson Ala. 0
167 Scott Wiley Ala. 0
167 Ronald Ryals Fla. 0
167 Michael Randolph Texas 0
167 Lee Sisson Fla. 0
167 Jimmy Kennedy Vt. 0
167 Bob Bennett S.C. 0
167 Richard Stevens Ill. 0
167 Curtis Reeves Ga. 0
167 Andre Moore Ala. 0
167 Ken Callahan Ala. 0
167 Lee Boutwell Ga. 0