As the nation’s most prestigious bass fishing circuit heads to Northern waters, big smallmouth bass and Northern strain largemouth are primary targets for the touring pros. Cayuga Lake – the second largest of 11 Finger Lakes in east-central New York – is chock-full of both black bass species.

The long, narrow lake stretches nearly 40 miles north to south, averages about 1 ½ miles in width and covers nearly 43,000 acres. Even with so much fishable water, the anglers will likely be sharing fishing spots as they focus on certain areas with abundant submerged vegetation.

Brian Eisch of Sandy Creek, N.Y., vice president of the New York B.A.S.S. Nation, thinks it will take 60 pounds of bass, or more, across the four-day tournament to win the $100,000 first prize.

“There will be numerous 18- to 20-pound limits of both largemouth and smallmouth bass weighed in each day at this event,” Eisch said. “It’s sure possible to catch them that good each day, but to average that much weight will be difficult. However, if anybody can bring in bags like that, the best anglers in the world can.”