Wal-Mart Open contenders could use pre-spawn tactics

ROGERS - The FLW Tour will make its annual stop in Northwest Arkansas today through Sunday when more than 100 professional anglers and co-anglers compete in the Wal-Mart Open.

The fourth stop on thisyear ’s FLW Tour, Beaver Lake is a permanent destination and is considered the tour’s signature event.

It’s also considered the tour’s homecoming event because Wal-Mart is the tour’s title sponsor, but anglers may find a different Beaver Lake than the one they have fished in recent visits.

Mark Rose of West Memphis, an eight-time qualifier for the Forrest Wood Cup, is one of 13 Arkansans competing in the tournament and usually performs well at Beaver Lake, but he said he expects this year’s tournament to be different because the bass spawn seems to be later than usual.

“It’s been a really cold winter, and in past seasons the fish would already be spawning,” said Rose, who finished second April 3 at the FLW’s last tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas. “The lake is so far behind right now that I’m predicting that this event will be a pre-spawn tournament.

Also figuring into the equation is that the FLW has banned the use of the popular umbrella rig, which can be effective for catching big bass in the spring.

“Not being able to throw an umbrella rig is definitely going to be a factor in this tournament,” Rose said. “That bait and that profile really seems to catch the upper-class fish in Beaver Lake. It really showed off the quality of fish that live there.

“With the new rules, I think we may see a return to the days where catching 10 pounds is a pretty good day.”

Rose said he expects anglers to use normal pre-spawn tactics to catch their fish this week. Those tactics will feature jigs, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, Storm Wiggle Warts, swimbaits and shaky-head rigs.

Rose predicts it will take about 49 pounds to win.

In addition to money, anglers are also trying to earn qualifying points for the Forrest Wood Cup. The FLW Tour’s championship event will be held Aug. 14-17 on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., and will pay $500,000 to the winner, the biggest cash prize in professional bass fishing.

Top prize in the pro division for the Wal-Mart Open is $125,000, with the co-angler champion receiving $25,000.

FLW Tour Wal-Mart Open WHEN Today through Sunday WHERE Beaver Lake, Rogers PAYOUT Pro Division winner: $125,000. Co-angler Division winner: $25,000.

WEIGH-INS Today-Friday: 3 p.m. at Prairie Creek Park. Saturday-Sunday: 4 p.m. at John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. ADMISSION Free

Sports, Pages 21 on 04/10/2014

Upcoming Events