Southern Open - Lake Norman

Here's stop #2 for the Southern Open. Another new lake for me. There are tons of shoreline, points, pockets and docks.....a zillion docks. The spawn should be nearly over so I can stay near the lower end of the lake. I could easily spend lots for gas as usual. This lake has a power plant on it, but don't think that will be a factor. I've seen lots of small bass and spots come out of this lake so catching bigger bass is going to be the key to winning.

Central Open, Lake Lewisville

Lake Lewisville is the first stop for the Central Opens. I'm expecting a lot more competition from the Elite pros this year, looking for a spot at the Bassmaster Classic, you are only one win away, so the incentive is there. This map shows where the Top 12 have to travel for the final Day weigh-in at the nearest Bass Pro Shop. They changed the rules which cut the final day down from the top 30. good for the top 12 anglers bad for the other 18 anglers hoping to move up in points and money. Not that great for the bass either, I wish I knew what they were thinking?I've never fished lake Lewisville before so I will have that disadvantage but I know from fishing Grand Lake this time of the year I need to run North as far as I can into the feeder rivers. I will be running into the same problem with my boat burning so much gas. It just costs me too much. I need the new Yamaha SHO. I'm going to have the same problem when I get to Table Rock and the 45mile run up that river. I need a paycheck again or I will be struggling all year with expenses.

Southern Open Toho

Toho turned out to be a disappointment. Mainly, the weather did not cooperate warm then cold, and cold and wet again for the tournament. I made the decision to stay and fish Toho and it never got enough of a warming trend for the spawnners to move up into the shallows. It was much warmer down on Lake Kissimmee and that is where the tournament was won. Bobby Lane said they really moved up on day 2.
I caught better fish in practice. I found a good spot for day one and shared area with Terry Scroggins and Davy Hite. They were biting a trap pretty good only I didn't get a single bite. My co-angler caught some nice fish on a carolina rig. Day 2 two I caught a couple small fish punching mats. I had caught another on my custom bullfrog. I have a winner there, the bass loved my new bait. I made one mistake when I got excited when a 16" bass shot out after my frog, I thought he got the frog. I missed it. I lost one other fish when it came unhooked while pinned to a mat. I burned a lot of gas learning the lake even taking it easy. I needed to have a new fuel pump when I got home, that's why the boat wasn't running right the last several days. The support team told me to change plugs, that wasn't the problem. I should be good to go for Lake Lewisville.